buscalan
cordillera
indigenous
kalinga
people
tattoo
buscalan elders: remnants of kalinga tattoo culture
The Kalinga tattoo culture may still be there but one can say that's its not being practiced like how it was it the old days. Gone are the days of head hunting and only a handful of those fully tattooed warriors remain. I had this rare opportunity to stay for a few days in the Whang Od's village of Buscalan in Kalinga and take photos of the few remaining tattooed Kalinga women. Most of them are in their 80's and 90's.
Kasang Lammaw, 79 yrs old
Idchong Payay, 75 yrs old
Sigwhay Ngajaan, 86 yrs old
Whogkajon and Sigwhay
Whogkajon Sujam, 80 yrs old
Ti -i Payay, 98 yrs old
Lu-ja Lukya, 89 yrs old
Chajong Payay, 102 yrs old
4 comments:
I saw Whang-Od's feature on Carina David's TV segment, and I am awed at how painful they do that tattooing. Numb from the pain, but so feeling it in their bodies, Carina for sure had the chance to try being pierced/pricked with a letter K for Kalinga in her buttocks. I'm sure I cannot handle such pain, but the culture remains, however, who is to continue this kind of tradition. And for me, I don't believe that the more tattooed a woman is, the more beautiful she is, but I respect their belief.
LikE!
What beautiful portraits!
What beautiful portraits!
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