Highlighting Filipino Heritage: A Journey with Apo Whang Od

Mabuhay! My name is Talilo Marfil, and I am on a mission to ignite the flame of our pre-colonial Filipino culture through the universal language of hip-hop.

I come to you with a tale of cultural revival, collaboration, and the unyielding spirit of a living legend, Apo Whang Od – the last Mambabatok, the keeper of our ancient tattoo traditions. At 106 years old, Apo Whang Od defies time and embodies the resilience of our people. Her indomitable spirit recently graced the cover of Vogue Philippines' Beauty Issue , etching her name in history as the oldest person to ever grace the pages of Vogue.

In 2019, fate intertwined our paths, and I had the profound honor of meeting Apo Whang Od. She blessed me with her intricate tattoos and bestowed upon me a tribal name, welcoming me into her heritage with open arms. Together, we embarked on a journey to create a music video dedicated to her people, a fusion of hip-hop beats and ancestral rhythms.

Now, in 2024, Apo Whang Od extended her hand once more, inviting me back to her village for a momentous occasion – her birthday. But this time, she dreams of something greater – a festival celebrating our collaboration, our cultures, and our shared passion for preserving our roots. It is a historic invitation, as she welcomes a Filipino-American hip-hop artist to stand beside her, amplify her message, and showcase our traditions to the world.

We have captured every moment of this extraordinary journey, every beat of the drum, every stroke of the tattoo needle. But now, we need your help to bring our vision to life. Your generous donation will empower us to complete this project – to weave together the footage into a poignant documentary that will honor Apo Whang Od's legacy and shed light on Filipino culture's beauty and richness.

With your support, we will cover the costs of editing, ensuring that every frame encapsulates the essence of our journey, and additional production to elevate this documentary to its fullest potential. Together, we can be the driving force behind this project, igniting a spark that will illuminate the world with the vibrancy of our heritage.

Please, donate what you can, share our story far and wide, and stand with us as we embark on this transformative journey. Let's honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future.

For more information on Apo Whang Od and our collaboration, please, explore the links below. Join us in preserving the heartbeat of our culture and writing a new chapter in our shared history. Maraming salamat po! ❤️

Whang Od Bio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whang-od

Talilo music

https://www.talilomusic.com/