#whangod

Featuring Apo Whang-Od, the last Mambabatok of Kalinga and a living legend, a 106 years old tattoo artist to star on the cover of Vogue Philippines, 2023.

Some of the Batok tools I've made over the past year with the guidance of @lanewilcken. Before touching anyone, they've drawn my own blood first. Salamat to our cousins in Samoa and Hawaii for helping us remember how to create these again. According to Whang Od, these are the same tools that were used on her back when she was a young woman. Now after nearly 100 years, the singing of these tools are being practiced in the motherland by Piper Abas of Cebu @atawu_tattoo_tradition. Traditional hand-tapped tattoos will rise again in the Philippines with discipline, education, compassion and decolonization. This means in application, in context, and with intention. You get Batok to be included, not to stand out. We will change that mindset. Batok, Patik, Tatak, etc means bone or thorn tools. No metal. #handtappedtattoo #batok #tattoos #philippines #whangod (at SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9nl9lwDMNw/?igshid=qor9cefdiod0

Receiving a blessing from this legend, Apo Whang Od, who turned 100yo this Feb. I choosed a hawk from their flash sheets, appears to be a spiritual messenger. Coming back to town, I found out that my best friend passed away the same day, losing a long battle. Serendipity at its finest. #kalinga #whangod #johnjonforever (at Tinglayan)

Driving from Banue to Kalinga to get a tattoo from Whang Od.  The coolest fucking road trip I have ever taken with my father and my best friend.

Had the opportunity to give a talk at University of Hawaii Manoa based on my upcoming script course on BalaySchool.org. Here I'm talking about a clothing company in the Philippines selling a shirt Apo Whang Od with a native American headdress. Besides that issue, the script is spelled wrong because they didn't know how to type with computer fonts. Says "Po Waha.."you get the picture. Besides besides that, the font by @nordenx71 requires a license for commercial usage. Next talks in Boston and SF. Working on LA and Seattle. #whangod #baybayin #baybayinerrors #kabuay #balayschool (at University of Hawaii at Manoa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B87whrZDOiG/?igshid=1izm9ktp4vpft

Batok, Batek, Batuk, Tatak, Patik, Burik, Pangateb, Pangotub, etc all refer to the tradition of tattooing in the Philippines. This effect emulates the hand-tapping tradition that's over 4,000 years old. The comb that pierces the skin is made of boar's tusk. This specific use of bone combs hasn't been practiced in around 100 years. I'm sure many of you know of #whangod from Kalinga as the "last" mambabatok in the Philippines. Did you know that a batok practice is living on in the diaspora lead by @lanewilcken who I've been communicating with for over 10 years during the Myspace days :) Piper @atawu_tattoo_tradition is heading the ceremonial practice in the Southern Philippines. Together as students, educators, practitioners, and advocates we'll revive this visual vocabulary like we did our scripts. While it's still early, we're starting to see some fluency around patterns. Even at it's most elementary level, by being able to identify northern and southern tattoos, the stories behind them will live on. The sound you hear is actual sound of the sticks hitting. The same sound our ancestors heard throughout the pacific from Taiwan to Hawaii. In the future, I'll release a version that will allow you to "draw" with the tattoo tools. PS: There might be some issues with the sound on Android phones. Available for commissions. DM me your idea. The effects should show up automatically if you follow me. If not, unfollow and follow again. You can also go to my profile and click on the tab with the face icon. Please tag me #igeffect #augmentedreality #sparkar #philippines #kabuay #tattoo (at SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6PYA8PDdRZ/?igshid=90aid5gw7z7s

Indelible Indigenous Tattoo

#fbfriday to this drawing I did of #whangod Od, one of the oldest kalinga tattoo artists in the Philippines. I’ll be posting more Filipino inspired drawings this month along with some new ones in honor of #philippineindependenceday 🇵🇭☺️ #crystafett #cathleenabalos #patreonartist #patreoncreator https://www.instagram.com/p/CQAOcbYjk2f/?utm_medium=tumblr