Ramonchito Odon: Tattoo Artist

Ramonchito Odon: Tattoo Artist

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but tattooing has always been a part of our culture. In fact, precolonial Filipinos were recorded to have been fully covered in tattoos, until through the years the art slowly faded, got consigned to prison inmates and ex-convicts, if not associated with drug addicts.

Today, tattooing has become en vogue again, as the latter-day children of Lapu-Lapu, let's just say, get attracted to it as a part of their fashion statement or personal expression, ritual or symbolism, or for other reasons. Among young men, of course, it is associated with some 'angas' (roughly, swagger), and thus could score one some 'pogi points' among peers. It is especially a part of the punk subculture, with its ethos of non-conformity. Certain quarters naturally frown on it, especially excessive tattoos, but it has come to a point that even females seek out the services of tattoo artists, and A-list celebrities troop to, say, the famed Apo Whang-Od in faraway Buscalan, Kalinga Apayao, to give it a try. Panagbatok -- the local term for the tattooing method there -- is even considered part of an endangered cultural heritage.

Bayambang has a thriving tattooing community, with a number of resident tattoo artists, but there is only one practitioner so far who is a certified member of the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild Inc. or PhilTag, a SEC-registered group that is the pillar of the tattooing community in the Philippines. His name is Ramonchito Odon, of Brgy. M.H. Del Pilar.

Ramon says he has been at it since the year 2000. How did he start at it? "Experience lang (ang habol ko) nung nag-uumpisa ako, at pinagpraktisan ko yung uncle ko at mga kamag-anak," he reveals. "Nang tumagal-tagal na ay napasama ako sa isang grupo na itinuturing na haligi ng buong tattooing industry sa Pilipinas, ang Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild Inc. o Philtag. Dito ko mas napalawak pa ang aking kaalaman at talento sa pagtatattoo, sa tulong ng mga programa na inorganisa ng grupo."

It came to a point that tattooing became his full-time job because he was able to earn his keep through it. Among his clients are young men and women, lawyers, doctors, teachers, and ordinary people.

They come to his shop for various reasons. There are those who want a scar covered up, those who want the name of their beloved tattooed on their skin, and those who want an old tattoo covered or erased, among other reasons.

Some clients give the design ideas themselves, but some ask for design choices being offered.

He has since received certifications and accolades for his work. Through Philtag, he was able to attend government seminars that tackle issues closely associated with the craft, such as swearing off illegal drug use, prevention of hepatitis transmission, learning basic life support, etc.

With his craft thriving, however, come competitors and occasional criticism, realities which he both accepts as something that comes with the territory. "Yung competition, marami yan, normal lang yan. And it’s normal din na macriticise ka, pero ang kagandahan kasi ay napapansin ka sa mga gawa mo, kaya in that way, mas makikita mo pagkakamali mo at maisasaayos mo ito."

What reward does he get out of it, psychologically speaking? "'Pag nakita na nilang tapos na ang gawa ko at nakikita ko sa kanilang itsura ang saya at sabay magsabi ng, 'Ganda sir,' at sabay magpapasalamat at sasabihin pa nilang, 'Sulit ang sakit, salamat talaga sir!' -- para sa akin, malaking award na rin 'pag ganon ang sasabihin ng mga client ko."

Ramonchito is currently the District Chairman of Philtag-Pangasinan Chapter.

Contact: https://www.facebook.com/ramz.odon