Buscalan Village — Attraction in Kalinga

Travel with me as I tick off one major bucket list of mine. 🤗 To be tattooed by the legendary Apo Whang Od.

For less hassle travel experience, we opt to join a travel tour from Dec 8-10,2023 with side trip to Sagada. We paid 4,500 per pax which includes meals, unli coffee, accommodation, guide fees, environmental and tourism fees.

Travel time from Manila to Buscalan will take you 10-15 hours approximately. Then you will have to trek 30 mins-1 hour depending on your phasing to Buscalan Village.

You can start hiring locals to do your tattoo sessions after settling in your homestay. Prices varies depending on the size and design of tattoo. I decided to have a sun tattoo and serpent eagle on my back totaling 2,300php.

Since this is a weekend trip, lot of tourist were present and wants a tattoo with Apo. Tour guides/agencies have to get a que number for their team to be called. No walkins or singits is allowed. No number no tattoo policy is being implented during our visit. But photo ops are being allowed once in awhile. Photo ops with Apo costs 100 php.

We waited for a day before our number was called. The three dots tattoo with Apo Whang Od costs 300php. Remember to give an exact amount as Apo does not give change. 🤭

I would describe the tattoo as painful but tolerable tattoo sesh(compare to the modern gun). It is a once in a lifetime experience. 🩷 you will love and treasure every moment you have with her. She's very jolly and very accommodating during our visit. She love having pictures with kids and will joke around couples she met.

I recommend joining an agency when you traveled to Buscalan as it will help you a lot when it comes to lining up for Apo Whang Od's 3 dots tattoo.

Overall, this experience is one for the books. The locals, the homestay, the beautiful place they have, the new friends we've met, the food and the unli coffee (a must try), the tattoo sesh and last but not the least, meeting App Whang Od is something you will...

It took my friend and I almost 20 hours to arrive here, but it was all worth it.

Pro(s): • Very straightforward commute (from Cubao, Metro Manila via Coda Lines) • Affordable: Per person - Entrance (PHP 100), tattoo registrstion (PHP 100), Homestay (PHP 400 per night), tour guide (PHP 1,500 per 5 pax), Meal (PHP 100-200) • You get to see the legend Apo Whang-Od • Lots of beautiful sceneries (rice terraces and a nearby waterfall) and local people • You get to be immersed with the culture (especially at the basketball court where kids play and where the adults hang out)

Con(s) • If you miss the jeep going to Tabuk at 9 AM, you will need to pay PHP 1,500 to hire a tricycle (if you're pressed with time) or ride the next jeep ride at 1 PM • Painstaking hours of commute • During my time, it was raining hard so my friend and I mostly stayed in our homestay • My friend and I bought food/ingredients from Manila and brought it with us to cook at the homestay. There's not a lot of places to eat and there's not a lot of ingredients in the area. • Make sure to buy souvenirs in the Kalinga village because this place, Bontoc, and online don't offer that much • If you plan to get a tattoo from Whang-Od, make sure to do it in the morning or just before noon as her wrist would start to hurt in the afternoon

Other notes: • Best to go on Sunday to Wednesday as weekends tend to be packed • My homestay's page on FB is "Zendaya's Buscalan Homestay". It offers wifi too. Look for Mai Agod • My tour guide is the mother of Mai Agod, Cecil Agod • Mai Agod does traditional tattoos also (Attached are the photos of my homestay, the ID of Cecil Agod, and the...

If you are to get a tattoo I would say do the hike and go for it but if you are there to just take a picture of Apo Whang Od, I would recommend to bring a lot of patience and water.

Things I learned is that. You cannot really go up yourselves without a tour guide and to be honest they are worth it for the price they are asking. Don’t barter - you need them for a lot of reasons

Whang Od has her time she can start first thing in the morning or after lunch so even if you are first in line there is still a wait but the lines are pretty quick. Also, she does not do the designs she only does her three dot signature and charges (300pesos) also, do not go there and tell them about sanitary that she should change her bloody wipes this is one of my advice BRING YOUR OWN WIPES AND ZIP IT!!! Don’t go there and tell them what they should and shouldn’t do. You are in there territory, there space, there culture, and property. So please do not go there to flash whatever status in life you because nobody asked you to be there in the first place. (This is a first hand experience about people asking her to change the wipes she use - cause the people in there will tell you. Did you bring your own wipes? No? Well tough luck - you should’ve.

The “needle” she/they use are new which you have to purchase for 100pesos before you even get tattoed

There is an environmental fee of 100pesos/person

From the looks they offer overnight lodging if you aren’t able to get tattooed by Apo.

Take away from all this...