NATIONAL AWARD

 THE TATOO ARTIST GET NATIONAL                             AWARD

Maria "Whang-Od" Oggay, a tattoo artist, received the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday. The president praised Oggay as a national treasure and a "enabler of unity" who faced gender norms to preserve the skin art legacy of the Kalinga indigenous people.

Whang-Od, the "mambabatok" who has been in YouTube videos and women's magazine covers, continues to go strong at 106 years old and has a smile on her face. She personally accepted the prize and a hug from the

Whang-Od's significance to the preservation of Philippine folk art and rituals "cannot be understated," Mr. Marcos stated in a speech.

"She broke over gender norms by getting into tattoos at a time when it was thought to be a man's territory only. According to Mr. Marcos, "she is a mentor and keeper of oral traditions, passing on the history of her community through her art to a new generation of artists."
He continued, saying that Whang-Od's skill and popularity "raised international awareness of our country's rich cultural heritage." Apo Whang-Od becomes a spokesperson for unity and a symbol of the notion that unites all people since her paintings span political boundaries and a wide range of cultural backgrounds. 

The President stated that Whang-Od is one of the last master mambabatoks from Buscalan village in Tinglayan, Kalinga, and that her achievements "make her a Filipina worthy of our respect and of our admiration." He recalled that Whang-Od had previously received recognition from the government in 2018 when the National Commission for Culture and the Arts presented her with the Dangal ng Haraya Award for Intangible Cultural Heritage.