Written by Kate Giordan Flores
The eye of a needle sees the soul beneath the layers of inked skin. Tattoos succeed where words fail, each line and shadow intentional in revealing a piece of someone’s truth—etched to be seen but most of the time simply to be felt.
Tattoos are inked footprints of human belief, resistance, and identity for the last 5,000 years. Styles and symbols have evolved, but their purpose remains, turning flesh into a living archive. This tradition continues to find new forms in contemporary spaces, where the practice is kept alive by modern artists and communities.
When you stroll along the downtown of Dumaguete City, there is a studio on the third floor of Twin Arcade that houses tattoo artists that keep the tradition alive. Those who come enter as strangers and leave as another reason for the studio to persevere in their craft.
Behind Black Rose Tattoo Studio’s yellow-framed door, the noise of the capital is muffled inside their four memorabilia-lined walls, allowing clients to focus on the genre of artworks plastered in forms of canvas, papers, and posters. For 16 years, it has been a testament to the dedicated years of translating their craft across mediums.
To experience Black Rose is to know that you’re not just another appointment but a story waiting to be interpreted and brought to life.
It’s in this space where tattoo artist and piercer Archer Aro spent three years practicing his craft professionally. His origin of inking on skin began six years prior, while his instinct to create goes back further as a nine year old painting on murals.
As a painter, Aro’s skill proves versatile through his works with charcoal, watercolors, and portraits. Now adopting tattooing as part of his craft, he focuses on black and gray realism style, while also handling traditional tattoos, and colored tattoos such as in pop-art style.
With the advancement of technology and eventual introduction of AI, artworks online are often imitated and created by generative AI. Aro does not object to the existence of these assistive tools, but emphasizes how it shifted people’s perception that creating art is easy, when it is the opposite.
He believes that artistry is irreplaceable by any technology, as long as artists do not depend on modernization; drawing creativity within, frees it from external factors. “If you go with artistry, it’s personal. You don’t have to care about other people’s thoughts or their response to your Art. The meaning of your work is personal,” Aro said.
Aro notes that what defines an artist is not copying what already exists, but the originality and intention behind their work.
“In drawings, you relate it to yourself, unsaon siya pag express sa imo kaugalingon (how you express it to yourself). Your talent is mostly what you do rather than copying your work. [AI] is more on copy, nothing to do with you,” he said.
He also observed that the aspect of originality seems to be slipping in a generation shaped by the habit of rushing, leading tattoos being stripped off of a deeper meaning and authenticity.
Aro expressed that tattoo art without personal significance or connection to one’s identity can lead to regrets once the moment fades.
We all have our fleeting decisions in life and for Aro, tattoos should be approached with permanence rather than impulse. “For me the more original, the more nimo na siyang ganahan, imo na siya butang sa imo self [as] memories,” he said. (the more you like it, the more you want to put it in yourself.)
Outside the creative space, the Philippines remains a Christian-dominated country where traditionalism and conservatism continue to define social attitudes.
Aro revealed that while the recent generation views tattoo as art, there are older and conservative sectors that still maintain their prejudices. “Here in Dumaguete, acceptable naman. But there are other religious people, old school you can say, they don’t accept it,” he said.
Both the studio’s co-owner, Mikko Rocamora and Aro share the same detachment, shaped by time and experience, towards prevailing stereotypes.
When it comes to your body, there is little value in letting outside judgement dictate self-expression. For Rocamora, tattoos and piercings should be a personal choice rather than public negotiation.
“We don’t care about stereotypes. Express yourself. If you want to get piercings or tattoos, do it,” she said.
With stereotypes stemming from people’s perspectives, Aro emphasizes that the best way to deal with it is through persisting in personal conviction. He also described putting weight on stereotypes as a limitation to the practice of artistry.
In contrast, Dumaguete bears out its promise of being the City of Gentle People, as Aro described the positive approach they receive from the citizens towards their craft.
Tattoos and piercings are widely celebrated in Dumaguete and are often seen as part of a wider cultural exchange. Students of Silliman University are often seen with visible tattoos and piercings as a form of self-expression. On campus, they are normalizing these choices and calling for a greater acceptance from outdated stereotypes that associate body art with “rebellion and unprofessionalism.”
“Community” for the residents of Black Rose goes beyond artists and clients. The studio’s heart beats for the city where they are located.
Rocamora enthused over Balik Gugma, an annual fundraising event organized by Black Rose and Tukar Himamat Cultura, a cafe next door to the studio serving as a hub for aspiring artists and musicians. Artists and enthusiasts alike gather for a night of tattoo and piercing sessions, performances by local bands, and an art exhibit by Black Rose artists.
Funds raised through Balik Gugma are utilized to make food while clothes could also be donated to be given to people in need. In line with Black Rose’s 16th anniversary, Rocamora recalled that the 2025 proceeds went to neighboring towns affected by Typhoon Tino.
Events such as Balik Gugma fosters the deep sense of respect between Dumaguete artists and tattoo artists, and that connection often becomes part of the craft.
Aro points out that these spaces, including tattoo competitions, are where artists come together to share ideas and push one another towards growth, an experience that eventually shaped his path in professional tattooing.
Care for the people pulses at the center of Black Rose, spreading like paint on a canvas, reaching all corners of Dumaguete City. They remained anchored on their roots, their identity steady against evolving challenges.
There is devotion not only reserved for their craft, but for clients, fellow artists, and Dumagueteños. With every glide of the needle, they remain authentic in a world that demands constant change.
Clients leave Black Rose with designs that affirm identities beyond passing trends.