Marked for life: Stories behind tattoos

I'm itching to get inked again.

- inked PAM PASTOR

The author Pam Pastor's tattoos are on her arms because she likes seeing them all the time.

That's the thing about tattoos — once you start getting them, it's hard to stop.

I never thought I'd get one. I was always scared of how painful they'd be. But 10 years ago, my dance with depression brought a surprising gift: all of a sudden, I wasn't deathly afraid of needles anymore. I could finally get tattooed!

It started with a tiny "2.0" on my left wrist— an acknowledgement that I was no longer the same person after being diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety disorder. It was my way of embracing the new me.

At that first tattoo appointment, artist Wiji Lacsamana told me, "Mabibitin ka."

She was right — and that's how I ended up getting a second tattoo that same day: a typewriter on my right forearm, a symbol of my love for words, writing and reading.

That was just the start. Months later, while I was in Hawaii and feeling sad that my trip was coming to an end, I decided to get another tattoo to remember it by.

At the airport, TSA stopped me when they saw my new paper clip tattoo. "What does it mean?" the agent wanted to know.

"Keeping it together!" I said, grinning as I waved goodbye.

The author getting tattooed by Dyntats Depasupil, one of her favorite artists.

That's when I realized that tattoos make the best souvenirs. I started keeping a notebook that listed my dream artists in different cities.

TATTOOS AS SOUVENIRS