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'Not a scam': Nas Academy says tattoo course approved by Whang-Od, family

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Whang-Od. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/06/13/whang-od-jc-1-2018-2018-061318.jpg"/><figcaption>Whang-Od. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Nas Academy on Thursday reiterated that its course featuring traditional tattoo artist Whang-Od is not a scam.</p><p>The online learning platform created by Nuseir Yassin, more popularly known as Nas Daily, denied allegations that the course was created without Whang-Od&#x27;s consent.</p><p>Nas Academy said its team pitched the idea to the artist herself as well as her family, and that they &quot;have worked with us to build it, with Whang-Od teaching herself.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/03/15/15/96-year-old-tattoo-artist-keeps-kalinga-tradition-alive">96-year-old tattoo artist keeps Kalinga tradition alive</a></li></ul><p>&quot;As a matter of fact, Whang-Od&#x27;s trusted niece, Estella Palangdao, was present and translated the content of the contract prior to Whang-Od affixing her thumbprint, signifying her full consent to the project. This is the clearest evidence that it is not a scam and achieved the consent of her and her immediate family,&quot; Nas Academy said in a Facebook post.</p><p>&quot;Everybody was compensated for their time, and for every sale the Whang-Od Academy generates, most of it went directly to her and her family. We just provided the technology and the marketing.&quot;</p><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/NasAcademy/posts/361111102188458" data-width="auto"> </div><p>Nas Academy has taken down Whang-Od&#x27;s course on its website, but said it is only &quot;temporary&quot; as they resolve the issue.</p><p>&quot;When we saw the falsehoods circulating online, we were sad. The truth is oftentimes not as simple as a &#x27;tweet.&#x27; And online falsehoods can be dangerous. Out of respect for her family, we temporarily took down Whang-Od Academy while we resolve any issues that have arisen from these falsehoods,&quot; it said. </p><p>The online platform also assured that it is respectful of the Philippines and its culture, pointing out that &quot;40% of Nas Academy is made up of Filipinos.&quot;</p><p>Whang-Od&#x27;s grandniece, Grace Palicas, earlier called out Nas Academy for being a &quot;scam,&quot; saying that the traditional tattoo artist did not sign any contract to do the course. Her Facebook posts have since been deleted. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/04/21/nas-daily-takes-down-whang-od-tutorial-after-grandniece-says-no-contract-was-signed">Nas Daily removes pay-to-view Whang-Od tattoo tutorial after complaint from artist&#x27;s grandniece</a></li></ul><p>Aside from Whang-Od, other Filipino personalities featured in Nas Academy include former Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco, food content creator Erwan Heussaff, and singer Moira dela Torre.</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwLGSAm2OVE?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Nas Academy on Thursday reiterated that its course featuring traditional tattoo artist Whang-Od is not a scam. 