In a world full of judgment and discrimination against people with tattoos, there will always be fewer who can defend and express themselves on behalf of those who cannot speak up—being a voice to the voiceless.
Recently, Mikee Reyes, who became the "first fully tattooed sports anchor" in the Philippines, proudly showed off his tattooed arms while reporting in a television newscast.
As such, he served as an inspiration to the other tattooed individuals who have low self-esteem because of the discrimination they are receiving from society.
After Reyes went viral, a full-arm tattooed teacher continued the trend of expressing herself as a tattooed woman.
Febbie Jean Tulio-Yago, a senior high school teacher at Fatima National High School in General Santos City, inspired the netizens as she used her social media platform to encourage tattooed people like her to continue showing their strengths in their respective professions despite the tattoos on their bodies.
"Tattoos don’t affect the quality of one's work. From fast food chains accepting tatted employees, now we introduce you to Sir Mikee Reyes, the Philippines first fully tattooed news anchor. We're slowly getting there. Focus on people's strengths. Everyone brings something different to the table," Yago captioned her Facebook post.
"I am a tattooed teacher, and it doesn’t make me less of a person," she added.
In an interview with DZRH News Digital, the 32-year-old teacher shared the inspiration behind her full-sleeve tattoo, which she had in 2019 during her 29th birthday.
"I promised to myself na talagang magpapa-tattoo ako before ako mag-reach ng 30 years old. First is the moon tattoo, after which, eventually, nagtuluy-tuloy na," she said.
Yago said her tattoos were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings since she loves the painter's artwork.
"I really love him, talaga. Like the sunflower, the irises, the almond blossoms, and especially the starry night," Yago said, emphasizing that those mentioned paintings were inked on her left arm.
Unlike the others who need to ask permission from their parents before getting a tattoo, she never felt the same since. According to her, she was already an adult at that time and had been living independently.
When asked about her co-teachers’ reactions to her full-sleeve tattoo, Yago explained that she was already expecting the negative comments about it and that she still had to understand them since not all people are open-minded.
"Sabi ko naman na may meaning ang tattoo ko at nagko-coat naman ako kapag nasa school. Ina-understand ko na lang na marami pa sa atin ang talagang marami pa sa atin ang hindi open sa tattoo kaya as much as possible, maging pleasing din ang ayos ko, presentable din ako kapag pumapasok ako ako sa school, lalong-lalo kapag nakaharap ako sa mga bata," the 32-year-old teacher said.
While she received negative reactions and impressions from her co-teachers, her students showed positive reactions to her tattoos.
"Surprisingly, I get a lot of good comments from them... Yung mga bata, walang problema sa kanila as well as the parents," Yago stated, sharing that she is a homeroom teacher and adviser, specifically in the star section.
"Yung mga bata doon, matatalino na at open sila. As well as the parents kasi magkakasundo na kami [ng parents]. At sinisigurado ko talaga na mas makikita nila na yung teacher nila, ginagawa yung trabaho. Hindi yung physical, hindi yung tattoo ang basehan ng pagiging isang guro kundi kundi kundi kung paano ko ginagawa yung trabaho at paano ko inaalagan ang mga bata bata,," she further explained.
Yago also mentioned that she is discouraging her students if they are planning to get a tattoo in the future by telling them the factors involved in having a tattoo.
To the people who have negative impressions about tattooed people, she said that tattoos will not harm a person’s profession.
"Marami sa amin na tattooed person, we considered our tattoos significantly related to our career choice," Yago said.
Just like her tattoos of works and arts by Van Gogh, they served as her inspiration since she teaches English and learned a lot of literature, paintings, and arts during her college years.
She went on to say, "I think it doesn’t make you less eligible for a job than those without one, kasi nga kanya-kanya tayo ng mga... may mga special skills tayo. We have to see the person beyond his physical appearance."
"Kasi nga what is essential is invisible to the eyes, ‘di ba? I think we have to be open para sa mga taong may tattoo, and then ‘wag natin silang husgahan agad kasi maraming factors, tao rin sila."
"I think wag na natin silang... kapag may nakikita tayo, kung hindi man tayo open sa mga ganyang bagay, so I think it is better to keep it to yourselves rather than like discriminating against them or saying bad things about them," the 32-year-old teacher continued.
Lastly, she left a lesson that will remind everyone that "We have to choose to be kind as well."
Apart from being a Bachelor's degree holder, Yago also finished her Master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and has been invited as judge for city pageants.
