KALINGA has moved to investigate the use without permission of Whang-od designs by the Philippine unit of American headwear manufacturer New Era Cap Company.
Lorraine Alunday Ngao-I, Kalinga supervising tourism operations officer, in an interview said a team from the province has concluded an internal investigation on the use of the tattoo designs of Buscalan elder Maria Oggay, or Whang–od.
Ngao-i said a fact finding team composed of members of the local government unit, Buscalan barangay leaders, the provincial government as well as the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples [NCIP] was formed to conduct a seven-day investigation on the matter.
Results of the investigation have been submitted to the provincial board and are awaiting their action.
Ngao-i said a meeting with Whang-od and her family also ensued at Buscalan where it was confirmed that no consent was given by the family nor by the community by New Era Caps.
Whang–od of the Butbut tribe in Kalinga is one of the oldest mambabatok (Kalinga tattoo artist) who uses a mixture of charcoal and water that will be tapped into the skin through a thorn of a lemon or pomelo tree.
The international line has released apparel with the designs of the province by the revered Kalinga tattoo artist with prices starting at P2,000.
The NCIP has rules governing Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP) and the mandate to protect these.
Under the IKSP’s artistic and literary works and inventions of the indigenous peoples refer to tangible and intangible forms in which their IKSP are expressed, communicated or manifested and include traditional music, performances, narratives, names and symbols, designs, and technological innovations.
NCIP added the IKSP’s designs of IP on weaves is owned by a community and should be acknowledged and asked for permission for its use, stressing designs which have been invented by individual weavers do not fall under this rule.
To date, there have been no cases lodged in the courts. No permission has been sought from the NCIP.
Ngao–i said the matter is now being reviewed by the provincial legal office led by Ken Martinez as well as by the provincial ethics committee headed by board member Mark Diasen.