I once wrote a post about wanting tattoos, and I’m proud to say that I’ve finally done it—I got inked a month ago! I remember first thinking about getting tattoos back in college. There was this one moment when my sister and I were standing on the side of the road, joking that we should just go and get tattoos. Of course, we didn’t have any money, and since I was still living with my mum, that idea didn’t go far. Knowing her, she would’ve been furious if I came home with a tattoo! Looking back, I’m actually grateful we didn’t go through with it, because the design we had in mind was a “faith, hope, and love” tattoo. It made sense at the time, but now it would have felt misplaced—I no longer identify as Christian, but as an atheist. Imagine how awkward that would’ve been, carrying a permanent reminder of something that no longer reflects who I am.
After college, when I moved out of home, I brought up the idea of getting a tattoo to my ex-boyfriend. I was considering a different design then, but nothing really felt right. We even stood outside a tattoo studio in Manila, but since I didn’t have a solid design in mind, I decided to wait. During the pandemic, when I moved back home, I met a tattoo artist who would often visit my mum’s sari-sari store. We got to chatting, and I asked him about tattoos—how painful they really are and what first-timers should know. He explained that the pain varies depending on the person’s tolerance and the location of the tattoo. Tattoos closer to bone tend to hurt more, whereas areas with more fat or muscle are less painful. The thickness of the skin also plays a role. He had full sleeves on both arms and some tattoos on his neck. I never asked whether they all had personal meaning to him or if they were simply forms of self-expression, but it made me think deeply about what tattoos would mean to me.
That’s when I realised I still wanted tattoos, but I didn’t want to rush into it. I wanted my tattoos to have meaning—not just something that looked cute on my skin. More importantly, I wanted their meaning to be timeless, something I wouldn’t regret even as I grew and changed. The Christian-themed tattoo I once considered would have made sense during that phase of my life, but since my beliefs have shifted, I know I would’ve regretted it. I even contemplated getting a semicolon tattoo, inspired by difficult times I had gone through. But I don’t feel like I’m that same person anymore, and it no longer resonates with who I am now.
Eventually, I decided on two designs: a lotus and an arrow. For me, these symbols represent something timeless. No matter how much I grow or change, I know I will always strive for growth and move forward with discipline. That’s just who I am—I’m deeply introspective, always seeking to become better. I also decided to honour my late dog, who passed away in December, by getting a miniature schnauzer tattoo. My love for her will never change, so I know I won’t regret having it. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter—I can just point to my tattoo when someone asks what my favourite dog breed is. It’s up to them if they want to learn how to spell “schnauzer” after that!
After all these years of thinking about getting tattoos, I finally did it, and I couldn’t be happier. Each tattoo means something deeply personal to me and reminds me of the values I want to embody as I continue to live. It feels good to have something permanent on my skin that reflects who I am and what I stand for.