TATTOO

30 December 2009
1:30 pm

What's with tattoos that almost everyone goes gaga about it?! Personally, I'm a tattoo addict. I have three, and will still be counting if my habibti would have allowed me to have more....In fact, I even encouraged her to put my name on her right arm! O, di ba bongga?!! The picture on the right is my second tattoo. It's a triquetra, the symbol of Charmed. It is used as the cover of their Book of Shadows. Triquetra has various meanings. It is made of 3 interconnected loops and an additonal circle in or around it! This has been used as a religious symbol of things and persons that are threefold.

For centuries, humans have used tattoos for different reasons - for magical protection, to relieve pain, for vengeance and to declare victory over an enemy. Historically, tattoos were created to beautify, shock, or humiliate and they could proclaim valor, religious belief, group solidarity, or personal independence. Let's take the "Pintados" (painted ones), for example. The Pintados are inhabitants of the Visayan islands as described by the first Spaniards to set eyes upon them. Tattoos are now part of everyday society.

According to the late Master Rapper Francis Magalona in one of his interviews, "the human body is the best canvas in the world." That's why I dont know, why there are still some individuals who look down on people having tattoos. Honestly, I have nothing against them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I also had my share of bad experiences with them. When I went to Ilocos, several years ago to celebrate Christmas with my Dad's family, everyone was shocked to see the rose tattoo at the back of my leg. My aunt, who is a principal/ teacher in one of the national schools in Ilocos, suddenly reacted and deliberately talking about the bad implications that one might have if he or she has a tattoo. I dont know, but based from what I perceived, she was associating tattoos to convicted criminals. Of course, we had an argument that day. I'm not the type who just sits down and listen when I know something's not right!

I felt bad, because of all people, my aunt who turned out to be a principal and a teacher had reacted that way. She, who was supposed to be "learned" and so called "educated" should understand and have an open mind about it. :-(