Whang Od Oggay, the oldest “mambabatok” (ancient Kalinga tattoo artist) in the Philippines, draws tens of thousands of tourists to Buscalan village each year.
The mountain community of Buscalan is home to roughly 200 households and is surrounded by lush rice terraces and undulating mountain landscapes. Despite being a 15-hour journey from Manila in the Philippines’ Kalinga region, thousands of visitors still go here each year to meet Whang Od Oggay, the country’s first “mambabatok” (or “ancient Kalinga tattoo artist”).
According to Whang Od, who spoke to CNN Travel, “The custom will continue so long as people continue to get tattoos here. And I’ll keep tattooing as long as my eyes are clear. I won’t stop until my vision is clouded.
A symbol of beauty and strength
These intricately drawn tattoos have often been applied by native Butbut warriors.
How about females? Ink is viewed as a cosmetic accessory.
“Back in the day, people would advise getting a tattoo to improve your appearance,” Whang Od recounts how her pals tattooed her arms and legs when she was a teenager.
But now that the warriors are no longer here, these hand-painted tattoos are for everyone, and many tourists from around the world come here to carve roughly eight tattoos in a single day. Every symbol, including those seen in rosary beads, circles, animals, and tribal designs, has a deep meaning of its own. Some patterns have mountain or sun imagery, while others stand for development and power.
According to Ms. Whang Od, “I like that tourists and visitors come here because it really benefits us [financially].” “I hope people will keep coming,”
How are tattoos created?
With just a few simple tools—a pomelo tree thorn, a foot-long bamboo stick, scraped coal from a pot, and water—Whang Od employed a method that has been utilized for thousands of years.
She uses homemade ink derived from charcoal and water to paint intricate drawings onto her skin while concentrating intently. She then pounded the ink deeply into the skin using the bamboo and thorn stick as a hammer. Ms. Whang Od distinguishes herself from contemporary tattoo designs with her ability to produce significant shapes using this straightforward technique, as well as, of course, pain.
Traditional tattoo profession in the future
This work requires more maintenance than we might imagine. Due to the belief that these tattoos will become infected if done against tradition, this type of tattooing can only be passed down through families. Whang Od spent several years mentoring her cousins Elyang Wigan and Grace Palicas despite the fact that she was childless.
Mrs. Whang od remarked, “[My tattoo pals] are all gone. “I am the only tattoo artist currently operating in existence. But because I’m already teaching the following generation of master craftspeople, I’m not concerned about the tradition dying away.
