Malakas neck tattoo

Lorial from NYC uploaded a photo of her malakas Baybayin neck tattoo.

The background behind the tat is; the first one i got was the strength character in Chinese.
one i am not too proud of since i learned that it is a common tat - but it is what it is. i wanted
to keep with the theme and thought that the Baybayin translation spoke to the struggle i have had
being adopted from the Philippines and raised by a white American family. much of the pain has
been my disconnect from my birth culture and practically non existent knowledge of the tongue.

Filipino Playboy model - Kat Longa

Here are some photos of Baybayin designs I did for Filipino Playboy model, Kat Longa. On her neck is Maganda (beautiful), Nanay (mother), and Anak na babae (daughter).

Kat also wanted to see how the tattoo would look, so I added the Baybayin scripts over a photo she sent in.

Her wrist says Ate (big sister).

Some photos of Kat

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PinoyTattoos.com article feature

PinoyTattoos.com was featured in the Contra Costa Times today along with Bay Area tattoo artists.

Here’s an excerpt of the article:

Christian Cabuay of Walnut Creek, founder of PinoyTattoos.com, is fluent in a Filipino script called Baybayin. Although he is not a tattoo artist, his artistic skills and in-depth knowledge have made him a go-to guy for one-of-a-kind Baybayin designs suitable for body art.

Baybayin, a writing system used in the pre-Spanish colonized society of the Philippines, uses specific characters for certain sounds as do other Asian languages. It has been popularly referred to as Alibata, but Cabuay says that isn’t the correct term.

Read the rest of the article

Beautiful Struggle ribs tattoo

Melissa sent in 2 photos of her Baybayin tattoos. The one on her ribs is Magandang Laban.

Inked at Humble Beginnings in San Jose, CA

Family Baybayin hand tattoo

Here’s a sweet looking Baybayin hand tattoo of Family (PA-MI-YA). Sent in by Mark E. from the Pinoy Tattoos Myspace page. Send in your photo.

Philippines map, sun, and Pinoy Baybayin

Fivelwon from Arizona sent in outlines of his Philippines map and sun on the ribs. The 2nd photo is  traditional Baybayin of Pinoy. I can’t wait to see how this turns out.

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Karl Roy’s Kapatid Baybayin tattoo

One of Philippine rock’s icons shows off his Kapatid Baybayin tattoo. Translation is KA-PA-TI-D. Notice the kudit above the “TA” character and the cancellation kudlit under “DA”. Thanks to James for sending this in.

1/2 Filipino WWE Star Batista

1/2 Greek and 1/2 Filipino WWE star shows off his Philippine flag tattoo

photo by Ernie Pena hotlikewasabe.com

Lasik surgery vs Tattoo

I had lasik eye surgery done on Friday and was asked how the pain was compared to getting tattooed. Getting tattooed hurts a lot more than a laser burning your eyeballs. In fairness, the eyes were numbed by drops. It was pretty trippy smelling your eyes being burned for 60 seconds (about 30 seconds per eye).

Philippine Sun and Stars tattoo

Johnny from Chicago uploaded a photo of his Philippine Sun and Stars back tattoo.

Want to know what the symbols mean? Check out this Philippine Sun and Stars tattoo….

Underground Filipino artists in Saudi Arabia

Filipino OFW’s (Overseas Foreign Workers or OFI’s - Overseas Foreign Investors as Gloria Arroyo says) are setting up underground tattoo and body piercing spots in Saudi Arabia. It looks like the Filipinos setting up shop are nurses. ArabNews reports:

Young Saudi men and women are increasingly getting their bodies tattooed and pierced, something that is fueling a growth in underground tattooist and body piercers, who are often not only unhygienic but also expensive. Tattooists and body piercers that operate in Jeddah are generally Filipinos, who work from their homes and advertise their services by word-of-mouth.

I’m not sure what the Saudi law is regarding tattoos but I’m assuming the penalty is steep. If any Filipino tattoo artists from the middle east are out there, email me. I would love to interview you.

Here’s a related photo sent in by Roxie from Manila. According to Roxie, the Arabic letting on her lower back is her name. Nice