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Why Lapu-Lapu Statue Doesn’t Have Tattooes?

29th, 2005 by jorge

Funny, isn’t it?

This subject aroused my curiosity to tackle a little bit about this historical lapse when I read an article in Freeman online publication about the Cebuano body. It talked about the tattooed bodies of the pre-Hispanic Cebuanos.

In the history books, Lapu-Lapu and other natives of Zugbu, now known as Cebu, were portrayed as ‘pintados’ or tattooed ones. It was believed that the natives painted their bodies as a sign of gallantry and a status symbol. If indeed it is a sign of valour and bravery, then why do Lapu-Lapu’s statues not bear any tattoo on his body? Was it intentional or a mental lapse?

Is it because the sculptor was not a Cebuano? Or is it because the sculptor didn’t know much about the hero? Or the people who commissioned the statues were amnesiac or simply ignorant of their own local history that they weren’t aware that Lapu-Lapu was a tatooed warrior?

Now, fellow Cebuanos, go over your history book and reread it over and over again. Find out if the Lapu-Lapu statue that you see in the Provincial Capitol front lawn is not someone else. Imagine an image of a Dalmatian dog without those distinctive dark spots all over his body. Would you still call it a Dalmatian?

Now, go to the Capitol grounds and take a closer look at Lapu-Lapu’s statue. Please give me your opinion about this interesting topic.

19 Comments

let me take some gues, maybe it wasnt fit for Lapu Lapu to have a tattoed body…or Lapu-Lapu screamed when the sculptor tried to put some tatoo and he runaway with fear…hehehe

Comment by rio | September 29th, 2005 5:45 pm | Permalink

Perhaps the powers that be do not approve of tattoos, which they see as products of decadence and youthful rebellion. Filipinos can be so puritan. :(

Comment by Heathen Dan | September 30th, 2005 9:45 am | Permalink

thanks rio for ur valuable comments.

history books tell us that lapu-lapu was a tattooed warrior. and it’s just pretty funny to find that lapu-lapu’s statue doesn’t have any tatoo.

what u remarked was the opposite. lapu-lapu was a bold warrior and tatoos were the hallmark of such character. if he were alive today seeing his statue smooth and spotlessly clean, he would have chopped the sculptor into pieces with his cutlass. that’s for sure!

Comment by jorge | October 3rd, 2005 8:34 am | Permalink

Depends on what you mean by tattoos on the pintadoes really. What sort of tattoo did they use? Henna? Permanent? I doubt there was such a thing as permanent tattoos then. And if I remember correctly, the pintadoes only wore their tattoos when they actually go to war, kinda like the Indian natives of North America. So maybe, the sculptor wanted to portray Lapu-Lapu more as a leader of his people, a “datu”, rather than a war-chief (even though that’s fairly impossible considering how you can’t be a datu if you aren’t a warrior). So yeah, maybe it’s one of those things you mentioned in your post.

Comment by jute | October 3rd, 2005 8:52 am | Permalink

thanks heathen for such an insightful comment on the subject.

ur comment does have substance. maybe yes, the people who commissioned the first lapu-lapu statues were puritans and went on undermining the truth, distorting what was true and factual.

i don’t know why a tatooed body is associated with rebellion or anything bad in our society when such form of art is just as normal as painting on a canvas.

Comment by jorge | October 3rd, 2005 8:57 am | Permalink

thanks jute for ur opinion on the subject matter.

u have a point too. based on the literature that i read, of course we shouldn’t rule out henna as a possible medium to use in tattooing the skin. henna is shrub native to north africa and india and some parts of asia. history books tell us that pre-Spanish Cebu had been trading with India and the arabian countries and henna might be one of those traded commodities. ergo, henna could be a possible medium too.

according to antonio de morga, an author, historian and chronicler during the early years of Spanish rule, the natives pricked their skin and threw black indelible powder over the bleeding skin. based on this account, henna could be used because no other plant species that was proven to be as an effective skin tainter or hair dyer at that time. and indeed one could obtain the dye by crushing henna leaves to powder. maybe yes, maybe no.

Comment by jorge | October 3rd, 2005 9:47 am | Permalink

Thanks for your response. Well, the puritans have pretty much demonized our “pagan” pre-spanish culture to such an extent that we have all but forgotten about it. The use of anitos has been linked to witchcraft. Genital piercing (which I myself think is a bit extreme) is virtually extinct. Openness to sexuality has been deemed taboo.

Our forefathers may not be the most civilized lot, but they are still our ancestral kin. It would be a great disservice if we are to allow them to continue to be scorned and ignored.

Comment by Heathen Dan | October 6th, 2005 10:54 am | Permalink

Yes, what you said was right, Heathen Dan. During Spanish regime, tattooes are a taboo. But the commissioning of the sculpture, I’m sure, only was carried out after the Spanish were gone. So, obviously, the people who commissioned the sculpture of Lapu-Lapu were Cebuanos themselves who want to honor him as a hero. But they seemed to ignore what was written in the history books.

Comment by jorge | October 6th, 2005 11:20 am | Permalink

Firstly, please let us know from which history books you got your information on. Are they primary sources or secondary sources? It will probably be good to look at whether your sources are credible.

Secondly, before asserting that Lapu-lapu was a tattooed warrior, I think it would be more important to ask first whether anybody has a clear picture of Lapu-lapu in the first place. Do early Spanish accounts describe Lapu-lapu clearly? How tall was he? Was he dark? Did he have a short nose? Did he have curly hair? Various sculptures are spread out in Cebu depicting Lapu-lapu in different ways. I think before anything else, you should first make clear whether a description of Lapu-lapu (whether tattooed or not) even exists.

Comment by lyn | November 17th, 2005 9:39 pm | Permalink

about the tattoo type…

i’ve read that the pintados of pre-hispanic visayas used a very painful method of tattooing the body, involving some sort of dye and puncturing the skin. I think if lapu-lapu submitted to such kind of body-marking then I think there’s a larger possibility of it being permanent and therefore clearly visible.

Comment by stoppinby | December 8th, 2005 10:37 pm | Permalink

Thanks for the comment stoppingby.

actually, based on history books that we read (or rather, i read) lapu-lapu was painted too. he was a tattooed chief of Mactan. that’s why i wonder or even some are wondering why lapu-lapu statues don’t bear any tattooes on his body. is it a case of simple ignorance or deliberate ignorance?

Comment by jorge | December 9th, 2005 10:48 am | Permalink

I would like to guess that one. Our government is now experiencing political crisis and we are now on cost cutting so it would be an additional cost if we will request the artist to put tattoos in the statue. Ha!ha!ha!ha!…gwapoha sa akoang lolo, nindot kaayo ang iyang lawas.

Comment by Chie Ponpon | March 11th, 2006 5:07 pm | Permalink

I 100% agree to Jorge.Thanks Jorge by bringing this important issue in the culture of Cebu. What i think about this matter is could be the artist is not a cebuano or not cebuano in heart.My other conclusions includes …the Lapu-lapu government has no cultural care about the culture of the island.Its a pity coz its supposed to be a tourist destination.There is no cultural value in Lapu-Lapu city.The government is busy doing other business
rather than giving back to the city what is important. Its very important that the goverment of Lapu-Lapu city realizes that lack of cultural value and direction is very dumb. Take for instance, go to the Lapu-Lapu city park there is a statue there for the veterans.The first time you will look at it is that you will think 2 things : is it a child holding a gun or the artist is 3 years old. The Lapu-Lapu goverment should really be serious.

Comment by Jojo | February 6th, 2007 11:59 am | Permalink

Is the picture given here a statue….it seems like that…!!!

Don Lapre Albert
webmaster@loganandtyler.org
www.loganandtyler.com

Comment by Don Lapre Albert | February 8th, 2007 4:28 pm | Permalink

las islas de los pintados…

Comment by sirak | April 2nd, 2007 12:15 pm | Permalink

I am currently trying to find information about more traditional filipino tattoo. Meanings, symbolism, etc. Does anyone have advice? Websites, books, any type of literature? Thanks for the help. I have recently become a student on the side of my ancestry, something I should have started along time ago.

Comment by shane | September 22nd, 2007 1:27 am | Permalink

thanks for the comment sirak, u may check this site for pnoy tattoos: http://www.filipinotattoos.com

Comment by raymond | September 22nd, 2007 4:21 pm | Permalink

hello,im on research unsay maayong negosyo pwede i-open sa cebu sa karon?small-scale lang im looking…i heard and read a lot of good things going on sa atong siyudad only i want a first-hand account if all is true about this economic booming stories.daghang salamat sa kon kinsa may mutubag sa akong pangutana.

Comment by antonine | October 22nd, 2007 4:55 pm | Permalink

i think the statue of lapu lapu only serves as a symbolism. we dont have a picture of him as photography was not invented yet at that time. how can you even start to imagine the tattoo designs he was wearing and the extent of the coverage to his body. even his exact appearance is unavailable so the statue’s face is an artist’s rendition. the entire thing is an artists rendition folks, its not a picture. there is no need for details.

Comment by omegaman | December 12th, 2007 1:48 pm | Permalink

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