EX-NCIP OFFICIAL DEFENDS WHANG-OD
NATIVIDAD Sugguiyao, former provincial officer of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Kalinga and a key figure during Apo Whang-od’s rise to fame in 2008, defended the traditional tattoo icon amid online controversy questioning her age of 107 years.
“Apo Whang-od is ageless. Her age is merely incidental to her fame,”said Sugguiyao after a Facebook post from a netizen named Michael Umaming, later revealed to be a staff of NCIP-Cordillera, circulated online on February 13 that raised doubts about the real age of Whang-od.
Umaming’s post also suggested that Whang-od is not the last “mambabatok” (traditional tattoo artist) and claimed to know individuals who can attest to this.
“Everybody wants a piece of Whangod. They travel to faraway Buscalan just for her three dots. To those in the media and in research, I hope they will not perpetuate the lie that Whang-od is 107 years old. I hope you discover the truth too that she is not the last mambabatok. The many you have not found out are not practicing their batok now for the same reason that Whang-od was not practicing her batok before she became a tourism darling. Enjoy discovering the truth!” Umaming wrote in his post.
The post gained thousands of reactions and comments online and attracted the attention of NCIP-Kalinga and Sugguiyao.
Sugguiyao refuted Umaming’s claims and clarified that Whang-od’s age was based on her birth certificate issued through a late registration process.
“Nobody lied about her age. Umaming can only speak for Mount Province and is not in a position to speak for Kalinga, much less about our history and traditions,” said Sugguiyao.
“I consider the cryptic post as discrediting an icon and some sort of vilification. His manner of posting was an insinuation that Whang-od was a lie. As someone from Kalinga and personally related to Whangod, I would not want to misunderstand his post, but I find it disturbing from a cultural sensitivity standpoint, and can I say it’s stated strongly and out of bounds.”
Sugguiyao further called out Umaming for his post, stating that he should be aware that the ages of Cordillera elders are traditionally determined by events surrounding births or seasons of agriculture during early times and not further create controversies from such matters.
“Although he did say he respects Whang-od, I felt strongly against it as he could have been more responsible in his post so as not to hurt the sensibilities of his fellow Cordillerans, fellow NCIP officers, and the people who are close to Whang-od,” Sugguiyao added.
“In one way or another, Whang-od was an instrument in the revival of an almost vanishing body art, and it was not her age that brought her to fame but her contribution to the cultural preservation of an indigenous practice, which made our region and country known worldwide. Whether she is 7 or 700 years old, her age holds little significance to her fame, and her name is synonymous with traditional tattooing.”
NCIP-Kalinga’s Anneleis Mabazza echoed Sugguiyao’s sentiments, emphasizing that Whang-od should be celebrated for her cultural contribution regardless of her age and that unnecessary attempts to discredit her are unwarranted.
Grace Palicas, Whang-od’s granddaughter and spokesman, expressed disappointment over the controversy that spread on social media but declined further comment to avoid amplifying the issue.
Whang-od rose to international fame in 2008 when NCIP-Kalinga, then led by Sugguiyao, organized a “batok” tattoo festival that was featured on Discovery Channel’s “Tattoo Hunter” segment. Her traditional tattooing became a tourist attraction, earning her local recognitions such as the Dangal ng Hiraya award in 2018 and the Presidential Medal of Merit last month.
Last year, Whang-Od graced the cover of Vogue Philippines and holds the distinction as the magazine’s oldest cover star, unseating actor Judi Dench who was featured at 85.