Apo Whang-Od is considered the world’s last Mambabatok (hand-tap tattoo artist) from her generation. At the estimated age of 99, she is now passing the tattooing tradition to a new generation in her tribe including her grand-niece Grace.
The tradition of this style of tattoo started as a symbol of pride for warriors and a marking of beauty for females in the Butbut tribe and has now taken a unique turn in their village, Kalinga, situated remotely in the mountains of the Luzon province in The Philippines.
Stay tuned next week for a release of a Behind The Scenes film taking you through the making of the project.
Credits:
Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Brent Foster
Cinematography: Pawel Dwulit and Preston Kanak
Producer: Tammy Foster
Opening Title/Credit Sequences: Reactiv
Sound Design: Defacto Sound
Fixer: Guill Ramos
Driver: Rodney Ramos
Subtitles: Erica Mills
Music: Marmoset
The Music Bed
Graded with FilmConvert
About the Project:
While I’m Here | The Legacy Project is a series of videos that profile amazing everyday people, while they’re still here.
I decided to start this project after missing out on the chance to tell the story of a man from my hometown who dedicated his life to helping others. That man’s name was Frank Dymock. For years, Frank opened his garage to the public and sharpened skates free of charge. He wouldn’t accept a dime. He was an icon in the place where I grew up, and I always wanted to tell his story while he was still here.
Regretfully, I let time pass, and Frank passed away before I had the chance to tell his story. This project is dedicated to him and to countless others who live selflessly and truly leave a legacy, forever impacting the lives of the people lucky enough to cross their paths.
Learn more about the project and see all four stories at: whileimheretheproject.com