Culture and history owe much to art. Without the great masterpieces of the learned men and women of the past – who combined both their imagination and a kernel of truth woven into every poetic line, vivid prose and brushstroke – modern society might have no interest in understanding how their ancestors made sense of their world and how those beliefs and values are carried forward today.
but art is not limited to brushes and pens. Known for their innate resourcefulness, our ancestors used their own bodies as a “living canvas” to express themselves through the painful yet intricate art of tattooing. Although it is heavily criticized by many conservative minds as a way of disrespecting and desecrating one’s body, perhaps there is something more to this art form, beyond the fact that it requires blood and stamina before one can fully appreciate the beauty that hides underneath. needle and ink work.
Painted Men of the Philippines
When tattoos came to mind, before the modern trend of tattoos, we often imagined criminals, bikers and rebels. The first Spaniards to arrive in the Philippines, however, saw them very differently when they were finally defeated by fierce and noble warriors from the Visayas, covered in complex tattoo designs all over their bodies. On that day, these painted people or “pintados”, as the conquistadors called them, cemented their mark on the diverse history of the Philippines.
The tattoos that these warriors possessed were not just meant for decorative purposes. As stated by William Henry Scott in his book “Barangay: Sixteenth Century Philippine Culture”, the tattoos of the Pintados projects an aura of intimidation and fear towards their enemies, which was a part of their psychological strategy during tribal war and raids. It should be noted that this is not some kind of elaborated bluff that they utilized, for acquiring their own tattoo required a tormenting process that only the toughest could endure.
Using a thorn from the local calamansi trees as the main tool, the ancient art of Filipino tattooing can be done in two ways. one is by dipping the spine, attached to a wooden stick, into a charcoal paste and then repeatedly striking it into the skin. the second is by cutting or puncturing the skin where charcoal powder will be rubbed into the wounds it created.
Scott added that the position of the tattoo on the body indicates certain meanings about those painted. according to him, chest tattoos are given to those who have been in a number of battles. as his war experiences increased in number, his tattoos would also cover their backs. facial tattoos are special markings that are reserved only for those who have proven to be the bravest warriors of their tribe.
the tattooed headhunters
in the northern part of the philippines, hardened hill people from thekalinga, bontoc andifugao tribes also practice tattooing rituals or “pagbabatuk >”. Like painted ones, tattoos are often seen on the bravest of warriors and headhunters. their women also have the right to have tattoos on their bodies, which are believed to enhance their beauty and fertility.
Having a tattoo for these highland people marks the beginning of a man’s journey from a legitimate head hunter to a fearsome warrior. In the study made by Analyn Ikin V. Salvador-Amores from UP Baguio, men can officially be named as a head hunter the moment he managed to make his first kill. Doing this will make him acquire a tattoo called “gulot” which is described as a banded stripe pattern. When he gets his second kill, he can now have another tattoo that will be placed in his hands. The more kills he will get in his lifetime, the more intricate designs of tattoo will be placed on him. This continues until such time that he acquires a tattoo on his cheeks which signifies him as a warrior of the highest level, gaining the title of “mai’ngor”.
Currently, the only living tattoo artist or “magbabatuk” in the Cordillera region who still practices the traditional tattooing ritual is apo whang-od. he is currently training his niece to preserve this culturally significant art.
Meanings Behind The Ink
Different cultures have a different perspective on the meaning of tattoos. Ancient Egyptians considered tattoos as protective marks against disease, especially for women when they were pregnant. In Thailand, yantra tattoos are sacred marks on the body that act as an amulet for those who wear it. On the other hand, the Greek culture used tattoos to mark their slaves in that they were treated as “possessions”. In the Philippines, tattooing during the pre-colonial era was a widespread tradition that not only culminated one’s life as a warrior but also had various connections to our animist roots.
scott recorded the names of tattoo designs that were used by our ancestors and most of these designs reflected the beautiful images of nature. the “labid,” was a one-inch-wide vertical design that resembled the scale pattern of a snake or crocodile that zigzagged from the legs to the waist. “bangut” was a unique tattoo design for the face of warriors, resembling the gaping jaw of a crocodile or sometimes the face of an eagle. Similarly, there are tattoos that were only made or applied to certain parts of the body such as “ablay” for the shoulder, “dubdub” for the chest and “ daya-daya” for the arms.
in a study by lorenz lasco of up diliman entitled “ang kosmolohiya at simbolismo ng mga sandatang pilipino: isang panimulang pag-aaral” (an introductory study on the cosmology and symbolism of ancient Philippine weapons) taken from dalumat ejournal, noted that the graffiti images found in the boxer codex (1595), the tattoo designs on the chest, thighs and their backs bear a striking resemblance to the sun, while a snake pattern runs down their limbs. According to his study, the sun and the serpent represent powerful beings that were sacred to our ancestors.
The sun symbolizes the top layer of the multi-layered universe found in Philippine mythology and known as the “kaluwalhatian” (sky world) where the ancient gods dwell. pigafetta, the chronicler of ferdinand magellan witnessed in cebu (and in mactan) how the babaylan venerated the sun in their rituals. juan salcedo also observed in agusan that the babaylan raised their hands towards the sun every time they requested the intervention of a deity. snakes, on the other hand, were associated with the underworld or “kasakitan”; a reference to the great familiar serpent of the goddess manobo dagau that is coiled beneath the five pillars that support the world. the bangut crocodile jaw facial tattoo is a symbol that links these tattooed warriors to a tagalog deity called buwaya who acts as a psychopomp or being responsible for transporting dead souls to their place rest using a coffin-like object. from behind.
The ingenious tattoo designs made by our ancestors are windows into the spirituality of our people during the period when they have not yet been touched by the colonizers.
Tattoo Culture: Revival
In addition to apo whang-od, some Filipinos in this contemporary age strive to revive ancient tattoo traditions. Some people who are part of the Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) group incorporate tattoos into their discipline which encompasses a mystical approach to their martial arts. prayers or sacred scriptures and esoteric designs are often used in the belief that it gives them protection, similar to the yantra tattoo in thailand.
In Los Angeles, a group of Filipino-Americans formed a group of tattoo enthusiasts known as “tatak ng apat na alon” (mark of the four waves) that preserves Filipino tribal designs in their tattoo art. Raised in foreign lands, these people find a deep connection to their roots through tattooing.
Whether it symbolizes courage or simply aesthetic appeal to today’s youth, the tattoo has such an ingrained cultural value that it has survived 400 years under one of the largest and most oppressive colonial empires in history. perhaps that is the true meaning of a true masterpiece; lives forever, not just on paper or canvas, but under the skin of a people known throughout the world as one of the most enduring and steadfast races to ever walk the face of the earth; the Filipinos.
Also read: Ancient Cultural Weaponry: Finding the Visayan Bakunawa Kampilan
