Renz Edrizon Mago

Many people who are into tattoos say that it is addictive. (Pero hindi PDEA levels ha!) Once you get one, you would want to have more. I realized that when I got my very first tattoo in Tokyo Japan last month. I thought it would be my last but days later, I was already contemplating scheduling my next session. (Pero sa Japan ulit ha!)

My teleprompber operator in our daily online news program, Renz Edrizon Mago, is a certified tattoo artist. He has been in the industry for 11 years now. (Raketero si kuya mo!)

“Nagsimula ako mag aral ng tattoo noong 2012. Nuong mga panahon na iyon scratcher ang tawag sa mga newbie tattoo artist, especially sa pinaka unang tattoo client namin. Simula non naging masaya naman ako sa outcome kaya duon nadin ang starting point ng aking career para mag practice nang mag practice," Renz recalls. (Hindi raw kasali ang tattoo sa kilay ha!)

His first major stint was in the Middle East. “I was tattooing in Dubai, and Abu Dhabi UAE. Almost  two years din ako tattoo artist duon. Naisip ko mag tattoo sa ibang bansa dahil that year 2016 dumadami na ang circle of friends ko na tattoo artist and dahil din sa pera sabi nila malaki ang kitahan abroad as tattoo artist and may mga tropa din ako na duon na nag tatattoo kaya sinubukan ko.” (May mga boylet kaya sa tropa nya?!)

He eventually decided to be back home and put up his own shop in Valenzuela. “Nung wala akong shop sa terrace lang ako ng bahay namin nag tatattoo. Napakahirap especially sa mga cliente.. naiinitan sila. Electric fan lang tapos minsan tirik pa ang araw at maingay. Iba pag may shop. Tahimik. Comfortable. Makakapag focus ka ng maayos and syempre pag pasok ng clients yung presence ng tattoo studio gusto kong maramdaman nila at isipin nilang nasa tamang lugar at artist sila. this is also to show my professionalism." (Pwede raw mag-overnight sa shop nya. O kahit short time lang! chos!)

Renz can do all designs but he has his favorites. (Yung mga tattoo na nabubuhay daw sa gabi!)

“My favorite category is realism. I always feel the challenge kapag ginagawa ko ito at masaya ako pag nakikita ko yung outcome ng ginawa ko. Sa design naman paborito ko is yung mga galaxy style masaya ako kapag nakikita ko ang mga stars at space. Mahilig din ako sa mga sci-fi design," Renz explains. (Makapagpatattoo nga ng buong universe!)

He also doesn’t say no to challenging designs and body parts.

“Unusual design is for me yung mga neotraditional design. Since I'm a realistic tattoo artist I don't feel challenged on neo traditional because it's simple for me.But eto yung mga design na pinractis ko nung nag sisimula palang ako..Unusual body part naman is yung Sa tiyan bandang pusod Hahaha! Pag andyan na yan bahala na basta gawin mo lang.” (Baka may lumabas na alien!)

The 30-year-old Fine Arts graduate from the University of the East has this to say to those who want to be professional tattoo artists: “Always be friendly syempre. Respect your client and co tattoo artist, without them we are nothing.Makinig lang kayo sa mga payo nila and pakita mo lagi ang best mo. Laging tatandaan ang pagiging tattoo artist tao ang canvas nyo, hindi papel. Sakanila dumidipende ang career mo. Kung gusto mong mapabilis maabot ang pangarap mo lagi mong gagalingan. But don't ever ever let them na masunod sa presyo ng tattoo na gagawin mo.” (Baka may pa-ex deal !)

He also has a few words for those who want tattoos, especially first timers: “Pag may napili na kayong design,Congrats! Ipatattoo ko na yan! Pero ang pinaka-importante ang aftercare tattoo. Marami nako nasaksihang mamahalin at magagandang tattoo na nasayang dahil hindi marunong ang client sa aftercare. For sure may mga guide naman ang mga tattoo artist kung paano alagaan ang tattoo. Makinig lang sila, wag sa mga kaibigan at kakilala kundi sa tattoo artist lang sila makinig.”( Wag daw matigas ulo, kaya i-follow nyo na sya sa Facebook at IG!)

If given the chance, Renz wants to have celebrity clients. “Ann Curtis, Arci Muñoz, Cristine Reyes at Bella Padilla. I am always amazed with hot body at sa dating ng mukha nila sa camera tapos ang puti pa. Pag may tattoo ang mga yan labas na labas ang canvas mo dyan. Super hot ang dating sakin. Number 1 kapag sleeve tattoo, number 2, leg sleeve, and whole neck to chest to shoulder at number 3 ribcage." (Bakit wala sa listahan mo si Awra?!)

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