By Robbie Pangilinan 

The 18th Dutdutan Festival wowed all who experienced it, including foreign inkers from Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, the United States, and Korea who came to the World Trade Center in Pasay City on September 21 and 22.

The annual and largest tattoo expo in the country presented by Tribal Gear Philippines and its partners this year, the Philippine Tattoo Artists Guild (PhilTAG), VD, ZooYork, Avatarart, CherryBomb and Skinworkz,

showcased homegrown and foreign tattoo artists and featured 148 booths, various rock bands that entertained the public throughout the day, tattoo competitions that exhibited intricate designs of various scales.  

The Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue which is among the last of the authentic traveling freak shows, showed off some of the deadliest stunts complemented with emphatic rock music.

“When we started this, we really aimed for it to grow. We knew it was going to get bigger and that the world would appreciate and support it, because this art is never-ending,” said Ricky Sta. Ana, President of PhilTAG and founder of Skinworkz Tattoos. Sta. Ana is also one of the founders of Dutdutan.

During the expo, Sta. Ana also launched “Gayuma” for men and “Lason” for women, two scents he designed through a partnership between Skinworkz and FP Perfumery.

“After Dutdutan, I am inviting you to my new business – Ramen Attack,” added Sta. Ana.

Photo by: Myk Romero