Apo Whang-Od Inks Zeinab Harake
ZEINAB HARAKE – The social media personality joined the ranks of notable figures who have had the privilege of receiving tattoos from the esteemed tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od.
On February 15, 2024, Zeinab expressed regret to her social media followers for the delayed posting of her vlog, citing a profound journey to Buscalan, a mountain village nestled in the Luzon Cordilleras region of Kalinga.
Buscalan not only holds the residence of the Butbut tribe, renowned for their reputation as formidable headhunters, but also serves as the dwelling place of Apo Whang-Od, the sole remaining traditional tattoo master in Kalinga, bearing the esteemed title of Mambabatok.
Reflecting on her encounter with the iconic tattooist, Zeinab conveyed her sentiments in her post: “The Philippines is truly amazing, and the experience with Apo Whang-Od was thrilling.”
Documenting her experience through a series of photographs, Zeinab is depicted receiving Whang-Od’s signature 3-dot tattoo, a symbol representing the revered Mambabatok tradition, alongside Whang-Od’s apprentices Grace and Elyang. The content creator proudly displayed her new ink, positioned just a few centimeters above her existing tiger face tattoo on her left arm.
Among the notable personalities who have also sought tattoos from the 106-year-old artist are Maine Mendoza, Kim Atienza, and Drew Arellano. Apo Whang-Od’s journey in the art of pagbabatok traces back to her youth, during which she gained renown for tattooing a significant number of warriors and headhunters within her tribe.
While there is a widespread call for Whang-Od to be awarded the highest accolade for Filipino artists, she remains ineligible for the National Artist Award. However, she remains a contender for the GAMABA (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan), also known as the National Living Treasures Award, in recognition of her invaluable contributions to the nation’s intangible cultural heritage.
