Friday, July 23, 2010

The Last Tatoo Artist


I was able to watch Kara David's Eyewitness episode last Monday featuring the prized art culture of tatooing in Kalinga Apayao, Cordillera Mountain. Tatooing or "Pagbabatok", as it is known among folks is a long tradition preserved from generation to generation. Eighty-nine-year old WHANG OD (see above photo) never got married and dedicated her life in the art of tatoing. She manually uses wood and charcoal ink in imprinting the art on the native's skin. She is known as Kalinga's Last Tatoo Artist or "Ang Huling Mambabatok".

Watching the show, I was so fascinated not only by the unique artistry of the tatoo, but also by the worth, dignity and valor it brings. It was considered a passage of rite for women about to be married. For them, the more tatoo a woman has, the more beautiful and attractive she is.

For men, it is a symbol of strength and bravery. Each tatoo strand represents the number of enemies a person killed during the war.

But sad to note that the modern generation of Kalinga view the art differently. In fact, none of the children wears tatoo. For them, having a tatoo would deprive them of a dignified and decent life and make them look like criminals and ex-convicts.

Who can blame them? In this internet era, who do you think still appreciates our past and value our culture and treasure the dignity that it brings?

After watching the show, I became even prouder to be a Filipino. Proud of the beauty of my culture and ancestral past and prouder for the Kalinga old folks who wear proud the indelible symbols of their identity.