Reflection
(Batok and Wasay)
Activity 6, February 3, 2022
"Wasay" which is also seen in the video is also one of the common practices of the tribal groups. The old man that is being interviewed in the video is one of the "panday" and he said that he is actually not belong to the member of the tribe, he just married a woman who is an inborn member of the tribe. He also added that the "itak" and "bolo" that they used is to cut the bamboos and to slaughter animals. The "neto" design, he said that they made in by hand and after they will sell it.
Overall, we should not forget the practices or the traditions in our culture. Although that everything is modernized in our environment, we must maintain our culture. And we should be proud and show in other countries of how simple but beautiful and rich our culture.
"Pagbabatok" that is seen in the video is a traditional method of tattooing in the body with tribal designs using a bamboo stick and thorn. "Batok" is one of the art forms that is engraved in the culture of Filipinos. The native of "pagbabatok" is in the Cordillera Religion where it is inhabited by a number of indigenous groups. And these indigenous groups are known for their extensive tattoos and rituals especially the Northern Mountain tribespeople of the Cordillera Region. For the men of an indigenous group who choose to have their skin tattooed with these ancient marks are viewed as braved and courageous people in the society thus it marks their social status within their community. While for the women in an indigenous group they are allowed to have a tattoo in their skin if they reached the right age. Women in these tribal groups get the tattoo to enhance their beauty, for fertility and to serve as a means of their clothing. Apo Whang-Od is the legendary Filipina "mambabatok" from Buscalan, Tinglayan, Kalinga and she is often described as the "last" and oldest "mambabatok" in the Philippines.
