Woman who uses charcoal soot to tattoo on the skin faces Vogue

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Woman who uses charcoal soot to tattoo on the skin faces Vogue

Whang-Od, from the small mountain village of Buscalan in the Philippines, is considered the country's oldest mambabatok traditional tattoo technique, which uses a traditional tapping method utilizing charcoal soot and a sharp stick. The magazine reported that she began learning about the traditional method from her father at 16 years old.

Apo Maria 'Whang-Od' OggayWhang-Od' Oggay symbolizes the strength and beauty of the Filipino spirit, Vogue Philippines wrote in a tweet. She has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe, symbolizing strength, bravery, and beauty on the skin, hailed as the last mambabatok of her generation. Her artwork has caused waves of tattoo tourism in the Philippines, where people from all over the world visit her to receive one of her legendary designs, according to Vogue.

Whang-Od has passed her knowledge to her grandnieces, Grace Palicas and Elyang Wigan, whom she has trained in the tattoo art for several years, she told Vogue. When visitors come from far away, Whang-Od told Vogue in the Butbut language I will give them the tatak buscalan, tatak Kalinga for as long as my eyes can see. Whang-Od is the face of the Vogue Philippines Beauty issue, which highlights the female gaze, according to the magazine.