Marcos confers Medal of Merit on Whang-Od
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday conferred the Presidential Medal of Merit on 106-year-old traditional tattoo artist Maria “Whang-Od” Oggay, hailing her as a “national treasure” and “an enabler for unity.”
During awarding rites in Malacañang, the President recognized Whang-Od for her contributions to the preservation of traditional arts and practices.
“We are honoring Apo Whang-Od for works that have made her and the country famous, for other achievements that make her a Filipina worthy of our respect and of our admiration,” Marcos said.
“She is a pioneer in shattering gender stereotypes, venturing into tattooing when it was just a man’s exclusive preserve. She is a keeper of oral traditions and a mentor, teaching a new generation of artists, thus ensuring that her art form lives on to tell tales of her community’s history,” he added.
Marcos lauded Whang-Od for her contributions to upholding indigenous culture through her tattoo work, saying that she elevated the country into the international light.
“Her craft and stature as an internationally recognized artist raised international awareness of our country’s rich cultural heritage,” the President said.
“As Apo Whang-Od’s works appeal to diverse cultures and across political divides, she becomes an enabler for unity and an example of an idea that binds us all. She is truly a national treasure,” he added.
Whang-Od is a “mambabatok” (traditional Kalinga tattooist) from Barangay Buscalan in Tinglayan town, Kalinga, and the last of her generation.
She does the art the traditional way, by using wood attached with a thorn from a citrus tree, and ink from natural dye and soot. She tattoos without any chemical anesthetic.
Whang-Od does the tattooing with her grandnieces, continuously training and passing on the cultural heritage to them.
In 2018, she was awarded the Dangal ng Haraya award for Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Marcos also awarded several government workers for their “remarkable and honest work that has made a positive impact on the lives of the Filipino people.”
Among them was Fernando Viado, a government worker from Antipolo City, who became partially deaf because of a work-related incident.
“Nonetheless, he continued to be the best mechanic he could be for the City Government of Antipolo. When they see opportunities — when these public servants see opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve — our awardees respond with audacity, turning bold ideas into reality,” Marcos said.