After thinking what she wants for her third tattoo, Joyce Noreen Aznar-Brigdman of Alaska finally decided to honor her Filipino culture.

The designs are 3 Stars and a Sun with Plumeria flowers or “kalachuche” in Philippines and Sampaguita flowers. She turned the regular stars into nautical stars and colored it with each colors of Philippine flag. She added the “kalachuche” flower because it reminds her of her grandmother’s house in Bohol. Sampaguita flowers are also included because it is the national flower of the Philippines.

“Why not” is “Bakit hindi” in Filipino. These words basically means “of course or of course I will.” It is like you are willing to do or try even the most impossible thing. This is the reason why Naomi of Seattle, Washington designed this tattoo. This is all her idea. The letters N and L represents her first and middle initial. The tree means growth, her roots and knowledge. And the words “Bakit Hindi” is what she live by.

Pam de la Cruz (The Netherlands)
My son’s name + The sun & 3 stars by Roy of Scorpion Tattoo Design, set by Tattoostudio Carolien
“I’ve been thinking of getting a tattoo for quite a long time already, my son’s name in particular. But I wasn’t quite sure of what I wanted, ’til a friend of mine (Roy) came up with this design. I was immediately sold and a few weeks later, I had it set on my lower back.”

Verny (Seattle, WA)
Representing my Filipino pride and my family name by Lucky Devil Tattoo
“Basic Philippine sun, but instead the two stars were dropped to extenuate the lower back. And across the sun is a banner with my family name.”

Sharjah UAE
My name and My kid’s initials and My sign (water sign)
by Mike from Dubai
“I just want to share it with every one! And I’ll post the other one that I will be getting.”

Prophet Muhammad clearly stated that getting inked is forbidden and sinful as it attempts to modify and destroy Allah’s creation. It is against Allah’s law to place something on your body that was not originally there during birth and to attempt to beautify something which was already perfected. There is no known punishment or retribution for those who will violate the law though.

This is the very reason why tattoos done in any nation that is part of the Arabian Peninsula would cost seventy percent more expensive than any other countries because tattoo artists in the Arab countries are usually few and located in far distances.

Muslims or not, especially those who are residing in an Arab nation, may want to consider getting a henna tattoo as an alternative. Muslims are known to be henna tattoos’ first users.

Marn (Toronto, Canada)
Sun, 3 Stars, Consummatum Est by Chris of Adrenaline
“My ink represent my love for the Philippines. And the Latin script below is what Jose Rizal said before he was shot.”

Rizal’s reign, is it finished? Uh-oh. When we hear the name Jose Rizal the first thing that pops up in our minds is the word hero. Little did we know that for some, he is the real Son of God. In the Philippines, a group based in Bataan called Banal na Iglesia ng Bathalang Buhay venerates Rizal as if he is the real Messiah.

If one takes a deeper look, members of the group or Rizalians’ belief is quite intriguing. Rizal as the Son of God may not be acceptable for devoted Catholics as he was excommunicated by the Church throughout his time. Just imagine the chaos that might have occurred when Rizal was proposed to be elevated to sainthood during the 1980s.

Only in the Philippines!

Kaiz (Manila, Philippines)
Random Doodle by Island Tattoo (Philippines)
“Thought it was painful. It was just tolerable.”

At 23, right after her birthday, she got her first tat. Vines with ends of man’s private organ was the initial design. Then she came to realize that it won’t look good when she gets old. Her future grandchildren may ask her what her tattoo is and she doesn’t want to answer them with, “children, those are penises.” She’s planning to have his second tattoo as soon as she forgets what pain is.

This beautiful looking tattoo (She looks like Reese Witherspoon) is the Hail Mary prayer in Baybayin. The translation was probably sourced from the “1st” book printed in the Philippines, the Doctrina Christiana in 1593. Some say that’s when Baybayin was used as a tool to control us and therefore inappropriate as a “tribute” tattoo unless your OK with being a conquered people. What do you think?

By Pete’s on Earth

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PS: Sorry for the sparse updates. I’ve been busy preparing for the Spring/Summer Filipino Festival tour here in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have a couple of new products in store. Additionally, I’m in the process of hiring a blogging assistant.