10,366 tourists visit Kalinga’s oldest tattoo artist
TINGLAYAN, Kalinga — The Municipal Tourism Office reported that some 10,366 local and foreign tourists have visited Apo Whang-od since the country's oldest mambabatok (tattoo artist) opened her doors to tourists in January this year.
Whang-od is often described as the last and oldest mambabatok in Kalinga. She is 105 years old, reports said.
Johnny Tiggangay, municipal tourism officer, said the re-opening of tattooing was in response to the clamor by the local and foreign tourists wanting to visit Apo Whang-od, as well as the request of Buscalan locals for the revival of their source of livelihood.
Data showed the most visited tourism sites related to tattooing are in Buscalan (particularly that of Apo Whang-od), Bugnay Chico River, Loccong, Butbut Proper and Ngibat Rice Terraces,Tulgao Rice Terraces, Tulgao Hot Spring, Palang-ah Falls, Dananao Volcano and Dananao Rice Terraces.
Tiggangay said that before the reopening, the municipal government had asked the stakeholders to comply with all government requirements and the training of tour guides to ensure the safety of tourists. The preparations were made with the help of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Tinglayan and other offices.
There are 42 home-stay facilities for tourists in the locality and peace and order programs are in place with the collaboration of the police and Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Bodong (Peacepact) system.
“We did not organize any tourism task force since the “Umili” (communities/villagers) are the task force themselves,” Tiggangay said.
He added that the economic situation now in Tinglayan particularly in Buscalan is getting better with the opening of its tourism industry.