Maximum Security Compound | Mom Writes for a Cause

One of my memorable trips when I was working was that of the trip at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The purpose was an interview with inmate who perform tattoo using improvised gadgets. I was able to keep this image to show you how the tattoo artist used handmade tattooing tool covered with thick layers of thread. The man holding the gadget was a known tattoo artist at the tightly-guarded area. Another inmate proudly showed the tattoo designs on his back. Tattoos are permanent so just in case the inmates want to have their tattoo removed, the tattoo artist doesnâ€™t have a tattoo remover. The artist can only modify the tattoo, but cannot remove it.

Human canvass

It’s Saturday and its Photohunt day. I don’t have any picture in mind that would match this week’s theme (painted) except the snapshot of this man whose back is adorned with tattoo.

The tattoed man is actually an inmate at the Maximum Security Compound of the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. The other man holding a pen-like object was his fellow inmate, who is a known tattoo artist at the same tightly-guarded area. The object is an improvised handmade tattooing tool covered with thick layers of thread.

This picture had been used to support the banner story published by People’s Tonight sometime in October 2004. The news feature focused on the susceptibility of inmates to blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B, which is transmitted from having unprotected sex, sharing drug needles, and getting a tattoo or body piercing with dirty needles and tools.

Some authorities interviewed for the story would not admit the incidence rate of hepa B cases (if there are), but confirmed the existence of sharing of drug needles, unprotected sex with different (women) visitors, and unhygienic use of tattooing devices.

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