SLIDE 1 PAMBABATOK / TATTOOING (BULLETS

RIGHT SIDE OF THE SLIDE)

PAMBABATOK / TRADITIONAL TATTOOING

• In the early 16th century, traditional tattooing is widespread in the Philippines.

Indigenous groups throughout the Philippine islands have been practicing the art of
➢ tattooing/ pambabatok for centuries. But after the arrival of the Spanish, the Americans
and the advent of Christianity, traditional practices such as tattooing were evidently on
the verge of extinction.
➢ If you are familiar with our history, when the Spaniards first arrived in the Visayan
islands, they labelled the natives of this region as "pintados", meaning "painted people"
or "painted ones", as most of their entire bodies were covered in tattoos leaving only their
hands and feet bare.
• In Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines is inhabited by a number of indigenous
groups. More popular for their extensive tattoos and rituals are the northern mountain
tribespeople of the Cordillera Region, collectively known as "Cordillerans" or "Igorots".

➢ Several of these tribal groups customarily practiced headhunting, being one of the main
reasons behind tattooing.

• Methods and tools used in ancient Filipino tattooing all differed between the groups
throughout the regions. Some methods involved attaching a sharpened object such as metal,
a thorn, wood or a bone to one end of a stick and was then either tapped or poked
repeatedly into the skin to apply the ink. Another method involved cutting or pricking the
skin prior to rubbing black powder into the wound.

• REASON FOR TATTOOING/PAMBABATOK IN OLDER GENERATION:

➢ FOR MEN – Having a tattoo in their generation symbolizes their strengths and
accomplishments.

➢ They were also used to distinguish or reward a warrior after a successful headhunt
expedition and marked their social status within their community . They believed tattoos
possessed spiritual powers and magical qualities which gave them strength and
protection.

➢ FOR WOMEN – They believed that having a tattoo on their arms and legs enhances
their beauty, and fertility.
FIRST SLIDE 2 PICS (VERTICALLY, LEFT SIDE OF THE SLIDE)

SLIDE 2 – PAMBABATOK / TATTOOING

ANOTHER SLIDE (FOR PHOTO REF)
SLIDE 3 – APO WHANG OD

• APO WHANG-OD – A woman that is last of her

kind also known as “The Last and oldest
practitioner of Kalinga tattooing”
• Currently 107 years old
• She’s now on her late
90’s but despite her
old age, she is still
practicing this ancient
art in her residence in
Buscalan, Tinglayan,
Kalinga, a hidden
village in a mountain
of the Luzon island.

• Her tattoos feature

Baybayin and tribal patterns. Most of them symbolize bravery and
nature, like ferns, stars, steps, rice bundles, centipedes and python
scales. Up until now, Whang-Od is still tattooing locals, visitors and
even foreigners from around the world.

➢ Whang-Od is a member of Butbut tribe in Kalinga. She has tribal tattoos covering her
chest and arms and it is her father who taught her this ancient art of tattooing the body
with ink and thorns. Her tattoos feature Baybayin and tribal patterns. Most of them
symbolize bravery and nature, like ferns, stars, steps, rice bundles, centipedes and
python scales. Up until now, Whang-Od is still tattooing locals, visitors and even
foreigners from around the world.
➢