Famous Pinoy tattoo artist in US-territory

GARAPAN, Saipan - Filipino tattoo artist Edward Elenzano, popularly known in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) as "Dragon Edong," won a major award at the 2nd World Tattoo Arts Festival and Exhibition held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Elenzano, 48, bagged first place in the main "Tattoo of the Day" category at the international tattoo arts festival held from May 16 to 18.

His winning tattoo design is a portrait of his children Anne Gelica, 12; John Edward, 14; and John Mark, 20 -- done on the back of his wife Fe.

"There were lots of talented tattoo artists and expert designs at the festival but nobody else did a portrait just like what I did," Elenzano told GMANews.TV in an interview at his studio.

It took him three hours to get the winning tattoo design done at the festival, where he displayed a big flag of the Philippines and a miniature flag of the CNMI.

The three-day event brought together some 50 tattoo artists from the United States, the United Kingdom (London), Japan, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, France, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong, Canada, and Norway to compete in 13 categories.