Origins & Early Life

Whang-od Oggay (first name pronunciation: [ˈ(h)waŋˈ(ʔ)ɔd]; February 17, 1917), also known as Maria Oggay, is a tattoo artist from the village of Buscalan within Tinglayan, Kalinga, Philippines. She is often described as the "last" and oldest mambabatok (traditional Kalinga tattooist) and is part of the Butbut people of the larger Kalinga ethnic group. At the age of 11, she began tattooing Butbut headhunters and women. Butbut warriors traditionally earned tattoos from deeds in combat.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

With the end of tribal warfare in the region, Whang-od continues to practice traditional tattooing on tourists visiting Buscalan. Unlike the majority of Filipinos, she does not speak Filipino or English. She only communicates in Kalinga, her native language, and Ilocano, a lingua franca of Northern Luzon. In April 2023, 106-year-old Whang-od appeared on the cover of Vogue Philippines' Beauty Issue, making her the oldest living person to ever be on the cover of Vogue. The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) conferred on Whang-od the prestigious Dangal ng Haraya Award at Tabuk, the capital of Whang-od's ethnic province of Kalinga, in 2018.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She was nominated for the National Living Treasures...

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