FROM a taboo to a trend, tattooing has evolved a great deal throughout the years. Some even say it is a form of art.
Although there are still some misconceptions that tattoos are usually worn by convicts or the muscular “tambays” who seek fights or getting themselves drunk.
Tattoos, years ago, are form of rank and accomplishments, and some even believed that these tattoos have magical qualities like those in Carlo J. Caparas' comic “Joaquin Bordado” or the American supernatural drama based on Cassandra Claire's popular book series “Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments” (although they call it “runes” and not tattoos).
Nowadays, though, tattoos are considered not that different from painting or drawing. What we now call as skin art is just like masterpieces that instead of using paints and canvas, you use ink and a person's skin.
As such, its no surprise that Sylvester Maceren, who initially dreams of becoming a painter and have his pieces displayed in exhibits, opted to trade paint brushes to ink needles.
Being an artist has been in Maceren's blood since he was young. Before the inks, there were the pencils and charcoal for portrait sketches.
“Wala ko ni diretso pa adto kay una, murag mahadlok ko mosulod sa mga ing ana kay sa una naa may bad image or labeling sa mga tao nga naay tatoo,” Maceren said.
Although his younger brother and said brother's tattoo artist friend encouraged him to try doing tattoos, Maceren was reluctant, however he did try.
He started being an apprentice for a tattoo artist in 2013 and while he was taught of the techniques and skills needed to this line of venture, he also started appreciating tattoos.
But it was not until he watched a tattoo competition that something sparked within Maceren's artistic nature.
When he watched other tattoo artists compete during the competition, Maceren said that was when he thought that “tsada man diay moapil og ing ani.”
As such, he started joining in competitions in 2014 and although he did not win any award, the experiences he gained satisfied him.
Currently, he's planning to join a competition in Tagoloan and is also looking forward to participate in this year's Dutdutan Philippine Tattoo Expo, the country's biggest and grandest annual tattoo exposition presented by Tribal Gear Philippines.
In 2015, he started to professionally do tattoos through home services. However, it didn't last that long.
“Naka decide dayun ko nga kapoy mag home service. Ug walay assurance nga pag adto nimo didto ang nag contact sa imo wala midayun, sayang ang pliti. So nag decide ko mag shop ko,” Maceren said.
(I realized that doing a home service is tiresome, as there can be no assurance that your clients will continue the deal; the fare would go to waste, so I decided to put up a shop)
He opened NorthInk CDO, located in Block 1, Barangay Puntod, Cagayan de Oro City, which offers good quality and not too expensive body art tattoo. NorthInk also brags itself as the safest, most effective and most afforadable tattoo shop in the city.
At present, Maceren is organizing the Summer Tattoo Competition dubbed as “Ink Blast” which will be participated by tattoo artists from all over Mindanao and also from Cebu.
The theme for the competition is sci-fi.
According to Maceren, the artists will be judged by how they will execute and the placement of the design, it should be clean and has no scratches, color harmony and combination, and others.
Every artists, he added, should have their own models who will be tattooed on the spot. The participants will be given more or less eight hours to do the tattoo.
“Katong mga aspiring artists or newbie, this is there chance to be promoted and they can market their product and look for potential clients,” Maceren said.
(Those aspiring artists or newbies, this is a chance to be promoted and they can market their product and look for potential clients.)
For those who are interested to be tattooed, on the other hand, Maceren advised that they should look for an artist or shop with a good standard procedure and check if their needles are disposable.
“Kung ikaw naa kay plano magpatattoo, first nimo buhaton is mag research ka sa kinsay mga nearby artist sa inyong lugar, i-check nimo ilang mga portfolio,” Maceren said.
(If you plan to get a tattoo, first to do is you should research for nearby artists in your place, check their portfolios.)
Maceren is also a member of Mindanao Association of Tattoo Artist, a group that promote and establish Mindanao tattoo local artists.