Kalinga's Finest "Apo Whang-od" musical hits big stage in Manila

Photo Courtesy: Ang Pahayang Plaridel FB

Cordillera - The De La Salle University Harlequin Theater Guild (DSLU-HTG) has successfully re-run the first musical play inspired by the life of Apo Whang-od - the legendary tattooist of Kalinga on November 17, 2018 at the Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium, De La Salle.

The musical play explores the early traditions and rituals of Cordillera and also feature the personal life of Whang-od in the past: her struggle for choosing romantic love and the destiny offered to her. The play also mirror how the tradition of tattooing in Kalinga which served as a reward of honor to warriors has become part of Filipino culture. 

Apo Whang Od has long been recognized and respected in her community as a master tattooist. Her practice started in her early adolescence and has since tattooed elders, women, and warriors from her community in the traditional Kalinga practice - using charcoal as ink and calamansi/suha thorns to puncture the skin - National Commision of Culture and Arts.

Photo Courtesy: Ang Pahayang Plaride FB Page

Today, many local and international tourists have heard about Whang-od and flock to her house in Buscalan to get inked by her. Most of the time, Whang-od would inked her signature tattoo design which is a linear three-dot. 

Afraid of losing the traditional art of tattooing, Whang-od is teaching her nephew along with other Kalinga women her techniques. Now, her nephew is helping her tattoo some tourist who come to her home in Kalinga. 

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The Harlequin Theater Guild had been very honored to play the life of the Kalinga legend saying the production did not only seek to honor Whang-od, but also made her known as a Filipina who has lived a life full of dreams. 

Recently, the  National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) conferred the Dangal ng Haraya Award for Intangible Cultural Heritage to Apo Whang-od. 

She now joins the ranks of Senator Loren Legarda, architect Augusto Villalon, late senator Edgardo Angara and artist and former National Museum director Jesus Peralta.