Jo Koy crossed a major item off his bucket list by getting a tattoo from the legendary artist Apo Whang-Od in the mountain village of Buscalan, Kalinga.
On his Instagram account, the Filipino-American comedian shared the selfies he took with Whang-Od after his tattoo session.
Jo Koy added Whang-Od’s signature three-dot tattoo to his collection of impressive inks, choosing to have it on his right arm.
“I’ve been blessed by the legend. Mahal kita Apo Whang-Od,” he wrote in the caption.
Whang-Od is part of the Butbut tribe, which practices “batok” or tattooing by hitting/tapping the skin with a thorned bamboo stick. Mambabatok, then, is someone who hits/taps.
Mambabatoks are generally male, though Whang-Od broke gender norms by being one in her teenage years, mentored by her father.
She’s reportedly the last remaining mambabatok of her generation, hence many individuals are hoping to get a tattoo from her.
Jo Koy is the latest celebrity to get a tattoo from Whang-Od. He joins a list of famous personalities, including Rhian Ramos, Zeinab Harake, Maine Mendoza, and Kim Atienza, who have all made the 12 to 14-hour journey to the mountains for her traditional hand-tapped tattoos.
Last June 21, the comedian was in the Philippines for his “Just Being Koy” tour, performing at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Jo Koy’s comedy, which often draws on his family and cultural experiences, includes humorous observations about Filipino habits, such as repurposing plastic containers and the ubiquitous use of Vicks VapoRub as a cure-all.
