#larskrutak

[dada-chi-blog]

Good Morning World! ⚞❤⚟ Look what the postman had in store for me today 😍🎉❤ #dadachi #tatau #holisticink #handpokedtattoos #ancientink #larskrutak

[upanddowndaisla]

Photo Post #10: Kalinga and the Mambabatok

Before the Spaniards came to colonize the Philippines, the ancient tribes were “Pintados”, warriors who stained their body with symbols out of the lemon thorn pierce to their skin mixed blood with the soot out from the cooking ware. Back then women with tattoos are considered beautiful and men are considered brave warriors. This tradition they keep for long was done only by women not until then the last “Mambabatok” Fang-od (or Whang-od) was discovered by an american anthropologist, Lars Krutak. 

tok, tok, tok, tok.. 

 The sound of tattooing as the lemon thorn keeps piercing my skin. Few hours ago i was in the Bus station standing in cue to get myself a ride because i run out of tickets. 

tok, tok, tok, tok.. 

 as Fang-Od keeps on running down her batok to draw the design. Few hours ago i was about to give up when climbing the steps of the mountain had become too tiring. Thankful to my guide Francis Pa-in (([phone]) whose contact details i read somewhere online. He is known internationally as he was included in lonely planet.

Before i got that tattoo from Fang-Od her granddaughter, Grace, who was already 19 years old and the only heir to the batok tradition if tattooing did my “Magsasayaw” design. I had a rare moment of living and inter acting with Grace family as i had to stay over night to have my tattoo from Fang-Od the next day. They treat guest very kindly as they offer you their dish. That time they cooked a very nice meal for me and gave the local coffee to taste.

I had to wake up early in the morning to catch up with Fang-Od as there are other tourist line up to get a tattoo from her too. 

tok, tok, tok, tok.. 

 that was the last of the sound of the hammering as she wipe my skin to removed the blood stain and rub coco oil to the tattoo. I had to leave immediately after it was done since i had to catch a flight the next day. Along with me i took the memories of that Kalinga experience leaving behind a simple gesture of gratitude i gave to Fang-Od my wooden bracelet made in Bohol, my survival bracelet to Francis and my green scarf to Fang-wa, Fang-Od’s sister. Looking up. Francis pointed to me the mountain of sleeping beauty which in mind i say, this will not be the last, definitely! 

 Jumjum

[bodymodorigins]

Dr Lars Krutak on his new book, Magical Tattoos and Scarification