This Has Gone Viral

I first heard the name Apo Whang-od Oggay when Michelle Dee competed in Miss Universe 2023 in El Salvador. Because candidates and pageant organizers wanted to be relevant to the Miss Universe, they burned their midnight candles thinking about what Pinoy tradition or culture could be incorporated into her evening gowns or national costume to get a good impression.   

Mark Bumgarner (the designer of Michelle's gown) concocted the idea that Michelle's atypical black gown was inspired by a Filipino cultural icon, the living legend Whang-Od-- the 106-year-old Kalinga tattoo artist or "mambabatok."

They want to make it a tribute to a legendary Filipina who has become a cultural symbol ... preserving the rich cultural heritage of indigenous tattoo art. Apo Whang-od is the recipient of the Dangal ng Haraya Award for Intangible Cultural Heritage - this was conferred to her last 2018.

Michelle modeling the gown created a lot of hooplas... and everybody was talking about it. It made rounds in social media and netizens were praising it ... and to quote my friend... "it was unlike anything else" ... and it was singled out for its exceptionally rare ethnic and cultural representation.

Fast forward to today. Apo Whang-od ... the centenarian mambabatok is hitting the headlines one more time and to tell you the truth the netizen's reaction was mixed.

It looked like the fangs of notoriety were showing their ugly faces - when travelers to Kalinga make it a point to include in their life-to-do-list ... a meeting with the icon face-to-face and possibly have an ink or a tattoo that will make them remember his encounter with her ... up close and personal.

Whatever reasons they have for seeing her .... whether good or bad ... that she is the last traditional tattoo artist of her generation ... that it is an opportunity of a lifetime to see her in action ... and doing things that she does best.

It is also an open book now (especially to tourists/travelers) that the old lady has a proclivity or to put it mildly ... a penchant ... and to put it more blatant - a bad habit of touching male genitals without warning and without consent.

We know she is a centenarian ... an icon and a woman.  Is she doing it for fun ... to break monotony ... and pardon me I have to ask this ... is she doing it to derive pleasure?

And to the male guests who frequent her place and who know her history... are they lining up because they are inquisitive about what the experience would be like ... just like when he was curious about drugs and what wonders they will give him?

When Piolo Pascual visited her in Buscalan ... they were seen talking and before Piolo knew it she was already touching her target. Piolo did not resist or did not say No (maybe out of respect for her and her age) ... so both ended up laughing ... like it was not a big deal.

Was Piolo warned about her habits? If he didn't ... bless his soul ... but if he is aware ... he is a willing victim.

GMA weather forecaster Anjo Pertierra also dropped by and paid her a visit. Before he could see rain in summer ... her hand already landed cozy on the "area of responsibility" for this young weathercaster.

Again I asked I don't want to put judgment on Anjo ... but was he aware? Why was the camera ready to click and record the most important highlight of the meeting? 

If the answer is yes ... then the photos are like souvenir shots - a keepsake ... a moment ... a remembrance ... and a reminder. "Nahipo rin ako ni Apo ..."