The UP Vargas Museum and the Cultural Committee on Arts presented Batek: Traditional Tattoo on a Kalinga Village. The study of Batek is a master thesis of Ikin B. Salvador. http://journals.upd.edu.ph/index.php/humanitiesdiliman/article/viewDownloadInterstitial/32/716Batek, is an art of tattooing, a general term for tattoos here in the Philippines. The word “tattoo” was derive from a maori word “ta” meaning scar. “It is an act or practice of marking the skin with indelible patterns, pictures, legend, etc by marking punctures in it and inserting pigment” (Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary). In Kalinga, Batek is a permanent and irreversible marker that differentiate the Ilobos from other groups. It also connotes that a woman is of marrying age and prepares them to a rite of passage called adumba where they find their potential mate in a ceremonial dancing” (Salvador, 2002). The Ilobos believe that the absence of Batek connotes a negative aura and a bad omen or dinuras for the community.
The lubo tattooing process is a very meticulous work. The manbatek or the tattoo artist first prepares the biyog or the ink from a burnt pinewood or saleng. The fanga or clay pot is burned upside down on the hearth durpong while the saleng is continuously burned for about two hours. Smoke coming from the saleng is trapped under the fanga and produces the merteka or the black powder, which will afterward smoothly scrape off using tsut-tsut or sometimes a piece of coconut shell. It is later mixed with a sugar cane soot which they called unas or water and placed in the taki’nao, half of a coconut shell. The mixture is stirred well until it becomes thick black ink. Tattoo patterns are carved in the kammai or the handmade wooden stencil. In creating the designs, a thread or a tiger grass is pressed on the skin three times. Some use a thin stitch to draw certain designs. The manbatek puts the ink on the carved patterns of the kammai and then gently press in on the skin of the person to be tattooed. The manbatek picks up the pat-ik and with a firm blow, hits the gisi, a main tattoo instrument made of carabao horn., The needles start piercing the skin while the ink goes in. The manbatek keeps hitting and the needles slowly work their way through the skin. Then finally, the pattern of the tattoo-stamp can be recognized on the sorelling of the skin (Ibid.).
The Batek is such a wonderful work of art that is still vivid up to this day. But, like a song, it gradually fades. Batek, is not just merely an art or a practice among Ilobos. I think it is a form of language for their culture. It serves as a symbol for their status, role and their importance in the community.
It is amazing that they have created such a complicated thing despite their simple way of living. Though Batek has been disappearing in the face of Ilobos culture, it is still of great use since “city people” have adapted it. It does not gain as much meaning as before but it was given a place in fashion and arts. Furthermore, technology has elevated its method of creation.
But what really is the genuine essence of Batek or simply body tattoos? Is it just simply a form of art, cultural identity or just a body stain?
Body tattoo’s meaning relies on the person who wears it. It is relative. Like in Kalinga village, it is mainly a form of their cultural identity. For some, it is for psychological and emotional expression or a form of rebellion. For most people, they find it “cool”. Just to “go with the flow” attitude.
Tattoos as being a prominent part of a culture should be given an importance since culture itself is a social factor that gives distinction between the races and tribes. It is a very important element that is embedded and consequently molds the character of an individual.
This was written on June 20, 2002 in the University of the Philippines Baguio. I was a 2nd year student then and Ms. Ikin was still teaching Political Science courses. This was graded 17 over 20.
The lubo tattooing process is a very meticulous work. The manbatek or the tattoo artist first prepares the biyog or the ink from a burnt pinewood or saleng. The fanga or clay pot is burned upside down on the hearth durpong while the saleng is continuously burned for about two hours. Smoke coming from the saleng is trapped under the fanga and produces the merteka or the black powder, which will afterward smoothly scrape off using tsut-tsut or sometimes a piece of coconut shell. It is later mixed with a sugar cane soot which they called unas or water and placed in the taki’nao, half of a coconut shell. The mixture is stirred well until it becomes thick black ink. Tattoo patterns are carved in the kammai or the handmade wooden stencil. In creating the designs, a thread or a tiger grass is pressed on the skin three times. Some use a thin stitch to draw certain designs. The manbatek puts the ink on the carved patterns of the kammai and then gently press in on the skin of the person to be tattooed. The manbatek picks up the pat-ik and with a firm blow, hits the gisi, a main tattoo instrument made of carabao horn., The needles start piercing the skin while the ink goes in. The manbatek keeps hitting and the needles slowly work their way through the skin. Then finally, the pattern of the tattoo-stamp can be recognized on the sorelling of the skin (Ibid.).
The Batek is such a wonderful work of art that is still vivid up to this day. But, like a song, it gradually fades. Batek, is not just merely an art or a practice among Ilobos. I think it is a form of language for their culture. It serves as a symbol for their status, role and their importance in the community.
It is amazing that they have created such a complicated thing despite their simple way of living. Though Batek has been disappearing in the face of Ilobos culture, it is still of great use since “city people” have adapted it. It does not gain as much meaning as before but it was given a place in fashion and arts. Furthermore, technology has elevated its method of creation.
But what really is the genuine essence of Batek or simply body tattoos? Is it just simply a form of art, cultural identity or just a body stain?
Body tattoo’s meaning relies on the person who wears it. It is relative. Like in Kalinga village, it is mainly a form of their cultural identity. For some, it is for psychological and emotional expression or a form of rebellion. For most people, they find it “cool”. Just to “go with the flow” attitude.
Tattoos as being a prominent part of a culture should be given an importance since culture itself is a social factor that gives distinction between the races and tribes. It is a very important element that is embedded and consequently molds the character of an individual.
This was written on June 20, 2002 in the University of the Philippines Baguio. I was a 2nd year student then and Ms. Ikin was still teaching Political Science courses. This was graded 17 over 20.
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