My first tattoo. Very memorable because on that day we're celebrating our 3 years relationship with my boyfriend. And my first tattoo is created by Whang-Od the oldest tattoo artist here in the Philippines.
She is believed to be the last mambabatok (traditional Kalinga tattooist) from the Butbut people in Buscalan Kalinga and the oldest tattoo artist in the Philippines. She has been tattooing headhunters and women of the indigenous people of Butbut in Buscalan Kalinga for more than 80 years but the Butbut warriors who used to earn tattoos through protecting villages or killing enemies no longer exist.
She now applies the traditional art form to tourists visiting Buscalan. There were proposals to have her as one of the National Artists of the Philippines or as one of the National Living Treasures due to her status as the last mambabatok. She has been featured in various events and television shows featuring her life and her tattoo works