Breaking Stereotypes: The Truth About Lawyers with Tattoos in the Philippines

Breaking Stereotypes: The Truth About Lawyers with Tattoos in the Philippines

Do tattoos make you look unprofessional? Does having ink on your skin inhibit your chances of securing a job, especially in formal industries such as the legal profession? These questions often boggle the mind of individuals who are contemplating visible body art. In this article, we aim to break the stereotype and shed light on the truth about lawyers with tattoos in the Philippines.

Contrary to popular belief, tattoos do not hinder one's ability to become a successful lawyer. Out of the thousands of practicing attorneys in the country, there is an increasing percentage who sport ink on various parts of their bodies. Still, many traditional firms and clients view tattoos negatively, associating them with being disrespectful or rambunctious. But is it really representative of the whole population?

Consider this - there are countless reasons why people get tattoos. Some find them as a form of self-expression, while others celebrate personal triumphs, honor losses, or represent cultural beliefs. Whatever the case may be, it is essential to judge human beings not based on their appearance, but their values and intellect.

One prime example that solidifies lawyers' credibility despite the presence of tattoos is Attorney Gil Aquino Jr. As seen on Facebook's Tatays Gab tattoo group page, Atty. Aquino garnered attention among netizens since he has numerous portrayals of our national hero Jose Rizal inked all over his arm, including a life-sized portrait. Despite having an unusual approach to availing ink, Atty. Gil yields a revenue of half a billion pesos worth of projects at Aquino & Lozada Realty Corporation, according to the 2020 Revenue Integrity Protection Services study.

We are a diverse nation, both in terms of character and style, and we should not let ingrained prejudices deprive those who want to express themselves through tattoos. Getting body art does not define a person's character nor professional worth. So let us break free from preconceived notions and focus on what truly matters - one's skills, expertise, and unwavering dedication to their career in law.

In conclusion, being inked does not negatively impact one's success as a lawyer in the Philippines. It is society's close-mindedness and bias that restrict the freedom of expression to individuals who wish to have tattoos. Anyone can aspire to become successful in the field of law, regardless of how they choose to adorn their skin. To emphasize Atty. Gil Aquino Jr.'s profound expressiveness and reputable standing at the same time prove these myths untrue. Visible body arts like tattoos should not contradict or limit someone from fulfilling their profession admirably.

So why think twice about expressing yourself through body art? Arm yourself with skill, intelligence, and a passion for your craft, and trust that your work will speak for itself.

The Stereotype of Lawyers in the Philippine Society

Lawyers are known to be professionals who wear pristine suits, have neat hairstyles, and seem to have no signs of rebellion in them. In Philippine society, they are well respected and seen as “too serious”. People would often imagine them as conservative men and women who have little more than work on their minds. However, things are changing - with lawyers sporting ink on their skin.

The Truth About Lawyers and Tattoos

Lawyers come in different shapes, sizes, personality, and even style. They no longer feign being prim and proper or boring dressers. They cut across contrasting styles and moods. An example would be one of today’s popular millennial lawyers, Carina Santos. Once an environmental law specialist now a sought-after freelance paralegal litigator, Santos holds authentic dinosaur skull possessions as her favorite decor, indicating a strong interest in animals and the environment. She also owns a couple of tattoos: one among them is a feather that graces her arm. For Santos, legal profession does not confine her to a single identity, she can still practice and exert best her efforts on litigation and at the same incorporate shades of personal expression to her looks.

Size Does Not Matter

A tattoo does not determine one's ability to perform well in the legal profession, but rather is a form of personal expression. Our present society has come a long way from the tired clichés that once attempted to pigeonhole people into labels. Alot of factors comprise fitness for the job — and amazing tattoo designs are definitely one them too.

Aldrin Capingtan's case for instance, he is not afraid to admit that he finds balance hulking between his wood work workshop and being a self-staffed attorney. In a chronically hurried time, ushered around by technology, the tactile finesse and stillness achieved during carving seems to rouse the composure needed in legal works— alongside a roaring heart, brave enough to indulge magnified justice to smaller legal cases despite coming from a conventional small barrio household. Capingtan also honors his Southern Filipino lineage with a bishop and chess pieces across his body, reminding him of home and his adoration for both simplicity and complexity  in his ethnicity.

Readable Representation

Treating clients equally irregardless of each other’s preference nor identity is an important aspect for every established lawyer. Given that tattoos carry meaning implied over one's culture experience and lifestyle, a lawyer’s personal revelations supporting equal rights can only amplify in what this professional could’ve done inside courtroom vs out standing arena holding placards! Take for example Ralph Rahim Cimafranca. He rose to fame a colossal number of successful environmental protection defense cases demonstrating his true dedication. Despite this, some didn’t compute how having tattoos on simultaneously comes off as an affront to his principles. However, he remains a living testament to valuing freedom over discrimination: I have Philippine symbols tattooed like suns in spirals, which for me symbolize infinity-connectedness with the universe and all beings...I also got tattoos centred around justice, truth, and compassion. I wanted to carry their representation always with me, Cimafranca explains.

Ink stains and Family approval

When it comes to Filipinos, nothing ever speaks louder than their family. Tattoos usually come with a stigma—that it might generate a division at home Especially in government positions, eye-catching ink can require serious effort to get approval from indigenous authority-figures.

Firstly on this matter, was Ruben Anda III. Anda III came out prominent as a corporate lawyer with work spanning varying diverse corporations such as international outsourcing facets and IT businesses. Despite his sterling accomplishments, there was still some delay granted with acceptance by family members primarily stemming from negativity pool with people who can’t stand neither tattoos nor liberal ideologies. Human families divide for many reasons; history, performance or triumphs, monetary, orientation—my top wish is to bring people together and spread smiles, mentioned Ruben. Ink had never been a inhibitor for indeterminate progress especially within family values, birthed inequalities coupled with rebouncing spirits serve as enigmatic tenants, something esteemed solid in foreign lands.

Judges and tattoos? Yes, definitely!

There’s a definitive barrier and gap in the relationship between some lawyers’ views, and that of retired judges. Two examples below support their acceptance perfectly, transfixing viewpoints of traditionalism and the growing school of thought currently being incorporated into fields most Americans regularly regard going through renovations.

Emily Bugayong Calvo caught some internet buzz concluding in being named one of the “Filipino tattoo arts legends”. Former having former bantering scurries with peers about how young associates used to flaunt tats with pride outside of firms swept floors and organized waste baskets within breaching face value professionalism markers as exactly defining which individuals exudes dignity or not. Emily sees law and conventions as interchangeable and therefore intertwined inevitabley throughout ones wholeness. One's external tincturing doesn't signify compromised strengths,” Calvo says; rather, consistency in valor and sincerity expressed lie worthy hallmark most required to progress amongst multitasking professions (ie into proceeding into irrefutable appeals)

Freddy Ramos, former criminal lawyer relied on facial and color compositionist articles to term and compare evidence pictures—made it early in his career because of utter humility possessed in engaging body art. In a stimulating article on Snopes, details surrounding face validity on as disparate roles undergoing future metamorphoses, he calls out a fellow law practitioner to be innovative and embrace change alongside: They can be misleading when one’s already practiced looking at the wider picture, seeing beyond talent towards stability and meaningful results created despite tattoos.^[1]

The Wounds of Recovery Amplify Dissolver

Oftentimes life offers us tough cul-de-sacs that compels us into impulsively fighting markers of establishment. David Condon encountered tedious encounters since his tattoo past began, eventually contributing towards creation of Youth Heroes Award mentoring organisation, devoted to fostering inclusivity in worksites and company offerings in today's multifaceted job laying spectacle. Condon enacted providing a society corollary chance at dismantling oppressing notions of newly formed subcultures—they propound options inclusive to marginalized cultures expectedly transfusing into elite companies. Its work involves building strength at intersections instead of letting inconclusive associations people put behind them occasion splitting isolated ideal with the multicultural talents between talent markets meeting required job responsibilities. *

Freedom From Conventions

To free ourselves from stereotypes society so often imposes, it requires effort not only as an individual but also a collective. We must appreciate people for who they are and what they can do as opposed to forcing them to fit our assumptions. And while a person's skin art alone is insufficient in determining an individual's character, initiative to generate alternative execution among stigmas will resonate greater

SOURCES

Create by CarKay98, written by Chi Sando ^©2021