In this generation, most people think a tattoo has a negative connotation. It can even affect your career, regardless of the talent and education you may have. My eagerness to get inked started in October 2014 at the Philippine National Museum when I saw a portrait of an old lady with tribal tattoos all over her body. In National Geographic, several documentaries featured how significant tattoos and pierces were, especially for people in ancient times. Tattoos and pierces prove a tribe recognizes a person’s accomplishment, mostly in battles. There are several ways of tattooing worldwide, depending on their geographical feature and culture. In the Northern part of the Philippines, in Buscalan, Kalinga, they call it Batok. It is an ancient/tribal form of marking (tattooing) a warrior after successful combat or ladies who brought pride to the tribe.
A lady named Apo Whang Od (locals pronounced it as Fang Od) is the oldest mambabatok from the Butbut tribe in Buscalan, Kalinga. She is petitioned to be considered as the National Living Treasure. The tattoos on her skin prove how powerful she was during her time.
The photo above is a gorgeous view of the Banaue Rice Terraces. Kalinga is situated in the higher part of the Cordillera Region, with 10 to 12 hours of road travel from Manila. Traveling from Manila was already a challenge, but the experience was extraordinary. En route to Buscalan, I saw and stepped on one of the former 7 New Wonders of the World – Banaue Rice Terraces.
The village of the Butbut Tribe is surrounded by mountains, formed into rice terraces, for farming as their primary source of livelihood. Their older way of farming was already influenced by the modern way, like using a hand tractor to cultivate rice and vegetables. They also have a born-again Christian church, donated by the Koreans, and an elementary school, by the government. The ambiance in this village is really cool, the air is fresh, and the surroundings are relaxing, because of its geographical location.
At the village, one house captured my attention (photo above). As you can see, the terrace is surrounded by hanging bones, skulls, and teeth; they may be from wild animals hunted by the locals. Finally, it’s my time to be a warrior. The photos below will explain how Batok is done by Apo Whang Od:
The photo above was my tattoo after 24 hours. I’ve been part of show business for two years; meeting and talking to famous Philippine showbiz personalities and politicians is nothing more than meeting Apo Whang Od. I am now marked by the mighty hands of the National Living Treasure (legally, not yet). This mark means success and prosperity, perfect for the forthcoming Chinese New Year. Meeting and marked by Apo is already a success and prosperity for my future.
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