Ronnabelle Lora

EXCLUSIVE: LA Santos reveals plan to get a tattoo from Apo Whang-Od during Holy Week

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>During holy week, most celebrities take advantage of the break in shooting and taping to either go on vacation or rest at home. But for actor LA Santos, his plans this year involved a very long car ride more than 400 kilometers outside of the city to get a new tattoo. LA revealed to PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview how he and his family ended up deciding to go on a trip to the small mountain village of Buscalan which is home to the oldest traditional tattoo artist in the Philippines, Apo Whang-Od.</p><p>“Ang plano ng family ko, mag-bu-Buscalan kami, kay Apo Whang-Od, yung mag-papa-tattoo. Yun yung plano namin. Nabanggit ko lang kasi dati sa mother ko na gusto kong gawin yun tapos parang nainggit sila kaya sumama na rin. Naging family trip na (laughs). Talagang magpapa-tattoo ako. Meron kasi silang tattoo na yung tawag nilang design is ‘Prayer,’ kaya yun yung gusto ko ipalagay. Line art lang naman siya. At saka siyempre yung tatlong tuldok ni Apo Whang-Od. May tatlo na ako na tattoo pero tago lang (laughs). Pag nagpapa-tattoo ako tago lang kasi talaga, yung nasa likod lang, pero never sa kamay,” he shared with PUSH ABS-CBN.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIBtoWSSsqD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3057084.399999976%2C%22ls%22%3A3056940.399999976%2C%22le%22%3A3056945.699999988%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>LA also shared getting a new tattoo on his arms which revealed his preference for colorful designs, which also applies to his taste in fashion. “Normally, I would describe my style as very colorful at very malaro kasi yun talaga ang personality ko. May pagka makulit ako. Kaya I really love wearing bright colors and I really like wearing colors na hindi normal,” he explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/9/6/diagnosed-with-adhd-la-santos-still-pursues-showbiz-career-wag-bitawan-ang-pangarap-1708"><strong>READ: Diagnosed with ADHD, LA Santos still pursues showbiz career: ‘Wag bitawan ang pangarap’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DDULunVhwFD/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=506&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A3057096.899999976%2C%22ls%22%3A3056940.399999976%2C%22le%22%3A3056945.699999988%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>After starring in the movie <em>Maple Leaf Dreams</em> last year with Kira Balinger, LA revealed his next major project is going to be as part of the cast of the new drama series which will also serve as Gerald Anderson’s TV comeback series.</p><p>“I’m going to have an upcoming teleserye, yung <em>Sins of the Father</em>, yung kasama ko sila Gerald Anderson at saka si Ms. Jessy Mendiola. Magkakasama sama kami dun. Sa totoo lang, wala pa akong super idea sa role ko pero malamang sa malamang, good boy yan (laughs). Abangan niyo kasi maganda yun and very drama siya. First time ko lang sila makaka-work pero happy naman ako na makaka-work ko yung director ko from before like si direk FM Reyes. Happy naman ako na sila ulit makakatrabaho ko kasi homegrown naman nila ako,” he admitted.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/3/25/gerald-anderson-to-make-tv-comeback-in-sins-of-the-father-1641"><strong>READ: Gerald Anderson to make TV comeback in &#x27;Sins of the Father&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><p>Last year, LA revealed to ABS-CBN  his plans to pursue showbiz despite being diagnosed with ADHD.</p><p>“May ADHD kasi ako at ang bilis ko talaga ma-distract. Sobrang bilis. ‘Yung method acting, nakakatulong sa akin kasi nakaka-focus ako. Kilala ko kasi ang sarili ko. Once na bumitaw ako, hirap na hirap talaga akong bumalik. Kahit nasa tent lang ako, in character talaga ako.</p><p>“Para sa akin, nakatulong talaga siya (acting). Kasi ‘yung ADHD ko, kapag sa isang bagay na gustung-gusto ko, grabe ‘yung hyper focus ko. Pero kapag sa isang bagay na ayaw ko, wala talaga. ‘Yun ang advantage na masasabi ko ng may ADHD. Mahal na mahal talaga namin ‘yung ginagawa namin as in super focused.”</p>

<p>Actor LA Santos shares how excited he is to visit tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od in her village in Kalinga, Buscalan.</p>

Actor LA Santos shares how excited he is to visit tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od in her village in Kalinga, Buscalan.