From the ancient traditions of the Pintados to the modern shores of Boracay, we carry the legacy of Filipino ink. With over 22 years of mastery, Kurt Bataya and Matz Bayeta transform skin into a living map of heritage, soul, and story.
The Spirit of the Archipelago: Our Roots at Octosquidink
The Four Waves of the Filipino Soul
The Philippine islands were shaped by four distinct migrations, each leaving a mark on our DNA and our skin. At Octosquidink Boracay, we view our work as the modern continuation of this ancient timeline.
The First & Second Waves
Thousands of years ago, the Aetas and Proto-Malays brought the first spiritual connections to the land. They were the pioneers of the “Malayo-Polynesian” spirit, using tattoos as a language of belonging.
The Third & Fourth Waves
As Deutero-Malays introduced iron-working and later Spanish explorers dubbed our ancestors “La Isla De Los Pintados” (The Islands of the Painted Ones), tattooing evolved into a symbol of resistance and identity.
The Philippine islands were shaped by four distinct migrations, each leaving a mark on our DNA and our skin. At Octosquidink Boracay, we view our work as the modern continuation of this ancient timeline.