Apo Whang-od’s recent Vogue PH cover has taken the world by storm; at 106 years old, she is the oldest and most unique figure to ever grace the prestigious Vogue Magazine, capturing the attention and admiration of top-notch international fashion icons, celebs, and media outlets worldwide.
As a mambabatok, or traditional tattoo artist, from Kalinga, Philippines, Apo Whang-od’s remarkable contribution to the preservation of Philippine Indigenous traditions has earned her a spot on the cover of Vogue Philippines for their April 2023 issue.
Not only was the tattoo artist revered as the current oldest cover star in any Vogue magazine, but also one of just several indigenous members represented, said Vogue Philippines.
Our province, Kalinga, is renowned for its ancient traditional hand tap-tattooing method, which uses pomelo thorn and charcoal-watered ink to manually etch traditional designs symbolizing victory and bravery on the skin. This traditional inking has been vanishing for the past decades, but Whang-od, the oldest ‘mambabatok’ of her generation, is the figure known for reviving the custom and sharing them with the world. She has been regarded by locals as a living legend for the tattoo culture.
The Vogue PH cover story delves into her family’s efforts to revive the ancient tradition of Kalinga tattooing and helps bring interest in and appreciation for this traditional inking from different parts of the country and the world, which also contributes to the rise of tourism in our province. The story also highlights how younger generations in their locality are learning the craft to keep the tradition alive for years to come.
Vogue usually features influential and high-end supermodels, celebrities, politicians, and public figures famous for their beauty and accolades in the fashion landscape, as well as their relevance to current events and pop culture trends. However, her story and portrait being featured on the magazine’s cover stuns a lot of famous people and has drawn praise for Vogue’s inclusivity and diversity, which opened the platform for minority perspectives.
Supermodels Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Helena Christensen, and Linda Evangelista, who have all appeared on Vogue covers, were among those to applaud and share the cover on their social media accounts.
In a post by Christensen, she said ”PIs put all the inspiring older women out there in this world, who are so full of wisdom, talent, knowledge and inspiring stories on all Vogue covers simultaneously.”
Hollywood stars and international personalities, including Halle Berry, Khloe Kardashian, Michael Cinco, Jokoy, and Bretman Rock, expressed their support and admiration.
Actress Halle Berry expressed her adulation, captioning the photo she shared on her social media account with “Now THIS is true beauty,” while Jokoy, a renowned Filipino-American stand-up comedian, said, “At 106 years old, this Filipino icon is finally getting her flowers! This is the best Vogue cover ever. Mahal kita APO WHANG-OD.”
Dozens of international media outlets also picked up the story, making headlines worldwide, including CNN, BBC, NBC News, CBS, The Guardian, Fox 12 Oregon, CTV Vancouver, The Straits Times, and Arabian Daily, among others. Local celebrities like Anne Curtis, Solenn Heussaff, and Iza Calzado also showed their support on Instagram and Twitter.
Vogue’s bold move to switch gears from their typical fashion publication norms and feature an IP whose cultural influence transcends measures that may cause a paradigm shift in their industry can usher in a new era of multicultural representation, following the overwhelming positive feedback.
Vogue’s global recognition of Apo Whang-Od and Kalinga’s traditional tattoo culture can dispel fears of commodification and instead promote cultural appreciation and pride that such an ancient Filipino inking tradition is being showcased on a world scale. The cover may serve as a catalyst for empowering Filipino cultural traditions and boosting tourism in Kalinga province and the country as a whole. By Ruth Cupang
