Known as the last mambabatok, Whang-Od is part of the Butbut tribe of the Kalinga ethnic group. Now at 102 years old, there is no stopping the ethnic tattoo artist as she collaborates with international streetwear brand New Era.
The collaboration features caps and a shirt that has gold prints of the mambabatok’s designs. Part of the proceeds will go to the Butbut tribe and the company said that โSupporting Filipino artists through collaboration is one of our brand values. And by supporting, we mean in all aspects.
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The brand is known for collaborating with different companies like Disney, Marvel and NBA. Their Philippine leg is now strengthening their Philippine market by collaborating with local artists such as Gloc 9, Kamikaze and now Whang-Od.
Though New Era got flak online about the collaboration, the brand posted that “New Era Cap PH secured all the legal matters before proceeding”.
In 2018, Whang-Od was conferred the Dangal ng Haraya Award for Intangible Cultural Heritage by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for being the Philippines’ Most Recognized and Respected Master Tattooist.