A student submission for an Arts Appreciation course (GE 218) that profiles Apo Whang-Od, the 109-year-old traditional Kalinga tattoo artist known as the last mambabatok of her generation. The document covers her biography, her home in Buscalan, Kalinga Province, and her ancient hand-tap tattooing method using pomelo thorn, bamboo stick, and soot-and-water ink.
This is a student presentation for GE 218 Arts Appreciation, submitted by Glaiza Mae Asis. It profiles Apo Whang-Od, the 109-year-old traditional Kalinga tattoo artist known as the last living mambabatok of her generation.
The document introduces Maria Oggay, better known as Apo Whang-Od, who learned tattooing from her father at age 15. She lives in Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga Province, a village surrounded by the Cordillera rice terraces.
It describes her ancient hand-tap tattooing method, which uses a pomelo thorn, bamboo stick, and soot-and-water ink. Through rhythmic hand-tapping, she creates geometric symbols inspired by nature and spirituality.
The presentation highlights her status as the oldest female tattoo artist in the world and the last mambabatok of her generation, connecting generations to Filipino heritage.