Apo Whang Od, the last surviving original hand-tap tattoo artist from the Philippine highland village of Buscalan in Tinglayan, Kalinga, was in Manila last Wednesday to attend Manila Fame, a local design trade show.
People were initially excited for the 100-year-old’s visit but the conversation on social media took a turn when some noted that Whang Od was allegedly being exploited.
On Saturday, Facebook user Winky Scott shared a photo of the event’s press conference that shows Whang Od looking tired on stage. In her caption, she said that Whang Od was made to do tattoos from 8am – 4pm and that the event charged PHP2,500 (US$48.52) for a tattoo, PHP500 (US$9.7) for a tattoo of Whang Od’s signature, and PHP700 (US$13.59) to enter the press conference.
https://www.facebook.com/winkyscottlaagan/posts/1942526276072805:0
The post, which now has 34,000 shares, 22,000 reactions, and 8,500 comments has gone viral and people have shared their thoughts on it online.
https://twitter.com/biancafermiza/status/921966419138379776
I think the best way to appreciate Apo Whang Od is to go up in Buscalan and experience her tattooing.
— Derrick (@jhndrrck) October 21, 2017
After this Mnl Fame shit issue, I demand Apo Whang Od to be hailed as a National Artist! Please lang do this for her and our culture
— 〰️ (@kalimadro) October 22, 2017
However, according to makeup artist Xeng Zulueta, who was able to meet Whang Od during the event, the tattoo artist was not exploited.
In a Facebook post shared earlier today, she said: “You know, before you get to Apo you need to go thru so many relatives and members of the tribe? You can’t simply just go to her. [It takes] effort to exploit her because they won’t let you; you don’t stand a chance.
While it did not directly address people’s concerns, a statement released yesterday by the government’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the group that organized Manila Fame, says that Whang Od’s visit was properly coordinated with Whang Od herself as well as elders in the Kalinga community and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, among other government agencies.
https://www.facebook.com/ManilaFAMEofficial/posts/1285929364869702
The statement also assured that Whang Od was well taken cared of by a dedicated medical team and that all proceeds from Whang Od and the other hand-tap tattoo artists’ works were handled by the Kalinga elders.
According to a Rappler report, Whang Od’s niece Grace Palicas also expressed her appreciation for the event through a text message to Manila Fame.
“We are happy to be invited at the Manila FAME; we’re proud. We’re not very showy when it comes to expressing our feelings. When we talk, she said she wants to come. Lola said she wants to see Manila. I told her, if you want, let’s go, so we can experience other cultures,” she said.
What do you think? Was this a good way to put the spotlight on Kalinga culture or was it a way of commodifying it? Let us know in the comments below.
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