Mambabatok tattoos. Whang-od, the last heir to the traditional Filipino style

Manbabatok back tattoos

Whang-od prepares to make a tattoo (Source).

In Buscalan, a small village in Philippines, it lives Whang-od Oggay, a centennial woman who is possibly the last artist of mambabatok tattoos, a kind of Filipino traditional tattoo art.

Discover the most interesting history of this Woman and a tattoo art en peligro to disappear reading this post!

A life of devotion to tattoo art

Tattoos mambabatok arm

The arm of the old woman, full of tattoos (Source).

La Life Whang-od has been intimately related to these traditional tattoos From philippines. The old woman has been tattooing since the fifteen years. On father taught him how and, although at first his tattoos they did not report any benefit economic, little by little it was making a name for itself.

The own whang od have the body got tattoos, which looks since it was a teenager. The first was a Python on a ladder.

Tradition and legend

Tattoo mambabatok arm

These tattoos require great dexterity and stamina for the pain! (Source).

The mambabatok tattoos by Whang-od are the last living sample of this art. Their designs are distinguished by containing natural motifs y geometrical. Your signature is a tattoo de three points. These tattoos, which follow a method that goes back more than a thousand years, they are made with a instrumental very simple, just like the ingredients of ink: water y carbon.

And, as in almost all traditional motifs, the relationship of tattooist with his art it is almost magic, and it's full of superstitions and legends.

For example, at the beginning whang od tattooed Warriors and of of their area that sought to beautify their skin, and did so with corners y predictions. But, with the disappearance of the Warriors and increase in tourists, tattoo artist he stopped singing and predicting the future of his clients. The old woman believes that corners they are only for him embellishment of women in your area and the celebration of wins of the warriors.

In addition, each mambabatok tattoo has a symbolism very precise and closely related to the culture from the village. For example, him eagle tattoo symbolizes that a warrior killed a enemy.

From bustling Manila to quiet Buscalan

Tattoos mambabatok shop

Whang-od's tattoo shop (Source).

This venerable tattoo artistFurthermore, it cannot be still. Despite having more than a hundred years, and stopping for a week in 2017 for health reasons, accept a few ¡treinta clients a day!

The love LóleoFurthermore, they come from far away to the remote village of They searched. They go through the vast fields of the Philippines when they leave behind bustle from cities like Manila, and rising steep slopes that lead to the village where a rickety sign announcing the entrance to the modest hut of the tattoo artist.

One of the last mambabatok tattoo artists from the Philippines?

Tattoos mambabatok niece

Whang-od's niece will be one of her great-aunt's heirs (Source).

Dice whang od that can not transmit his art to anyone because it has to be a tradition let it happen in the same family. But the tattoo is in danger of become infected. Since she has not had children, it seems that the legacy of the mambabatok tattoos it will be lost here.

Luckily there is one little hope: Its niece Grace Palicas and other family members have become interested in the traditional art of the mambabatok tattoos. Although their reasons are not so intricate such as whang od, and that the corners y predictions, being oral in nature, will be lost with the old woman, it seems that this family art has future.

Whang-od receives well deserved recognition

Finished mambabatok tattoo

A finished mambabatok tattoo (Source).

Although maybe whang od don't be so famous like other artists of the tattoo as Kat Von D, riding a Philippines it is enough known, and has even received some nomination to be considered a human good and part of the living culturea from this country.

In addition, it has appeared in different documentaries and in some exposure. In 2017 he also participated in a convention with their apprentices.

The history of Whan od, the last mambabatok tattoo artist, it is without a doubt thrilling. A different, simple life, completely dedicated to a endangered art, but what will end surviving, even if it is by way of something different.


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