With our Rio trip shelved for now, Ibiza looking more and more expensive as the days go by...it looks like it will be a Philippine Tour 2007 in December with the entire crew. Bicol, Cebu, Bauan, Manila, Greenbelt 3, Greenhills, Bohol, Boracay, Rockwell....we've drawn it out thanks to the Tanduay.
As for Kidlat Tahimik...
"Filipino Tattoos" were paved by Filipino Americans emphasizing identity to one's roots. The Alibata/Baybayin tattoo was one of the first identifications and was documented by individuals in the mid 1990s.
The first documented person to wear an Alibata tattoo was Rahul Lagura. Specifically, the unifying "Ka" syllable/symbol which was tattooed on his sternum about 4-5" wide in the early 1990s. Larger back tattoo patterns from collages of Filipino life, ornate insturments to large family names in Alibata/Baybayin have been some themes people have chosen for their tattooo expressions.
Tribal homages have been made with unique pattern combinations from various Filipino tribes. One of the first full sleeves on a Filipina- American is worn by Sabrina Margarita Alcantara-Tan who lives in New York. She was fully sleeved around the mid-1990s. Emcee Kiwi of Native Guns was originally tattooed by Aleks Figueroa who in turn with his many public performances and community advocacy has influenced the diaspora the world over.** Ed Habacon was one of the first to have his forearms heavily tattooed with traditional Kalinga headhunter patterns which were tattooed in the late 1990s by the great Leo Zulueta.
More recently, in the early 21st century, adding to the urban indigeneo (Indigenous Urban/ Modern Primitive) landscape are a new generation of Filipino descendants that have full sleeves and chest tattoos reminiscent of the traditional tattoos that the headhunters of the highlands wear. They are contemporary in design with a heavy Polynesian influence that follows the style that Tricia Allen pioneered. They share a vision to spread the wealth and beauty of our culture through tattoos and by those that wish to be in touch with them.
With artistic ingenuity, experience and reference, neo-tribal (new tribal) Filipino tattoos can be designed and tattooed to tell a story of what a person desires in a tattoo adding to the tribal tattoo experience.
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2 comments:
ahhh yes, the motherland. rather than be envious which was my first reaction, i'm really excited on your behalf.
saying to yourself and to your boys that you're actually gonna go is the first step. funny, because i was just talking to my co-worker about his plans to go back home this march. se asia is my jawn..but beyond that - philippines; that's us! it's our being.
haven't been since 7years old and 2007 marks my 25th year around the sun. i gotta do that. philippines. i need that in my life and yes, no doubt, it's on my agenda/to-do list ASAP.
you planning on getting inked too, i presume? man...that trip is gonna be so buttah. i hope it goes through. keep us posted, homie.
last time i was there in 2004-5...it was incredible. everything i learned from FIND, PUSO and my parents came together in that month there. to experience a semi-normal Philippine life is something else...
the good thing is with my boys, we'd be able to get away from the drivers, maids and doting relatives and just experience what's real. sort of like an immersion trip, which some of us experienced back in undergrad...one of my biggest regrets is that i didn't take advantage of that trip to meet filipinos college kids immersing themselves in a redefining experience back in the homeland.
well..saying and doing are totally different things..but with a target of December 2007, this may actually happen before all the cross-country movement, mortgage payments and engagements. after all we are turning 25 this year...ain't getting any younger.
as far as getting inked...i'm up to three now and 'kidlat tahimik' would be something special to get done during my 25 years of life while creating my own Philippine experience different from that of my parents.
Tanduay, man. that's some good stuff right there.
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