By Mariquita Pangilinan
Pasay City - Philtag, a nonprofit organization that recognizes the tattoo industry in the Philippines, celebrates the success of its member, Daenee Bartolome.
Bartolome, more popularly known as Daenee Chukchuk, has been a Philtag member for three years. She is the first Filipina tattoo artist to have been invited to join the Vancouver Tattoo and Culture Show on April 20 to 22 at 999 At Vancouver Convention Centre.
“Our organization is training her more for this event. I might come to join her as her coach,” says the president of Philtag, veteran tattoo artist Ricky Sta. Ana.
Another honorary member, Mayo Landicho, from San Pablo, Laguna who is now based in Vancouver, Canada, will hold his Painting Collection Auction and Tattoo Exhibit on March 24 at Birthmark Tattoos in Vancouver.
“We support all our members, in terms of their needs, documents, moral support, social media support and prayers. We give them a hero’s welcome, win or lose,” adds Sta. Ana.
Philtag supports its more than 3000 active members by providing training, development, and education programs so that the tattoo artists can earn for their families. The organization also gives its members the opportunity to work abroad.
“If they have no proper guidance, they can be led to the wrong path, bad imagery, and irresponsible tattooing. Like some artists without proper training do tattoos to under age people and they can spread sickness from one person to another. We conduct seminar for sanitation and proper hygiene in partnership with DOH. We also conduct pocket seminars like basic sterilization,” says
Philtag was established in 1995 and is fully certified by the Department of Health. Its objective is to help tattoo artists who have no formal education to earn an income and be responsible tattoo artists. Members enjoy the benefits of having the right knowledge, proper guidance, and protection when they establish their own tattoo business.
“Our biggest concern is that Philtag is a nonprofit organization, so we have no funds. If we have projects, then we share the blessing. We find it hard to get sponsors because corporations and government do not thinks they could benefit from it,” says Sta. Ana.
To become a member of Philtag, applicants must have a experience in tattooing, passion, undergo skill screening, and attend a seminar. Membership fee is P1,000 inclusive of ID and certification.