Everyone was stunned when Vogue Philippines dropped a bomb: Apo Whang-Od as the magazine's cover—a full-blooded Filipina and an indigenous legend. Probably the oldest person to be covered on Vogue at 106 years old. The famous Kalinga tattoo artist Whang-Od graced the cover with her half-body picture parading her tattoos as if it was a scream and a clamor to flaunt her heritage and culture.
“Heralded as the last mambabatok of her generation, she has imprinted the symbols of the Kalinga tribe — signifying strength, bravery, and beauty — on the skin of thousands of people who have made the pilgrimage to Buscalan. ‘When visitors come from far away,’ Whang-Od says in the Butbut language, ‘I will give them the tatak Buscalan, tatak Kalinga for as long as my eyes can see.' ”
No other magazines have dared
According to Artu Nepomuceno, the photographer of Whang-Od, the photoshoot process was an emotional journey because photographing Whang-Od meant more to him than he realized. Artu said he aimed for an authentic and pure image of Whang-Od instead of an intellectual approach. He also hoped his photos could carry his desire to help works and projects aimed at pre-colonial Filipino culture.
Some Filipinos said they had goosebumps and were teared-eyed when they saw the post. Some were also manifesting their hopes to get tattooed by Whang-Od. They will surely need to grab the chance immediately as the national artist is not getting young at 106. Although there are some Filipinos who are concerned about whether Whang-Od and her community were treated respectfully in the photoshoot process.
The cover is achingly beautiful, but also, at the same time, it gives us the slight nudge on the shoulder to give attention to our culture and even the bare minimum to just finish reading the article. Give Whang-Od and her community the clout they deserve.
