Jason (San Diego)
Ruivivar by Skin N Art
“RUIVIVAR and I’m proud to be a Filipino. This tats is my last name and we’re quite a few in our hometown. So I decided to write it in modified Spanish way and also to show that no matter where I am or who I’m with, I’ll say that I’m proud to be Pinoy.” 

Did he not know Third Watch?

If not, then he may not know Anthony Michael Ruivivar, one of the main casts of the NBC’s TV drama series Third Watch which last aired May 2005. And he may be interested in knowing the actor since both of them are of kin to Juan dela Cruz.

Anthony Michael’s father is of Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish descent while his mother is German and Scottish. The actor played the role of Carlos Nieto in the show which allowed him to show off his ethnicity that includes of the Filipino characteristic. Too bad he isn’t that visible on the screen now as he was before. 

We wonder if the inked Ruivivar is trying to pull a trick that he hasn’t heard of the actor Ruivivar.

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!

Pete (Hawaii)
Pinoy/Pride with Philippine Sun and Stars by Felipe

What’s up with the ambigram? Admit it or not, it started to gain popularity when Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons was released a few years back. The book contains the famous ambigram of Illuminati which, when inverted, reads just the same. But has ambigram something to do with us, Filipinos? Answer is yes.

Ambigram is becoming a famous tattoo subject for most. See Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda’s surname inked on his right arm. In no time, the internet will be bombarded with Filipinos tattooed with ambigram since it is the in-thing.

Since we already are speaking of being a part of the fad, Philippines is now being tagged as a nation of copycats. We have the Pinoy Idol, Survivor Philippines, Kakasa ka bas a Grade 5 and more. We need not to tell you their counterpart. Funny? Not. Whatever happened to Filipino’s creative side?

Gerald Genus (Sac-Town, Cali)
by Cross Creek Tattoo in NC
“The Flag in tribal-ish style, a little bit different than the rest.”

Speaking of TRIBAL, did you know that as of 1990s a 100 plus highland tribal groups or a 3% of indigenous people have been known to be living in the Philippines?

Various tribes of various culture ranges from Luzon to Mindanao. We have the Bontoc, Ibaloi, Ifugao and more from our Igorot tribes of Cordillera, the T’boli and B’laan which are the two indigenous groups found in Mindanao, and let us not forget the Aetas that are mostly located in Zambales. The list goes on and we don’t want to bore you enumerating all.

Thumbs up for the Philippine government for their continuous effort of preserving our tribal groups. Indigenous people are encourage to speak in their native language, dress in their traditional clothing, and celebrate their tradition and culture.

Jeng (Texas)
3 Stars and the Sun by Monster Tattoo

Mirasol is sight of the sun in English translation. But it can also be a sunflower and even someone else’s last name just like the owner of the tattoo above (now you know his complete name). Having said this, have you ever wondered why most of the Filipino last names are of Spanish origin?

Back then, during the colonial period, Spanish officials were going gaga every tax collection activities since members of the same family did not have the same last name. The father can be a Bonifacio and the son can be a Rizal. So, to make things more organized, Governor General Narciso Claveria issued the Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames, mainly of Spanish names. It has been said, though not proven, that Filipinos should pick up a name from the catalogue and the rest of the members of their families must bear the same last name.

Anonymous (Los Angeles)
Three Stars with a Sun and Flag by Mexicano Shop
“Proud to be Pinoy.”

It’s not always the Filipinos who are left by their conquerors acquiring their culture. We are leaving marks as well. Filipino’s impact on Mexican culture is very evident especially in the Pacific Coast. Residents there can be seen drinking tuba from coconut trees. They also are enthralled by kite-flying with the use of papel de China. Mexicans named their fishing boats panga which is believed to be of Filipino origin.

An Acapulco college teacher mentioned that Filipinos or Filipino-Mexicans are being largely ignored despite the major role they played during Mexico’s struggle for independence way back 1800s. Around 200 Filipino-Mexicans joined Gen. Jose Maria Morelos’ army in its Western Mexico fight.

I wonder why Japan, American, and Spain have friendship days with the Philippines. What about Filipino-Mexican Day? Is there a thing as such?

Gerald Genus (Sac-Town, Cali)
by Cross Creek Tattoo in NC
“Just because it can be seen while I’m in uniform.”

Who else can we think of when we see PINOY PRIDE inked on knuckles? No doubt, it’s just him; the people’s champ, Manny Pacquiao.

PacMan—a professional boxer, recording artist, actor, and politics enthusiast—is rated by the Ring Magazine as world’s #1 pound-for-pound boxer who has won five world titles in five different weight divisions.

Pacquiao also endorses several commercial products, print and broadcast. His biggest yet is Nike’s Fast Forward campaign wherein other sports moguls like Kobe Bryant, Liu Xiang, Maria Sharapova, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Roger Federer starred.

Ranking at 57th in Forbes Magazine’s Celebrity 100 list along with Angelina Jolie and Tiger Woods, who would have thought that this General Santos native used to be a porter who earns less than anyone else?

Indeed, he’s a real Pinoy Pride.

Gerald Genus (Sac-Town, Cali)
“For my Catholic Religion. To forever wear a cross on my neck.”

Getting inked is something. A tattoo of a seemingly-necklace with a cross as the pendant is another thing. It just shows devotion to Catholicism.

Despite being a predominantly Catholic nation, Philippines was able to produce just one saint in Lorenzo Ruiz’s persona.

He was born of a Chinese and Filipino parents, both Catholic. Ruiz’s devotion started out as early as his childhood days when he became an altar boy and later on a calligrapher for the Dominican friars.

Also known as San Lorenzo de Manila, Ruiz was beatified in the Philippines during Pope John Paul II’s 1981 Papal visit. This ceremony was the first beatification held outside the Vatican City. The saint was canonized due to his resistance of giving up his Catholic faith which lead to his gruesome death after painful tortures enacted by the Japanese.

Robbie (MPLS, MN)
Where I’m From by Tom Alvarado of Steady Tattoo
“Sun and Stars. Plain and Simple.”

For those who are not aware, did you know that the Philippine Flag may not be used as a tablecloth, as a covering for objects, as part of motor vehicles, as trademarks or label design, or as part of a costume or uniform? And that failing to do so will lead you to one year imprisonment with five to twenty thousand pesos fine? Well, it is just the Philippine Flag Law Section 34 who’s reminding us. Actually, the list goes on but we don’t want you to bombard with it.

Having said this, are you still thinking of getting inked with our very own three stars and the sun? Don’t be afraid that someone may arrest you for having a tattoo of what could be a resemblance to our very own flag. As long as you can justify the design and why you’ve chosen it, stand up and be proud.

Karding Satwa (Dubai UAE)
Christ Reaching Arms by Karding Satwa
“For those Filipinos who are in UAE and want to have a difference, call this number 0502469737 (Custom Skin).”

Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic country, celebrates Holy week, locally known as Semana Santa or Mahal na Araw, as one of its most important festivities.

The week starts with Palm Sunday wherein reenactments of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem are present in almost all Churches celebrating the Holy Mass. Continuous chanting of prayers of Jesus’ life called Pabasa occurs from Holy Monday to Holy Wednesday. Maundy Thursday involves Church visits or Visita Iglesia while Good Friday is commemorated with street processions. Black Saturday should be observed with solemnity but ironically, this also happens to be the best time of the year for family reunions and outings. The week ends at Easter Sunday with a ceremony called Salubong featuring kids dressed as angels who are lifted up into mid-air.

We wonder if the tattoo was done as a form of penitensya, another peculiar activity by the Filipinos during Holy Week.