Tourists told to skip Whang-Od's town due to tribal conflict

Tinglayan government warns of ongoing tribal conflict in Kalinga.

Tourists are advised to cancel travel plans to Tinglayan, Kalinga—where visitors famously go for Apo Whang-Od’s tattoos—amid ongoing conflict between the Tulgao and Butbut tribes.

In an advisory on September 18, the municipal government warned against passing through seven barangays in Tinglayan: Tulgao East, Tulgao West, Loccong, Ngibat, Proper Butbut, Bugnay, and Buscalan.

Buscalan is where tourists go to be tattooed by the 100-year-old mambabatok Whang-Od Oggay, who has been nominated as a Gawad Manlilikha ng Bayan awardee.

The Municipality of Tinglayan said it is working towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It nonetheless advised tourists and agencies to defer travel plans while fighting continues.

Tribal leaders met with local authorities on July 30 to establish a formal ceasefire amid clashes over their respective ancestral domains. Local leaders said the underlying territorial issues remain unresolved.