NCCA to present Dangal ng Haraya award to Whang-Od

FILE: Recognizing Whang-Od’s contribution through her practice o the ancient hand-tapped tattooing, the NCCA board headed by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario is set to award her at the Kalinga Capitol Plaza (Photo By Mawg64 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) is set to present Kalinga’s last and oldest mambabatok (traditional tattooist) Maria “Whang-Od” Oggay as a recipient of the Dangal ng Haraya award for Intangible Cultural Heritage on June 25.

Recognizing Whang-Od’s contribution through her practice of the ancient hand-tapped tattooing, the NCCA board headed by National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario is set to award her at the Kalinga Capitol Plaza, Tabuk, Kalinga.

“Apo Whang-Od’s continuing work as a manwhatok and her influence on the Filipino traditional arts scene leading to a heightened awareness about the culture of the Kalinga community – their worldview, traditions, and expressions – earned her the Dangal ng Haraya for Intangible Cultural Heritage,” the NCCA wrote in a special resolution on May 2 in Davao City.

Receiving this recognition will include the 101-year old traditional tattooist to previous cultural advocates like Senator Edgardo Angara, Architect Augusto Villalon, and Susan Calo Medina, as well as current cultural supporters Senator Loren Legarda and Dr.

Jesus Peralta.

The Dangal ng Haraya, according to the NCCA is “given to living Filipino artists, cultural workers, and historians; artistic or cultural groups, historical societies, institutions, foundations, and councils to recognize their outstanding achievements in relevant fields that have made an impact and significant contribution to Philippine culture and arts.”

Along with the Gawad Alab ng Haraya that honors outstanding achievements in the performing arts, cultural conservation, arts management, library and information services program, theater production, cultural journalism and documentation, and other fields., through these awards, the Commission seeks to uphold excellence in all artistic and cultural endeavors. These also encourage initiative and participation among groups and individuals and recognize exemplary cultural programs that can serve as valuable examples to others.

In late February, the upper chamber nominated Whang-Od for the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan (GAMABA) or the National Living Treasures Award.

(Read: Senate nominates Whang-Od for GAMABA)

Senate Resolution No. 2 and Senate Resolution No. 538, introduced by Senators Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara respectively, wrote that Whang-Od is the only surviving Kalinga ‘mambabatok’ or a master tattoo artist of ‘batek.’