Born and raised in the Philippines, Josef moved to New York with his family in his teens and started to realize his dreams as an artist.
He has won many accolades and merits including the Alexander Art Award from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Time spent in several art schools such as Cooper Union, School of Visual Arts, Academy of Art College and The Art Students League led to a career in photography, illustrative arts and advertising. While juggling an emerging art career, Josef is also a photographer for several non-profits including The Ice Theatre of New York and Open House New York. A photo project on different parades in New York City led to volunteering for Dance Parade in 2013.
Capturing images and documenting Dance Parade after all these years now, Josef has taken on a leadership role in developing social media and promotion for the Dance Parade and Festival.