"This is Francis Pa-In’s mom" photo taken by Jefferson Ricario

This is the Kalinga Tattoo website where we share Kalinga tattoos, tattoo designs and their tradition.

The batek (tribal tattoos) are a lost art in Kalinga which the younger generation don’t get anymore. Tattoos are now associated with criminals and gangs . Perhaps a deeper explanation why the Kalingas today do not persist in getting tattoos is the belief that the batek is hard-earned and reserved primarily for the “rightful persons”. These are the respected village elders, oftentimes revered warriors of the past and who participated in head taking. By the time the present generation were born, head taking had long been out of practice. Getting a tattoo without participating in the actual process of headhunting can be considered as an insult to their elders.

Tattooing has disappeared following the gradual demise of headhunting and head taking practices, along with transmission of new values to the present generation.

When going to a place that you’ve never been there before. you’ll probably need a map. so that you’ll have an idea on where it is located in the map. so here’s the map. hope it will be a big help.

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"this shot is taken on the roof of their local bus in bontoc" photo taken by Jefferson Ricario

From manila to bontoc it will take 12 driving hours just to get there. and from bontoc you’ll need to take a ride from their local bus and it’s 3 hours drive to go to buscalan. and it will take 5 hours of trekking from there to be able to go to Whang Od’s house.

"the man standing is Francis Pa-In" photo taken by Jefferson Ricario

When going to buscalan it’s still safe to have a tour guide to keep you safe and knows the place. We got his number from a friend of ours, they say that he is very well known there in Bontoc. so, if your intrested to go to kalinga and to get tattooed by the last kalinga tattoo artists Whang Od, you can contact him anytime. here’s his contact number 09157690843. and you’ll be surprised because this man doesnt have any tattoos, like what you’ve always heard. on the other hand his mom has the traditional long sleeve tattoo.  he is a good man. indeed!