IMPORTANT NOTE: CONVERT YOUR FINAL OUTPUT INTO PDF

AND FOLLOW THE FILE NAME FORMAT SURNAME_CATEGORY_MEDIUM

BAMBOO STICKS AND PRECISE PRICKS: THE LAST MAMBABATOK

IN THE PHILIPPINES
The Kalinga’s Pambabatok in the Modern World
Will you entrust your first tattoo experience with a 101-year-old woman?

Commonly in Manila, you can see young tattoo artists covered with tattoos on their arms, legs, or neck
while holding their electric tattoo machines but the ‘Last Mambabatok’, Apo Whang-Od, 101, from Kalinga
is different.

Amazed by her works, the two young men, Charly and Egan, decided to climb down to Canyon and to
walk kilometers to the mountain to meet the last tattoo artist.

“The history in her eyes is there so, yeah, I’m quite excited about it. I’m hoping that the after 20 pinches,
the rest would me equal so I’ll try to maintain to hold back the tears,” Charly excitingly told DW
Documentary as they reached the village where Whang-Od resides.

The traditional way of tattooing in Kalinga could be more hurtful than the modern way, but Whang-Od
prepares the tattooing carefully. Her needles are from the behind of her huts, while the thorns are from a
lemon tree.

“Real needles will rust and that would cause infection that’s why these thorns are so good. They are long,
sturdy, and sharp. They are perfect for tattooing,” she said as she starts to tattoo Charlie.

Using a blade of grass dipped into the ink which was a mix of water, charcoal, and ash, the tattoo artist
creates different tribal patterns which symbolizes unity, courage, strength, or even beauty. “Every tattoo
has a meaning. The millepede’s many legs stand for all the people here. We have to walk with the same
rhythm then we can achieve anything,” Apo Whang-Od explained.

George Casing, who was believed to be one of the 30 living warriors in Kalinga, said, “When the young
men are in favor, we went to battle. It was man against a man. We all had a knife, spear and machete. My
only thought was about to kill my opponent. I wasn’t nervous at all. It was like a duty for me. I wanted to
protect my village. When we got the head, we brought it back to the village and slaughtered into buffalo.
“
For the indigents of Kalinga province, the more tattoos that a person has, the braver a man or the more
attractive a woman is in the community. While the other old indigents of Kalinga spent their lives in battles
for their lands, Apo Whang-Od, on the other hand, spent her whole life, alone, in tattooing other people.

At a young age, other girls started to write on their diaries about the memorable event on their life but for
the tattoo artist, she started to learn how to do “pambabatok” with the help of her father. Passing of
tradition to preserve the culture is not easy as all of the original ‘mambabatoks’ in the Philippines were all
deceased aside from Apo Whang-Od.

Doing her passion for so many years, the oldest tattoo artist also fear that one day, their tradition of
pambabatok will be gone because of her age.

“My eyesight is still really good. I can do many tattoos as I want, but who knows if I can still look this well
next year?” the 101-year-old artist said.

That is why her great granddaughter, Grace Lingad, a tattoo artist in profession started to learn her great
aunt’s pambabatok since she was 9.

1 | Page
 IMPORTANT NOTE: CONVERT YOUR FINAL OUTPUT INTO PDF
AND FOLLOW THE FILE NAME FORMAT SURNAME_CATEGORY_MEDIUM

“I’m proud that I’m allowed tattoo. I’ve learned everything I know from Whang-Od. I’m going to try to be a
good tattoo artist,” Grace promised as she also does her small tattoo business in the busy streets of
Manila.

On the other hand, Whang-Od said, “I’m happy that someone’s continuing this I’d be sad if this art form
dies with me. Grace is still young. She has to learn to work hard, be patient, and be modest. You’re doing
the tattoo for someone else, not for yourself.”

The tattoo patterns inked on Charly, Egan, George, and Whang-Od’s skin tells us how rich the culture of
Filipino tribes is. These patterns are not just a mere decoration to look brave nor cool like what other
people think. Rather, it there’s always a story behind it that Apo Whang-Od has witnessed for years.

With her bamboo sticks and precise pricks, ‘The Last Mambabatok’ is still keeping their culture alive by
waiting for those who will entrust their first tattoo experience in the province of Kalinga.

2 | Page