In the last five years or so, the last living Kalinga tattoo artist of her generation, Apo Whang Od, has received so much attention both in the Philippines and the rest of the world. Her village is now a seeming pilgrimage site with tourists scaling its mountainous terrain in the hopes of receiving her three…
After I published my story about Getting Inked by Whang Od a couple of years ago, I’ve received numerous e-mails and private messages from people from around the world asking for more information about Buscalan and the famous tattoo artist, Apo Whang Od. I am glad that tattoo enthusiasts have found their way to Buscalan…
My husband and I wake up at six in the morning, still a little groggy from last night’s wedding eve party. We are up in the small village of Buscalan in the Cordillera mountains. Weddings here are celebrated for two consecutive days and last night, it seemed that the whole village joined the revelry…
The village of Buscalan in Tinglayan sits prettily on top of a mountain, some 2,000 feet or so above sea level. The village of Buscalan in Tinglayan sits prettily on top of a mountain, some 2,000 feet or so above sea level. It is home to the Botbot Tribe, one of the…
My husband and I are in the middle of a long trek going up to the remote village of Buscalan in Kalinga, Philippines. We are on our way to see the famous tattoo artist Whang Od, said to be the last Kalinga tattoo artist of her generation. My heart is pounding. And…