When the topic of traditional tattooing is on the table, we often immediately think about Kalinga and Mountain Province. We rarely associate tattoos with Benguet and the indigenous peoples within it - the Ibaloys, and the Kalanguyas, and the Karaos, and the Kankana-eys.
However, evidence shows that tattooing was also practiced in Benguet by our ancestors. The heavily-tattooed ancient mummies found in various caves in the province drive this fact home.
The infographic here is from an exhibit at the Museo Kordilyera many years ago. I think it was 2018.
The text:
"Burik refers to the tattoos worn by the indigenous Ibaloy and Kankana-ey in Benguet. The term burik refers to a person who is "tattooed all over the body". Remarkably, the most enduring evidence of this practice in the Philippines is the remnants of tattoos found on mummies of Benguet dating from the 13th century A.D. Although the practice of full-body tattooing and mummification is now extinct, tattoos found on the mummies serve as a visual and material record of an ancient tattooing tradition.
The tattoos of Ibaloy men of the historic period were characterized by geometric and figurative designs on the chest, back, and sides of the stomach, buttocks, arms, shoulders, hands, finger, neck, throat, face and legs. The figurative designs included centipedes (kamajan), snakes (oleg), lizards (batingal, karat), dog (aso), and deer (olsa). These life forms were considered to be omen creatures and also perhaps symbolic representations of gods or their earthly messengers. The sun (akew) and certain plant forms were also employed as tattoo patterns."
