The Jodypig Collective
4 Mar 2026
Meet Maria, the world's oldest living tattoo artist, at approximately 109
Apo Whang-Od (Maria Oggay) is the world's oldest living tattoo artist, at approximately 109 years old as of early 2026. Based in Buscalan, Kalinga, Philippines, she is the last mambabatok (traditional hand-tap tattooist) of her tribe, using charcoal and thorns to create traditional designs.
Key Details About Apo Whang-Od:
Age: Born around 1917, she is 108–109 years old.
Technique: She uses the traditional batok method, involving a thorn from a pomelo or calamansi tree, charcoal soot, and water, hammered into the skin.
Legacy: Originally tattooing warriors, she now tattoos tourists with her signature three-dot design.
Recognition: In 2023, she became the oldest person to appear on the cover of Vogue Philippines.
Apprentices: She is training her grandnieces, Grace Palicas and Elyang Wigan, to continue the tradition