PINTADOS
Tattoed warriors
Symbols: Valor, status and pride in the Filipino race
During pre-colonial times, the early Visayans and Filipinos in general were referred to as Los Pintados, or The Painted Ones. It was once a common practice among Filipino men and women to have tattoos adorning their bodies.
The pintados bore the mark of tattoos as a symbol of bravery and status. Very much like medals that military men accumulate for every victory in battle.
There have been accounts of heavily-tattooed mandirigmas (warriors) attacking a Chinese coastal village in 1169.
The pintado would have to undergo a dangerous and extremely painful process of tattooing that would sometimes lead to their death due to infection. The tattooist would use the crudest and most primitive of tattooing tools. After the process, the tattooed man usually experienced high fever, should he survive, his survival would be testament to the man’s strength.
A heavily-tattooed man was considered a lipong (hero), these were the “braves” of the community. The coward man bearing a tattoo was taunted as a halo, a timid specie of the monitor lizard with elaborate patterns on its skin. Referring to a tattooed coward person that is undeserving of the marks of valor. The gays and transvestites were not required to bear these tattoos.
Earliest accounts of the pintados could be found in the Boxer Codex. It contains illustrations of the different inhabitants of the Philippine archipelago during the first stages of Spanish colonization.
The pintado is a symbol of valor, status and pride in the Filipino race.