She's a 107 Year Old Tattoo Artist

You are likely referring to Whang-Od Oggay, a 107-year-old traditional tattoo artist from the Philippines. She is a living symbol of the ancient art of "batok", a hand-tapped tattooing technique used by the Kalinga tribe in the mountainous region of Buscalan, Kalinga. 🏔✨

Whang-Od is considered the last mambabatok (traditional tattoo artist) of her generation, a role historically reserved for women in Kalinga culture. Traditionally, tattoos were given to warriors as a sign of bravery 💪 or to women as a symbol of beauty and social status. 🌸

Despite her age, Whang-Od continues to tattoo visitors from around the world using traditional tools, including a thorn from a pomelo tree 🌿, a bamboo stick 🎋, soot, and water. Her work has become a symbol of Filipino cultural heritage 🇵🇭 and has gained global recognition for her role in preserving this ancient art. 🌏✨