If you haven’t read my Asian tattoo article in the paper today, then I guess you didn’t hear my latest fashion purchase. It’s kind of expensive. It’s stylish. It’s permanent. It’s a tattoo.

Tattoo artist, Oey from Sacred Tattoo in Oakland permanently marks my arm. I am not in pain at all. Photo credit: Chip Chipman

I’ve been thinking about getting another tattoo for a while. I already have one on my left arm and it says “Di-no” in Baybayin.

Let me back up a bit…

Baybayin is an ancient Filipino script used before the Philippines was colonized by Spain. Like many Asian writing systems, there are a series of characters representing different sounds, etc…etc…

Okay, so where was I?

So yeah, I wanted to get another tattoo and have debating on what to put on my body. Forever.

Luckily during my research on this story, I found Christian Cabuay, founder of PinoyTattoos.com. He lives in Walnut Creek and is one of the very few fluent in Baybayin.

Christian Cabuay and his Buddha tattoo - it’s one of many tatts that he has. Photo credit: Chip Chipman

After interviewing him for my story and a bunch of consultation emails, he designed a Baybayin tattoo that says Ti agmúla, agápit. In Ilocano (a Filipino dialect), it translates to “He who sows, reaps.”

That’s pretty deep, huh?

A couple of days later, I interviewed Oey, the owner and tattoo guru at Sacred Tattoo in Oakland. I asked if he would be willing to permanently ink my skin and he happily said, “Come on in on Saturday!”

So I did.

Oey, owner of Sacred Tattoo in Oakland. Photo credit: Chip Chipman

I have this small fear of needles…and blood…and pain. But I also have this fear of tattoo parlors. They are kind of intimidating. It’s like I’m a soc walking into the greasers hangout in “The Outsiders.”

Dee - the resident piercing maven at Sacred Tattoo. Photo credit: Chip Chipman

But as soon as I stepped into Sacred Tattoo I heard some top notch hip-hop music - and none of that bullcorn they play on the radio and I got comfortable immediately. The people were very friendly and welcoming in the shop lined with menacing tattoo art and rock n’ roller-ish paraphernalia. Oey wasted no time in getting started on my tattoo.

Even though I have gotten a tattoo before, it was 10 years ago and it’s the size of a fun-size Snickers candy bar. This one was a long strand of characters so I knew it wasn’t going to be as cut and dry.

When he started, it felt like a buch of tiny minnows gnawing at my arm to create art. I kind of cringed but tried to maintain my coolness around Oey, who is obviously tatted all over the place. I struck up conversation about a “Transformers” poster he had hanging and then as we got into intense conversation about the sequel and the upcoming “G.I. Joe” movie, I forgot about the small jolts of pain. Isn’t it amazing how movies based on Hasbro toys can bring the world together?

Oey had the ability to have casual conversation with me while he was manipulating the top layer of my skin with ink. Which was a bit of a relief. I didn’t just want to sit there in awkward silence with some unapproachable dude who was poking at my body with a needle.

Then I mentioned how I read about Sacred Tattoo on Yelp.com and described Oey as being nice and gentle. Here’s an excerpt from the review by natalie g. of Yelp:

Oey is the BOMB! He gave me my first tat!!! He was sooo nice and so gently with me.

Word to the wise: don’t describe Oey as “gentle.” People who do latchhook work are nice and gentle. Plus, it’s kind of creepy - and he’s not too fond of that description.

Nonetheless, I kept on mentioning how gentle he was while he was doing my tattoo.

Before I knew it, we were done and he bandaged me up and I was ready to go…

I was instructed to slather it with ointment and avoid hot tubs and things of that sort. That said, I couldn’t go hang out with the cast members of “The Real World” for some Jacuzzi debauchery.

Here is the final product a day after I got it…

Oey really did do amazing work. It looks almost exactly like the brushstrokes of Christian’s design. It looks like someone meticulously painted it on to my arm with a calligraphy brush and magical ink. Every time I take a shower, I expect it to wash off.

Kudos to Oey’s “gentle” hands and Christian’s stellar design. I am thoroughly satisfied.

TWO THUMBS UP! I am sure everyone at Sacred Tattoo is as talented as Oey.

I am happily branded forever and I feel like a real tough guy now.

Sacred Tattoo is located at 707 Broadway in Oakland. Call 510-251-8287.