Connect with us

Filipino-Canadian In Focus

Mayo Landicho: Artist of different kinds

Published

on

Singer-songwriter Mayo Landicho (Supplied)

If art can be diverse, then so can the artist.

Expressing his creativity, feelings, and emotions in various forms, this artist is not a one-trick pony.

The person he wanted to be

Mayo Landicho is a painter, singer-songwriter, and an award-winning tattoo artist who hails from San Pablo, Laguna in the Philippines. At the age of five, Mayo had already set an eye on his future goal and knew how he was going to reach it, despite his struggles growing up in a big family of 10. 

He discovered this goal when he saw a drawing of his older brother that left a strong impression on him. Impressed by his sibling’s work, Mayo began drawing, with pencil and crayons as his first art media, until he found himself constantly doing it.

His canvas would mostly show abstracts, landscapes, and portraits that are either based on what he would see in his everyday life or in his mind’s eye.

In the course of brushing up his skills and exploring more about art, he learned another form of it where he can communicate his “deepest feelings and emotions.”

Music.

Describing himself as a shy person, it is through his artworks that he gets to express himself more. However, the words of his inner self could be heard through his musical composition and unfeigned lyrics. Music broadened Mayo’s horizon and it made him bring his art from the canvas to a music sheet.

It was during his college days when Mayo formed his first band whose music mostly consisted of rock, original alternatives, and rock ‘n roll. They would perform at their school and in events such as birthday parties and their town festivals. 

“Usually, we do covers and from time to time original songs. I want the listeners to know the story behind the lyrics we write and feel emotions through the melody we play.”

After graduating, he signed as a recording artist of Polycosmic Records and Octo Arts with Pointblank Band. He then became a teacher for high school and college students for two years and, later on, worked at the loans department in a bank. 

Even though he was doing teaching and corporate jobs, Mayo did not take a break from music. He spent his free time either playing musical instruments by himself or jamming with his friends.

He dreamed of taking his art beyond the sea, which came true when he steered the wheel of his career towards Canada in 1999.

Being part of Canada

To become part of a place of opportunity and growth was Mayo’s reason why he chose to migrate to Canada. His desire to build a family there and give them a better life turned into reality when he married his wife and had their daughter in 2003.

Canada gave him the excitement to meet new faces, build new relationships, and create new experiences. But while there are tons of opportunities, his new environment also tested him.

“It was the survival of the fittest. Canada was such a different environment compared to the Philippines.”

As an immigrant, there were heaps of stumbles, however, the hardest one for Mayo was getting employed. He took part-time jobs doing props, murals, and event posters, and then playing music on the side. His first job was at a fast food restaurant, then to a printing shop, and to the automobile industry.

It took him some time to adjust to his surroundings. Although he still struggled from time to time, this was outweighed by the many opportunities offered to him in Canada which, he said, he never thought of having back in the Philippines.

In his new home, Mayo could also explore more of its cultural diversity; there were so many things he could learn from various people, including their arts, music, and landscapes. Each day was also another adventure for him as he enjoys outdoor-related activities, such as hiking, running, and cycling in his extra time, visiting tourist spots, and trying different types of cuisine.

While ticking off his checklist of things to do and grasping knowledge on different cultural backgrounds in Canada, Mayo proudly introduced the rich culture of his motherland.

Regardless of a vast change in his surroundings, he is still very much a Filipino. Mayo showed his identity from the food he cooks and eats, clothes he wears, holidays he celebrates, and the music he listens to. 

He is also a member of Filipino-Canadian organizations, including Dimasalang Artist Group, San Pablo Association in British Columbia, and the Katara Cultural Group.

“As a proud Filipino, I incorporate my heritage with everything I do. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

While discovering the multicultural society he is in, Mayo, in return, shares to others a unique part of the Philippine culture.

Tattooing life stories

Back in the Philippines, Mayo also learned tattooing when he was a teenager. At first, he was only doing it for fun until it made a name internationally. 

Mayo recalled how his friends encouraged him to take a step further in tattooing when they saw the potential he has. He believed in his capabilities and thought of tattooing as a way for him to keep his identity and heritage.

“My purpose as being a tattoo artist is to do more than tattooing, but creating my own styles, and preserve and promote our very own unique style of tattooing called ‘Batok’ around the world.”

Mayo doing Batok (Supplied)

“Batok” is a traditional art of tattooing in the Philippines, in which ink is placed into the skin by hand-tapping it using a thorn and bamboo stick. Mayo personally learned “pagbabatok” from the renowned tattoo artist of Kalinga, Whang-Od. 

To fulfill his purpose as a tattoo artist, Mayo built Birthmark Tattoos in 2010, which is now known to many as “Vancouver’s best kept secret.” It was called Birthmark Tattoos because Mayo believes that when a person gets a tattoo, they are “reborn with a new birthmark” inscribed in them in this lifetime.

But what makes Birthmark Tattoos stand out? Aside from the tattooing method it uses, the designs they customize for clients are one of a kind; tattoos that are close to the client’s heart because those are based on the “story” of their life.

“I free-hand a lot of my work. I stay away from any existing designs and do my own.”

“I love the pride I feel [whenever I’m tattooing]. I found that it’s an honor to be able to be blessed to continue my method of tattooing, share my work with my clients, and put it on their body permanently.”

Having been doing this for more than a decade, Mayo’s designs reached and engraved the skin of well-known personalities such as celebrities, sports figures, and local and international tattoo artists. His masterpieces also won him multiple awards, including the top prize at the Westcoast Tattoo Show 2012 and Westrock Tattoo Convention in 2013, and the 1st and 2nd Place award for the “Best Tribal” tattoos at the Urban Tattoo Convention held in New York in 2015.

Mayo with his award in 2020 (Supplied)

Art media and music notes

As he imprints his own interpretation and style of one’s story on their body, he did not forget to tell about his own through his canvas and music.

Mayo at the Vancouver Lantern Festival. His artwork was turned into a lantern. (Supplied)

Outside Birthmark Tattoos, if not doing outdoor activities, Mayo can be seen painting. 

Using acrylic oil, charcoal, watercolor, or tattoo ink, he would mostly paint indigenous patterns which, Mayo said, represents him and his cultural background.

Nature also becomes his subject as an outdoorsy who endlessly admires every aspect of it. This is why joining the How Green Is Your Muse (HGIYM)? exhibit meant so much for Mayo. The exhibit happened in 2019 at the Surrey Art Gallery, where 12 Filipino-Canadians artists, including Mayo, took part in to give homage to Mother Nature.

“This holds a very special place in my heart because this raises awareness about issues regarding the environment and the conditions it’s in; that we need to constantly remind everyone to take care of our mother earth.”

His music, meanwhile, has been heard by more people as he performed on numerous occasions like Philippine Festival in Vancouver Arts Gallery, Philippine Independence Day event, Surrey Pinoy Festivals, all held in 2020, and was the opening act at the concert of the renowned Filipino singer and songwriter Arnel Pineda at the Vogue Theater in Vancouver. Apart from these, he did a tour in Singapore and Malaysia.

Mayo also has a YouTube account named “Birthmark Tattoos by Mayo” where he uploads his music performances.

He wishes to craft paintings and write lyrics more and present these to a wider audience by participating in many conventions, exhibits, and concerts soon. 

Mayo indeed traversed into the art world and found canvas and paints, lyrics and chords, bamboo stick and ink as his instruments to convey to others his imagination, emotions, other people’s stories, and things he discovers in the wilderness.

xosotin chelseathông tin chuyển nhượngcâu lạc bộ bóng đá arsenalbóng đá atalantabundesligacầu thủ haalandUEFAevertonxosofutebol ao vivofutemaxmulticanaisonbethttps://bsport.fithttps://onbet88.ooohttps://i9bet.bizhttps://hi88.ooohttps://okvip.athttps://f8bet.athttps://fb88.cashhttps://vn88.cashhttps://shbet.atbóng đá world cupbóng đá inter milantin juventusbenzemala ligaclb leicester cityMUman citymessi lionelsalahnapolineymarpsgronaldoserie atottenhamvalenciaAS ROMALeverkusenac milanmbappenapolinewcastleaston villaliverpoolfa cupreal madridpremier leagueAjaxbao bong da247EPLbarcelonabournemouthaff cupasean footballbên lề sân cỏbáo bóng đá mớibóng đá cúp thế giớitin bóng đá ViệtUEFAbáo bóng đá việt namHuyền thoại bóng đágiải ngoại hạng anhSeagametap chi bong da the gioitin bong da lutrận đấu hôm nayviệt nam bóng đátin nong bong daBóng đá nữthể thao 7m24h bóng đábóng đá hôm naythe thao ngoai hang anhtin nhanh bóng đáphòng thay đồ bóng đábóng đá phủikèo nhà cái onbetbóng đá lu 2thông tin phòng thay đồthe thao vuaapp đánh lô đềdudoanxosoxổ số giải đặc biệthôm nay xổ sốkèo đẹp hôm nayketquaxosokq xskqxsmnsoi cầu ba miềnsoi cau thong kesxkt hôm naythế giới xổ sốxổ số 24hxo.soxoso3mienxo so ba mienxoso dac bietxosodientoanxổ số dự đoánvé số chiều xổxoso ket quaxosokienthietxoso kq hôm nayxoso ktxổ số megaxổ số mới nhất hôm nayxoso truc tiepxoso ViệtSX3MIENxs dự đoánxs mien bac hom nayxs miên namxsmientrungxsmn thu 7con số may mắn hôm nayKQXS 3 miền Bắc Trung Nam Nhanhdự đoán xổ số 3 miềndò vé sốdu doan xo so hom nayket qua xo xoket qua xo so.vntrúng thưởng xo sokq xoso trực tiếpket qua xskqxs 247số miền nams0x0 mienbacxosobamien hôm naysố đẹp hôm naysố đẹp trực tuyếnnuôi số đẹpxo so hom quaxoso ketquaxstruc tiep hom nayxổ số kiến thiết trực tiếpxổ số kq hôm nayso xo kq trực tuyenkết quả xổ số miền bắc trực tiếpxo so miền namxổ số miền nam trực tiếptrực tiếp xổ số hôm nayket wa xsKQ XOSOxoso onlinexo so truc tiep hom nayxsttso mien bac trong ngàyKQXS3Msố so mien bacdu doan xo so onlinedu doan cau loxổ số kenokqxs vnKQXOSOKQXS hôm naytrực tiếp kết quả xổ số ba miềncap lo dep nhat hom naysoi cầu chuẩn hôm nayso ket qua xo soXem kết quả xổ số nhanh nhấtSX3MIENXSMB chủ nhậtKQXSMNkết quả mở giải trực tuyếnGiờ vàng chốt số OnlineĐánh Đề Con Gìdò số miền namdò vé số hôm nayso mo so debach thủ lô đẹp nhất hôm naycầu đề hôm naykết quả xổ số kiến thiết toàn quốccau dep 88xsmb rong bach kimket qua xs 2023dự đoán xổ số hàng ngàyBạch thủ đề miền BắcSoi Cầu MB thần tàisoi cau vip 247soi cầu tốtsoi cầu miễn phísoi cau mb vipxsmb hom nayxs vietlottxsmn hôm naycầu lô đẹpthống kê lô kép xổ số miền Bắcquay thử xsmnxổ số thần tàiQuay thử XSMTxổ số chiều nayxo so mien nam hom nayweb đánh lô đề trực tuyến uy tínKQXS hôm nayxsmb ngày hôm nayXSMT chủ nhậtxổ số Power 6/55KQXS A trúng roycao thủ chốt sốbảng xổ số đặc biệtsoi cầu 247 vipsoi cầu wap 666Soi cầu miễn phí 888 VIPSoi Cau Chuan MBđộc thủ desố miền bắcthần tài cho sốKết quả xổ số thần tàiXem trực tiếp xổ sốXIN SỐ THẦN TÀI THỔ ĐỊACầu lô số đẹplô đẹp vip 24hsoi cầu miễn phí 888xổ số kiến thiết chiều nayXSMN thứ 7 hàng tuầnKết quả Xổ số Hồ Chí Minhnhà cái xổ số Việt NamXổ Số Đại PhátXổ số mới nhất Hôm Nayso xo mb hom nayxxmb88quay thu mbXo so Minh ChinhXS Minh Ngọc trực tiếp hôm nayXSMN 88XSTDxs than taixổ số UY TIN NHẤTxs vietlott 88SOI CẦU SIÊU CHUẨNSoiCauVietlô đẹp hôm nay vipket qua so xo hom naykqxsmb 30 ngàydự đoán xổ số 3 miềnSoi cầu 3 càng chuẩn xácbạch thủ lônuoi lo chuanbắt lô chuẩn theo ngàykq xo-solô 3 càngnuôi lô đề siêu vipcầu Lô Xiên XSMBđề về bao nhiêuSoi cầu x3xổ số kiến thiết ngày hôm nayquay thử xsmttruc tiep kết quả sxmntrực tiếp miền bắckết quả xổ số chấm vnbảng xs đặc biệt năm 2023soi cau xsmbxổ số hà nội hôm naysxmtxsmt hôm nayxs truc tiep mbketqua xo so onlinekqxs onlinexo số hôm nayXS3MTin xs hôm nayxsmn thu2XSMN hom nayxổ số miền bắc trực tiếp hôm naySO XOxsmbsxmn hôm nay188betlink188 xo sosoi cầu vip 88lô tô việtsoi lô việtXS247xs ba miềnchốt lô đẹp nhất hôm naychốt số xsmbCHƠI LÔ TÔsoi cau mn hom naychốt lô chuẩndu doan sxmtdự đoán xổ số onlinerồng bạch kim chốt 3 càng miễn phí hôm naythống kê lô gan miền bắcdàn đề lôCầu Kèo Đặc Biệtchốt cầu may mắnkết quả xổ số miền bắc hômSoi cầu vàng 777thẻ bài onlinedu doan mn 888soi cầu miền nam vipsoi cầu mt vipdàn de hôm nay7 cao thủ chốt sốsoi cau mien phi 7777 cao thủ chốt số nức tiếng3 càng miền bắcrồng bạch kim 777dàn de bất bạion newsddxsmn188betw88w88789bettf88sin88suvipsunwintf88five8812betsv88vn88Top 10 nhà cái uy tínsky88iwinlucky88nhacaisin88oxbetm88vn88w88789betiwinf8betrio66rio66lucky88oxbetvn88188bet789betMay-88five88one88sin88bk88xbetoxbetMU88188BETSV88RIO66ONBET88188betM88M88SV88Jun-68Jun-88one88iwinv9betw388OXBETw388w388onbetonbetonbetonbet88onbet88onbet88onbet88onbetonbetonbetonbetqh88mu88Nhà cái uy tínpog79vp777vp777vipbetvipbetuk88uk88typhu88typhu88tk88tk88sm66sm66me88me888live8live8livesm66me88win798livesm66me88win79pog79pog79vp777vp777uk88uk88tk88tk88luck8luck8kingbet86kingbet86k188k188hr99hr99123b8xbetvnvipbetsv66zbettaisunwin-vntyphu88vn138vwinvwinvi68ee881xbetrio66zbetvn138i9betvipfi88clubcf68onbet88ee88typhu88onbetonbetkhuyenmai12bet-moblie12betmoblietaimienphi247vi68clupcf68clupvipbeti9betqh88onb123onbefsoi cầunổ hũbắn cáđá gàđá gàgame bàicasinosoi cầuxóc đĩagame bàigiải mã giấc mơbầu cuaslot gamecasinonổ hủdàn đềBắn cácasinodàn đềnổ hũtài xỉuslot gamecasinobắn cáđá gàgame bàithể thaogame bàisoi cầukqsssoi cầucờ tướngbắn cágame bàixóc đĩaAG百家乐AG百家乐AG真人AG真人爱游戏华体会华体会im体育kok体育开云体育开云体育开云体育乐鱼体育乐鱼体育欧宝体育ob体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育亚博体育开云体育开云体育棋牌棋牌沙巴体育买球平台新葡京娱乐开云体育mu88qh88
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maria in Vancouver

Lifestyle5 days ago

How To Do Christmas & Hanukkah This Year

Christmas 2024 is literally just around the corner! Here in Vancouver, we just finished celebrating Taylor Swift’s last leg of...

Lifestyle1 month ago

Nobody Wants This…IRL (In Real Life)

Just like everyone else who’s binged on Netflix series, “Nobody Wants This” — a romcom about a newly single rabbi...

Lifestyle1 month ago

Family Estrangement: Why It’s Okay

Family estrangement is the absence of a previously long-standing relationship between family members via emotional or physical distancing to the...

Lifestyle3 months ago

Becoming Your Best Version

By Matter Laurel-Zalko As a woman, I’m constantly evolving. I’m constantly changing towards my better version each year. Actually, I’m...

Lifestyle3 months ago

The True Power of Manifestation

I truly believe in the power of our imagination and that what we believe in our lives is an actual...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

DECORATE YOUR HOME 101

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Our home interiors are an insight into our brains and our hearts. It is our own collaboration...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Guide to Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Are you recently engaged and find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you and your...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

Staying Cool and Stylish this Summer

By Matte Laurel-Zalko I couldn’t agree more when the great late Ella Fitzgerald sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

Ageing Gratefully and Joyfully

My 56th trip around the sun is just around the corner! Whew. Wow. Admittedly, I used to be afraid of...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

My Love Affair With Pearls

On March 18, 2023, my article, The Power of Pearls was published. In that article, I wrote about the history...