Background

Our islands have approximately 4000 years of tattooing practice based on archeological finds of bone tattooing implements found in Cagayan Valley that were carbon-dated to this era.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of our skin marking practices were eradicated during the Spanish rule that lasted for an oppressive 333 years. It has now been over 500 years since they set foot on our islands. The damage they caused to our cultural practices has been severely detrimental, to the point of nearly complete erasure in our islands except for only a handful of ethnolinguistic groups who have preserved their tattooing practice. 
​
Most of these groups reside in the northern part of the island of Luzon and some parts of the southern island of Mindanao. At the end of the day, this is more than just a "tribal" tattoo. This speaks of our roots, our people, our stories, and our ancestors. Through our Katao Living Traditions school, we painstakingly research through books, videos, academic papers, and old fashioned talking with people around the world to connect the erased dots. 
​Ancestral Legacy x New Traditions

For over a 15 years, I've breathed life into names and words, weaving them into our prePhilippine writing system that echo the tales and traditions of our ancestors. While hand-tapped tattooing is known by the geometric patterns, I'm on a quest to create a new tradition of tattooing scripts as they were scratched on bamboo. 

My journey into Batok began unexpectedly in 2013 at the second Center for Baybayin Studies Conference, where I assisted Lane Wilcken for a ceremony. At the time, I had no intention of becoming a practitioner. The practice felt too intimate, demanding a level of cultural and academic rigor akin to a Ph.D. Instead, I focused on establishing myself in the San Francisco art scene.
​
During a ceremony at my apartment, Lane noticed a tattoo machine I’d bought for texturing watercolor art. He suggested I try a kisi, a traditional hand-tapped Batok tool, reignited my curiosity for crafting with organic materials. Having already made bamboo and horn calligraphy pens, transitioning to Batok tools felt natural. Over years of travel, I absorbed stories, deepened my knowledge, and grew comfortable with the vulnerability the practice requires. What began as casual advocacy evolved into co-founding Katao Living Traditions, a school dedicated to preserving this an other practices.

Process

1️⃣ For patterrns, learn where your ancestors are from. That will decide what is proper. For the script, determine the word in your ancestral language or name with significance. If you don't have any ideas, talk to your family to hear stories. I can also help you as part of the process. 

2️⃣ Read the FAQs below and fill out the Interest Form.

 3️⃣ If intentions and logistics align, we'll schedule a video consultation to discuss the protocols and answer any questions you have. This may take 2-4 weeks.

 3️⃣ A date will be confirmed once a deposit (non-refundable) has been made. I offer different payment options as well as payment plans. 

Not a tattoo shop

In much of the modern tattoo industry, the exchange often feels strictly transactional: a client selects a design, pays a fee, and departs with ink on skin. The focus is on speed, efficiency, and aesthetics. While it can certainly be meaningful, the process, intent, and environment isn't centered in ceremony. 

In traditional Batok, the focus is transformational rather than transactional for the person receiving, for the practitioner, and for every participant who witnesses and honors the rite. Batok intertwines the three elements of ceremony, lineage, and hand-tap practice to create a living bridge between past, present, and future. 

Not ready for Batok or interested in learning?

There are many ways to get involved.  Academics, stretching, operations, and becoming a practitioner. My goal is to make practitioners who make practitioners in the traditional ways. It's the only way this survives. If interested in learning more, check out the Getting Involved section. 
❌ Unsure how to translate names and words to the script?
❌ Scared to get a wrong tattoo?
❌ Don't speak any Philippine langues? 
❌ Want a deeper meaning rather than getting something off Pintrest?

✅  You deserve to feel connected to our heritage without the anxiety of getting it wrong. Weather you're at the start of your journey or revisiting your culture due to a life-changing event, I can help you get started.

Testimonials

😄

I think the greatest element I've pulled is witnessing how innovation and authenticity can drive the ownership of one's cultural inheritance.  Kristian's advocacy of sound research balanced with artistic innovation inspires a bearing that I think will help me keep direction.  I can say his approach as an artist is providing some necessary leadership in the field of cultural reclamation. - Dave

😄

I learned to embrace our culture once again, for a while there I was slowly fading into the American way of life, but you brought back that pride, and spark back into my soul, in other words...You woke me up , lit up the candle of my roots once more, motivated me to look back and appreciate where I came from....Philippines ..:) - Jacquiline

😄

I've never quite learned what it really means to be Filipino other than things I've experienced growing up. I had never heard of baybayin until about five years ago; even my grandparents didn't know what it was, and when I told them, they thought I was making it up! The art you created to me means that I could be another step closer to finding my roots and connecting myself to my family history. - JeAnna
Read more testimonials
As a second generation Filipino-American, I am not as connected to my roots as I would like to be. It's also very difficult to find history of the Philippines pre-spanish colonization. I think the artwork is beautiful and I do not know how to thank you enough. This will be my first tattoo and it has a lot of significance to me. The tattoo says "Kalusugan" which translates to "Health". As a working class queer Filipino-American that is first in my family to go to college, I've learned that reaching milestones sometimes comes with struggles that will deteriorate the individual self as well as the community. I see health as a number one priority and use it loosely as a means of sanctuary for my physical, mental, spiritual, as well as the solidarity amongst marginalized groups. To be most revolutionary, we need to be able to heal while working to tear down systematic oppression. This tattoo is an art and also serves as a mark of my faith in one day truly having a just world for all underrepresented and invisibilized people. Isulong. Lead the way.

FAQ

Where are you based?
San Francisco Bay Area and travel to visit communities around the globe.

What are prePhilippine Hand-tapped Tattoos?
Batok/Fatek/Burik/Tatak/Batek/Patik/Batuk - are all terms for prePhilippine hand-tapped tattoos or ancestral skin markings in different Philippine languages. The markings are done by using bone/wood implements and ink, which are used to “tap” the designs into the skin.

How does a batok differ from mainstream tattoos? What is the cultural significance?
Batok is a prePhilippine hand-tapped tattoo practice. Unlike mainstream or machine tattoos, a practitioner makes their tattooing implements, using natural materials and inspired by ancestral methods of tool-making. The creation of these tools takes as much  skill and knowledge as their wielding. This makes the use of these tools unique and the markings on the skin distinct from machine tattooing. 

Traditionally, the recipient does not choose the design and/or the placement. In prePhilippine society, tattoos served as an individual’s identifier. It also communicated one’s family history and a family’s geographic origin on the Philippine archipelago. Our markings are mnemonic devices of our oral histories, and our stories.

Lastly, receiving these markings entails ritual. Recipients undergo a batok ceremony, not a tattoo appointment or session. There are protocols and traditions to be followed before, after, and during the marking process. The recipient’s path is as spiritual as it is physical and must be approached with reverence and care. 

I’ve seen Filipino tattoo designs in shops. Why do your patterns not look like that?
Filipino-inspired designs that are found in tattoo shops are the artistic expressions of the tattoo artist. It looks aesthetically pleasing but is more than likely not "purely" "Filipino".

More often than not, these designs also contain various motifs from across the Pacific Islands, especially Polynesia.

However, due to Manong Lane's teachings and research (which he has conducted for over 30 years!), the designs are culturally rooted from our archipelago. They may not match the popular imagining and expectation of Philippine tattoos. 

Why is learning the regions where my family is from in the Philippines important?
The motifs received depend on where your family lineage is rooted in the Philippines. By learning the regions and ethnolinguistic groups you belong to, the appropriate palette of motifs can be determined for you.

Can people without Filipino ancestry get these tattoos?
Yes! Ultimately, it comes down to intention and why you as a non-Filipino want it.

The practitioner takes into consideration your involvement in the community. Have you been adopted into a lineage or family?  Are you in a partnership/relationship/marriage to someone who is from the Philippines? Why do you want to have markings from our archipelago?

There is a story about a cabin boy who the Spaniards thought was a lost cause, and left him behind.

“ A Mexican cabin boy by the name of Juanes actually survived to be recovered by Legazpi in 1566, by which time he was thoroughly tattooed, could speak no language but Waray, and he had sired two children by one of his master’s daughters.” - p. 46, Looking for Prehispanic Filipino by William H. Scott.

What does this say about our people?

It is at discretion of the practicioner to choose on whom they work.
 
Does getting a batok grant me a certain status?
No. Due to colonization, westernization, and Islamization of our islands, getting skin markings has become taboo. We are working on changing that narrative by doing the work that we do. 

Do I get to choose any of the motifs and markings?
No. This is why I am considered a practitioner and not a tattoo artist. An artist has artistic license, it is their art, how they express themselves and their style. A practitioner doesn’t have the same liberties as an artist, the work they do is already determined by their ancestors, the motifs and designs are determined, including the placements on the body. It is a matter of choosing what will be appropriate to the recipient at that point in their lives.

Are all Filipino tattoos the same? If so, then why is it inappropriate to get certain patterns?
There are motifs and designs that are pretty universal throughout the archipelago and the rest of the Pacific Islands. However, there are also variants that differentiate them from region to region. 

There are patterns or motifs that have specific meanings behind them, which may be inappropriate for certain participants to receive. If it is not appropriate for you and your lineage, we will not put it on you. 

Filipinos were headhunters and I want to reflect that in my batok. Can I do that?
No, you may not unless you have taken a head. Having a headhunter tattoo (known as a Chakrag/Chaklag) is a motif that is meant for a man who has taken a head. It is a sacred marking that entails various rituals and ceremonies that span up to two years. 

Apo Whang Od once told Manong Lane that anyone who has this type of marking WITHOUT taking a head will be cursed. 
 
Can I get a batok if I’m [insert religion here]?
Yes. This is a personal decision that you need to make. Remember, it is your body and your choice.

I’m [insert religion here]. What is the purpose of honoring my ancestors through the batok ceremony if it doesn’t align with my beliefs?
Again, this is a personal decision. Receiving ancestral marks is a way of honoring your ancestors. In our old ways, it is believed that the skin markings are illuminated in the underworld and serve as an identifier for our ancestors to recognize us.

My family says that our ancestors didn’t have tattoos. Can I still get a batok?
Yes, you can. Anciently, all of our peoples across the archipelago were marked. Even if they weren't, you can start the new tradition.
​
I want [insert pattern here]. It’s not traditional from my family’s region in [insert Philippine region here]. Can I still get it?​
No, that would be an example of lateral appropriation. You want to be able to carry your own ancestral skin markings, not those from another ethnolinguistic group.

Do I get to pick where the tattoo will be? 
Yes and no. At this time, I stick to traditional placements on the legs, arms, and back. Placement also depends on the body part, skin, and availability of stretchers. 

The word(s) I want are in English, can I get that done? 
Unless it's a name, they would need to be transliterated to a Philippine language. Preferably, the language(s) of your family. If you don't know the linguistic translation, we'll discuss during the consultation. 

Is the style the same as your calligraphy?  
No, the calligraphy is an artistic expression. My tattoo practice focuses on writing as our ancestors did on bamboo where it was more angular due to the scratching technique. 

Can I see how the words will look like before the tattoo? 
Yes, this will be done during the consultation,

Can I smoke or indulge in cannabis before the ceremony?
No, cannabis enhances your senses and pain receptors. In short, it wouldn’t be a good thing while you are getting tattooed.

Would I be able to take [insert drug of choice here] before my ceremony to help me relax?
No, we don’t encourage any type of drug or alcohol before the ceremony. If you need to relax prior to the ceremony, we suggest meditation and/or yoga to help get you in a good headspace.

Why can’t I get a massage or visit a chiropractor before getting tattooed?
Getting any kind of bodywork (massage, chiropractor, etc.) before receiving your skin markings may make the experience more painful. This due to the fact that your body is still recovering and healing from being worked on. Again, this is highly discouraged because we want your ceremony to be as comfortable as possible. 

If you insist of getting body work prior to your ceremony, please do it 7 days before your ceremony.

Can I go into the ocean after getting a batok?
No. Anciently, we cleansed ourselves in the ocean because of its healing properties.  However, our oceans are currently polluted and contain bacteria that can infect your new tattoo. 
​
I live a natural lifestyle and notice that the protocol sheet recommends using Aquaphor for aftercare. Are there any alternatives you recommend?
If you don’t want to use A&D or Aquaphor, you can use a new jar of coconut oil (that hasn’t been previously opened or used for anything else) to moisturize and heal your tattoo.
​
What type of ink do you use? 
I currently use Suluape Black that's an ink specifically made for hand-tapping. Click here to read the Safety Data Sheet. When i have my own space, I do intend to offer ink made by soot. 

Why is following the protocols important?
The protocols are meant to help prepare your body, and mind for the ceremony. They also include aftercare steps in order to ensure that your skin markings heal properly. The detailed list of protocols is sent to recipients after the initial consultation call.
​
Are there any cultural protocols or taboos to follow before getting a batok? After?
- Before the ceremony:
  • Please be clear with your intentions for receiving ancestral skin markings.
  • Please make amends with your family, when possible. These markings are a covenant with your ancestors, who are also your family. In order to responsibly enter this covenant with the ancestral realm, you must take care of your familial relationships in the realm of the living. Understandably, there are certain family dynamics that may prohibit this healing work. However, this approach to nurturing the familial relationships can extend to relatives, chosen family, and close friends.
  • For Women:
    • ​It is taboo to get skin markings when you are on your moon or menstrual cycle [+/- 3-4 days before and after], or when you are pregnant.
      • Practical reasons:
        • Your body is healing and sensitive. It is unwise to be tattooed at this time, as the experience may become extremely painful.
        • When you are on your moon, your body retains water. This makes the skin difficult to tattoo because it is spongy.
      • Spiritual reasons:
        • It is believed that when a woman is on her moon, she is in her highest power. This power shouldn’t be disrupted at all.
- After the ceremony:
  • Please make sure to take care of your food offerings and the gloves and wipes that carry your blood. All instructions are on the protocols that are sent to you.

Does it hurt?
Just like any other tattoo, pain is part of the process. However, most say that the hand-tapping method is soothing and less painful than getting a tattoo from a machine. Everyone’s experience and pain tolerance are different.

What is the significance of feeding everyone who participates in the batok ceremony?
In ancient times, the village and ceremony recipients would provide a feast for the Mambabatok. Getting skin markings was considered a very momentous time in their lives. We try to keep in touch with our ancestral ways by having batok recipients feed the participants of the ceremony as part of the energy exchange.

For my food offering, does it have to be Filipino food? Can it be any other type of food?
Your food offering is a personal choice.  Ask yourself the following questions: What would my ancestors want to eat? Does my Lolo/Lola have a favorite food? For Visayans, the food offerings come unseasoned or unsalted, because the salt wards away spirits. We want to welcome your ancestors, not ward them away. 

Am I required to bring anyone to my ceremony with me? Whom can I bring with me?
You are not required to bring anyone with you, but we do encourage having someone to help provide support during your ceremony. It can be your partner, family, or friend. Please note that one of your companions may be put to work as a stretcher. It is common to have 2 stretchers per ceremony depending on the body part and there is usually at least one experienced stretcher present.

Am I allowed to video/document during the process?
Yes. All I ask is that you share or tag if posting on social media. If your tattoo is still work in progress, please state that. I will also be recording for our documentation and education. I will not share publicly without permission. 

Can I wear headphones during my ceremony? 
No, being present is an important part of the ceremony. 

My family is far away but would like to be a part of the ceremony. Can I have them on over Facetime/ Zoom/ Google hangouts while being tattooed?
Yes, absolutely!
​
Can children participate as stretchers during the ceremony?
It depends. We encourage having family present during the ceremony, including children.  We feel that it is a good opportunity for them to witness a cultural practice in action. As for children participating as stretchers, it depends on their age.

I live far away from the San Francisco area, will you travel to my city/country?
If you cannot travel to the San Francisco are, please fill out the inquiry form and I'll reach out if I'll be traveling to your area. I typically wait until I get a few people in a city before booking a trip. Another option is to call on friends and family to see who would like to get tattooed. If you have connections with organizers, I can do a talk and/or pop-up. 

Is the deposit refundable? 
No. The deposit ensures that my time and consultation is honored. If you need to reschedule, we can do that. I just need to know at least 1 week in advance. 

Where are you located? What If I'm not in your area? 
I'm currently in the San Francisco, California Bay Area. I do travel to different cities for events. If your city is not on my schedule, you can coordinate a group of friends or family to get tattooed. Batok party! Contact me.

Salamat to Lane Wilcken, Natalia Roxas, Piper Abas, and Katao Living Traditions.