Apo Whang-od honored with Presidential Medal of Merit

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The legendary hand-tapped tattoo artist of Kalinga continues to bring honor not just to the municipality of Tinglayan but to the Cordillera Region as a whole.

In time for Valentine’s Day, Apo Whang-od joined the awards ceremony conferring honors upon 27 individuals and group winners of the 2023 Search for Outstanding Government Workers, as she was also set to receive the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

She was accompanied by officials of Tinglayan, led by Mayor Sacrament Gumilab, who described the awarding of merit to Apo Whang-od as a ‘lofty moment’.

The tattoo artist was given the accolade for her outstanding contributions to Philippine traditional arts, according to President Marcos.

"We are honoring Apo Whang Od for works that have made her and the country famous, for achievements that make her a Filipino worthy of our respect and admiration. She’s a pioneer in shattering gender stereotypes, venturing into tattooing when it was just a man’s exclusive preserve," Marcos said.

He added that Whang-od is not only a keeper of oral traditions but also a mentor, as she guides the younger generation of her craft, ensuring the preservation of the community's history. Apo Whang-od's international acclaim has also served to elevate awareness of the Philippines' rich cultural heritage on the global stage.

For the constituents of Tinglayan, witnessing one of their own receive such prestigious recognition was a moment of immense pride and joy.

As for Mayor Gumilab, the conferring of the Presidential Medal of Merit to Apo Whang-od is a source of honor and jubilation for the Kalingas.

“May we find inspiration in her to likewise do our part to bring honor to our province,” Mayor Gumilab concluded.

It is worth recalling that the mambabatok was also given the Dangal ng Haraya award for Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. Numerous endorsements for her to be given the GAMABA award were likewise made but have not received the award so far.