Lira, Guillana Alessandra A.

HT330

MIDTERM REQUIREMENT

1. Will it be beneficial for the culture of the Butbut Tribe?

-In my opinion, the Butbut Tribe needs to learn about the Kalinga culture; therefore, I
don't see how it will help their own tradition. For those like Nas Daily who aren't
familiar with the Kalinga people and their rich cultural heritage, it's important to
know that Apo Whang-Od is more than just a single artist; she is a member of the
Kalinga Butbut Tribe, signifying that her expertise in traditional body art was passed
down to her from her Kalinga ancestors. Nas Daily knows how much they treasure
their culture and look up to her as a role model. to preserve the traditional Kalinga
custom of mambabatok for future generations.

2. Do you think Nas Academy really scammed/exploited Apo Whang-od?

-According to the report I read, the Nas Daily Academy group misled and duped Apo
Whang-od. It is very important to thoroughly review and clarify a contract with an
elderly verifier before signing it in order to prevent any confusion. Although Gracia
Palicas, the granddaughter of Apo Whang-Od, claimed that the online course she had
taken was a scam, Nas Daily Academy said that this was the "clearest indication" that
the course had been finished with an agreement. Gracia Palicas, the granddaughter of
Apo Whang-Od, who first raised the issue, did not dispute the validity of the contract.
Grandma, she said, "could not follow what the interpreters were saying" despite being
104 years old. Whang-Od was meant to be conducting a tattooing course online,
where she would share all of her trade secrets with students. Yassin shut down the
course when Whang Od's niece, Gracia Palicas, alleged it was a fraud in an open
Facebook group. That could make it seem like the problem has been solved, but it
really goes much farther than that.

3. What is your take on this issue? Share your insights, recommendations, and
suggestions.

-In my opinion, the problem between the Nas Daily and Apo Whang-Od Academy is
that the Nas Daily does not understand the Kalinga culture. As an artist and a tribal
member of the Kalinga Butbut people, Apo Whang-od draws on the cultural expertise
of her Kalinga ancestors to create stunning traditional tattoos. Thus, this indigenous
knowledge may be acquired on an individual basis, yet the Butbut Tribe holds it as a
group. The members of Butbut Tribe must provide their consent before any of this
information is divulged to anybody else; the consent of just one member is not
sufficient. If this cultural phenomenon or expression were to be taught in a public
forum that millions of people could access, it would lose its uniqueness and cultural
significance.
4. Cite your sources and references.

 Rosario, D. D. (2021, August 29). Whang-od did not consent to Nas Academy
masterclass – NCIP. INQUIRER.net.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1480583/whang-od-did-not-consent-to-nas-
academy-masterclass-ncip
 Nas Academy visits Whang-Od to apologize, confirms contract null and void.
(2021, October 24). RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-
culture/nas-academy-visits-whang-od-confirms-contract-null-void/
 Anthropology professor says Nas Daily doesn’t understand Kalinga culture, PH
law. (2021, August 6). RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/technology/nestor-
castro-nas-daily-kalinga-culture-philippine-law/
 Contributor, W. (2021, September 10). The Nas Academy Controversy, Explained.
WhatALife! https://whatalife.ph/the-nas-academy-controversy-explained/
 Nas Academy issues statement on Whang-Od controversy. (2021, August 5).
Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/05/nas-academy-issues-statement-
on-whang-od-controversy/
 Nas Daily doesn’t understand Kalinga culture, PH law — UP professor – Manila
Bulletin. (n.d.). Mb.com.ph. Retrieved December 1, 2022, from
https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/07/nas-daily-doesnt-understand-kalinga-culture-ph-
law-up-professor/?amp=