Batok
A part of me has always been calling to my ancestors and wanting to connect with them. I started reading more about pre-Philippine ancestral markings and my Filipino ancestors through Manong Lane Wilcken’s books and research. I learned how our ancestral markings, which are performed during a ceremony of hand-tapping bone/wooden tools with charcoal ink, are what helped our ancestors see us and recognize us while in the afterlife. Some even believe that it gains us access to our afterlife.
As I’m decolonizing my faith, life, and beliefs, I wanted to adorn myself with markings to reclaim back my ancestral lineage and customs. I wanted to also be able to share it with my own children.
Hundreds of years ago, our ancestors were full of tattoos. When Spain came to colonize the pre-Philippine islands, they called the Philippines “Las Islas de los Pintados” - the islands of the painted ones!
But as they started to take over our land, tattoos became a sign that you were not colonized, which is why even those from recent generations still say, “Tattoos are for people in jail!”. It was ingrained in our families - all of this trauma passed down generation after generation. But in fact, tattoos showed who you were, your family’s history, and your ancestral story (you know, like Maui from Moana!).
I am probably the first in my family in hundreds of years to receive our ancestral markings. I co-created with Natalia Roxas, based out of Hawai’i. She performs batok ceremonies all over the world and was also featured in the Vogue Philippines cover article of Apo Whang-Od. Natalia and I connected over a FaceTime and got to know each other virtually. She asked me questions about my intentions, as well as the placement of my batok.
Since our ancestral tattoos are based on our lineage in the Philippines, I shared with Natalia how far back I knew where my family was from. I could trace back to a certain island three generations ago, but unfortunately that’s all I knew.
But as it turns out, our markings are based on our ethno-linguistic background - so what languages (yes, not dialects) our families spoke.
As for intentions, you can share what you’re seeking from your ancestors and that will help determine what you will get for your markings. Placement is also up to the discretion of your ancestral markings practitioner–so while women of a certain ethnolinguistic background may typically get their first batok on their left arm, every ethnolinguistic language has their own patterns and placement. It’s not like a modern tattoo where you show a design to your practitioner and they copy it. I learned you cannot ask for a certain pattern or symbol because then it would be claiming another ethnolinguistic’s markings, which is a type of lateral cultural appropriation.
Since I was going to be traveling to Oahu for a wedding, I inquired if Natalia would be available at the same time, and she was!
After our last phone conversation, we initially thought I was going to get it placed on my arm, but that morning I felt called to get my markings on my chest. She consulted with the ancestors and drew the design with a special marker, taking into account what I was asking from my ancestors.
I looked at the mirror and fell in love with what was given by my ancestors. I was so emotional!
As part of the ceremony you also prepare a food offering for your ancestors. It can be food you know your family members liked or something as simple as egg and rice - for me, I brought fish and pancakes. I placed it on the altar and prayed to my Mamang (who liked pancakes) and Lolo (who loved fish) and all my ancestors.
Then we started the hand tapping process. There were multiple “stretchers” - the lovely people who assist the practitioner by stretching the skin to help prepare the skin for the tapping.
I received my first ancestral markings on Indigenous People’s Day 2023! My family was able to be there for part of it - I had permission to bring my kids and we were laughing and having fun. My kids got to ask questions and be part of the ceremony. It was like a party - my daughter sang Bahay Kubo! Then we all feasted together after!
Since then I have had another ceremony with Natalia as she often travels to the SF Bay Area. If you are curious, I highly encourage you to contact her and initiate a conversation. I was also able to have my family come for part of this second ceremony. It’s important to me that my kids understand the significance of batok; if they one day choose to have their own ceremonies, I know it would come from a place of power and reverence for this tradition. . I see my daughter doodle sometimes on her wrist and it makes me happy that I’m now creating an environment for her and future generations where our ancestral markings are the new norm.
