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Batok at Wasay (Insight)
In the region of Cordillera, there is a famous tribe that is known for their culture of "pagbabatok", and this tribe is known as "Botbot." They are located at the village of Buscalan in Tinglayan where tourists from around the world visit them just to experience their very old culture where they use thorns and ink pigment found under cooking pots.
Pagbabatok is practiced by hand-tapping of ink to the skin using a thorn that is attached to one end of a stick. The thorn used comes from a lemon plant and is called "Gisi"; while the short stick is called "Pat-ik." The ink used comes from soot or "Using", mixed with a little water. A pattern is drawn into the skin using a blade of grass then they proceed to tattooing it.
I have known pagbabatok since I was a teenager and I always dreamed of visiting them not to get a tattoo, but to study and be mesmerized by their culture. It's sad to know that their culture and tradition is slowly dying. Their tribe should start teaching and passing down their culture so their efforts, knowledge and skills would be alive for a long time.
Batok at Wasay (Insight): Services
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