Lesson 30 : Batok; Art of the Tattoo
ASSESSMENT 1: (15 points)
1. What are the meaning and significance of tattoos during the pre- historic
period or early colonial period?
1. Symbolism is part and parcel of pre colonial Filipino warrior
culture. A certain clothing, tattoo or cicatrix may connote the wearer’s
status in warrior society. Tattooing was widely practiced in pre-
colonial Philippines both for the purposes of ornamentation and rite
of passage. This was particularly well-known in the Visayas and
among the highland tribes of Northern Luzon. So widespread was
the practice of tattooing in the Visayas that the Spaniards coined the
Visayas because their body is covered by tattoos. (Manila Times)
2. What are the meaning and significance of tattoos in our modern time?
Today, people choose to be tattooed for artistic, cosmetic,
sentimental/memorial, religious and magical reasons to symbolize
their belonging to or identification with particular groups, including
criminal gangs or a particular ethnic group or law-abiding subculture.
In the Philippines certain tribal groups believe tattoo have magical
qualities and help to protect their bearers. Most traditional tattooing
in the country is related to bearer’s accomplishment in life or rank in
the tribe. (Uber, 2015)
3. What are the factors that can be attributed to the dying art of “BATOK” ?
The country has indeed a great cultural diversity. Even before the
coming of Spaniards and other colonizer, the ancestors have their
indigenous art already that is evident to the culture. Batok is believed
to have been practiced for one thousand years already. Unlike today,
tattooing in ancient time is not done for money. The tribes people of
Kalinga are headhunters, they customarily practice headhunting,
making it one of the main reason behind tattooing. (Pongpong, 2019)
4. Why have tattoos become so popular today?
