09/09/2025
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CORDILLERA'S PRIDE: APO WHANG-OD STARS IN INTERNATIONAL FILM 'TREASURE OF THE RICE TERRACES
From the mountaintop village of Buscalan to the global film stage, Apo Whang-od, the legendary mambabatok of Kalinga, is about to grace the big screen in an international documentary entitled “Treasure of the Rice Terraces.”
Directed by Kent Donguines, a Filipino Canadian filmmaker, the film dives deep into the life and legacy of the 108-year-old tattoo master, showcasing not only her artistry in hand-tapped tattoos but also how she has entrusted this sacred cultural practice to her descendants, most notably her grandniece Grace Palicas. The documentary is more than just a visual journey; it’s an intimate look at how cultural heritage survives through kinship, resilience, and the passing of wisdom from one generation to the next.
What makes the project even more powerful is how it honors community first. Before heading to international screens, the filmmakers premiered it in Buscalan earlier this year, allowing the people of Kalinga to be the very first to witness their own story told on film. This gesture underscores the heart of the documentary: tradition and identity are best preserved when the community itself stands at the center.
Now, the world will soon get a chance to see this story unfold as “Treasure of the Rice Terraces” is set to screen at the Vancouver International Film Festival this October 2025. For audiences abroad, it’s not just a film, it’s an invitation to witness the living culture of the Cordillera, the enduring beauty of the rice terraces, and the unbroken spirit of the Kalinga people.
Apo Whang-od has long been a symbol of Philippine pride, hailed as the last and oldest traditional tattoo artist of her kind. Through Donguines’ lens, her story, and the future she is shaping with her apprentices, takes its rightful place on the international stage. From the quiet tap of a bamboo stick on skin to the bright lights of a Canadian festival, her legacy echoes: culture lives on when it is loved, guarded, and shared.
