Buscalan, Kalinga (Mambabatok ng Kalinga)

Buscalan,Kalinga

Buscalan Village is under the municipality of Tinglayan in Kalinga province.It is also the home of the Butbut tribe and a home to the last Kalinga tattoo artist Whang-Od (pronounced as Fang-od). According to our guide, there's a total of 15 tattoo artists in the village.

Buscalan Village

Where to go? 

Visiting Buscalan will require you to a 16 - hours journey from Manila plus 45 minutes to an hour trek to reach the village from the jump off point.

GETTING THERE:

From Cubao, ride a bus going to Baguio then ride a taxi going to slaughter house. Catch a bus to Bontoc, Mountain Province. From there, you can walk or ride a tricycle going to the jeepney terminal. Ride a jeep to Buscalan and get off at Bugnay Junction. Start trek to Buscalan village. 

WHERE TO STAY?

There are no hotels in the town, but they offer their house as a homestay. We stayed at Vista Guest House, 250php / night per person for homestay with unlimited rice and coffee. Guide fee - 1,000php max of 5 persons per night. You can reach them through this number 09984797760 - Kuya Markus / Ate Joyce

Our home for two nights. 

ITINERARY:

In our case, we stayed at Buscalan Village for two nights. 

DAY 1

12:00 AM: ETD to Baguio
6:00 AM: ETA Baguio
6:15 AM: A taxi ride to the slaughter house
6:30 AM: ETA slaughter house, breakfast
7:00 AM: ETD to Bontoc
12:30 PM: ETA Bontoc, take lunch
2:30 PM: ETD to Buscalan (Bugnay Junction) 
4:30 PM: Bugnay junction, meet guide and start trek to village
5:15 PM: registration area,your guide will get your number for the tattoo session next day. 
5:20 PM: Arrival at Vista Guest House
7:00 PM: dinner, socials. 
9:00 PM: lights off

DAY 2

6:00 AM: Wake up call, drink coffee and prepare breakfast. 
7:30 AM: tattoo area. 
8:30 AM: while waiting for your turn, you can go around to the village and see their way of living. 
12:00 PM: take lunch
3:00 PM: Tattoo done! :) Back at homestay. 
6:00 PM: prep and take dinner, socials.
9:00 PM: Lights off. 

DAY 3

6:00 AM: Wake up call, take breakfast
7:30 AM: start trek going back to Bugnay junction. 
8:15 AM: arrival at junction
9:00 AM: ETD to Bontoc
11:00 AM: ETA Bontoc
11:30 AM: ride the bus going back to Baguio 
5:30 PM: ETA Baguio, dinner, buy pasalubong
11:00 PM: ETD back to manila

                        Waiting for your turn :)

                          Tattoo designs

             My first tattoo by Apo Whang-od

Originally, I told her to put Kinilat (lightning) design on my back. But when it's done, it turned out to be this one.

A combination of Mountains (represents constancy, eternity and stillness),

Ferns (represents abundance, sincerity and confidence),  And 3 dots (her signature). 

The lines are obviously not perfectly straight, but thats the beauty of it. 

Selfie with Apo Whang-od :)

EXPENSES:

Bus Fare to Baguio - 455php
Taxi to slaughter house - 50-60php
Bus to bontoc - 212php
Jeep to Bugnay junction -100php
Guide fee - 1,000 max of 5pax / night
Reg fee - 75php
Homestay - 250php / night
Tattoo - 100php above, depends on size

CLICK HERE to watch this video! 
https://vimeo.com/196820189