Around GMA

Article Inside Page

Naglabas ng opisyal na pahayag ang Local Government Unit (LGU) ng Tinglayan, Kalinga tungkol sa kanilang kilalang batok tradition.

Sa isang post sa Facebook, nanawagan ang munisipyo na respetuhin ang batok bilang bahagi ng kasaysayan at kultura ng Kalinga.

"Kalinga batok is not merely a tourist attraction, nor is it simply a form of body art that can be requested without regard for its cultural meaning and context," nakasaad sa kanilang pahayag.

"Batok is a living cultural tradition of the Kalinga people, carrying generations of knowledge, identity, symbolism, and heritage. The practice has been passed down through mambabatok and continues to be preserved by practitioners in our communities."

READ: Anjo Pertierra gets inked by Apo Whang-Od

Ang pahayag ay kaugnay sa isang insidente kung saan isang turista ang humiling kay Apo Whang-od na magpa-tattoo sa maselang bahagi ng kanyang katawan.

"While we respect Apo Whang-od's personal decision as a mambabatok, we likewise emphasize that visitors have a responsibility to approach Kalinga traditions with respect, sensitivity, and cultural understanding," aniya.

"The fact that a cultural practitioner may agree to a request does not mean that every request is appropriate. The international recognition of Apo Whang-od and Kalinga batok has brought visitors from around the world to our communities. We welcome those who come with genuine appreciation and a desire to learn. However, cultural heritage should never be reduced to a novelty, spectacle, or personal dare for the amusement of a visitor."

Sa kanilang pahayag, hinikayat din ng Tinglayan LGU ang mga bumibisita na sumunod sa wastong cultural etiquette at igalang ang kultura at mga komunidad sa Buscalan at Kalinga.

" Come to Kalinga with curiosity, but also with respect. Our culture is not a prop. Our traditions are not a joke. Our heritage is not a souvenir. Kalinga batok deserves to be experienced, understood, and respected for what it truly is, a living expression of Kalinga identity and heritage."

Kilala si Whang-od bilang isa sa mga pinakamatandang nabubuhay na mambabatok sa Kalinga.

Bilang isa sa mga pinakakilalang tattoo artist sa bansa, nakatanggap na rin siya ng iba't ibang pagkilala, kabilang ang Dangal ng Haraya Award mula sa National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

READ: Jo Koy gets inked by mambabatok legend Apo Whang-Od

Dahil sa kanyang kahusayan at reputasyon, patuloy na dinarayo si Whang-od ng mga turista mula sa iba't ibang bahagi ng Pilipinas at ibang bansa.

Tingnan ang mga artista na bumisita at nagpa-tattoo rin kay Apo Whang-od sa gallery na ito: