'Not a scam': Nas Academy says tattoo course approved by Whang-Od, family

ABS-CBN News

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Whang-Od. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/06/13/whang-od-jc-1-2018-2018-061318.jpg' ><figcaption>Whang-Od. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Nas Academy on Thursday reiterated that its course featuring traditional tattoo artist Whang-Od is not a scam.</p><p>The online learning platform created by Nuseir Yassin, more popularly known as Nas Daily, denied allegations that the course was created without Whang-Od's consent.</p><p>Nas Academy said its team pitched the idea to the artist herself as well as her family, and that they "have worked with us to build it, with Whang-Od teaching herself."</p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/03/15/15/96-year-old-tattoo-artist-keeps-kalinga-tradition-alive'>96-year-old tattoo artist keeps Kalinga tradition alive</a></li></ul><p>"As a matter of fact, Whang-Od's trusted niece, Estella Palangdao, was present and translated the content of the contract prior to Whang-Od affixing her thumbprint, signifying her full consent to the project. This is the clearest evidence that it is not a scam and achieved the consent of her and her immediate family," Nas Academy said in a Facebook post.</p><p>"Everybody was compensated for their time, and for every sale the Whang-Od Academy generates, most of it went directly to her and her family. We just provided the technology and the marketing."</p><script src='https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.5' async type='text/javascript'></script><div class='fb-post' data-href='https://www.facebook.com/NasAcademy/posts/361111102188458' data-width='auto'> </div><p>Nas Academy has taken down Whang-Od's course on its website, but said it is only "temporary" as they resolve the issue.</p><p>"When we saw the falsehoods circulating online, we were sad. The truth is oftentimes not as simple as a 'tweet.' And online falsehoods can be dangerous. Out of respect for her family, we temporarily took down Whang-Od Academy while we resolve any issues that have arisen from these falsehoods," it said. </p><p>The online platform also assured that it is respectful of the Philippines and its culture, pointing out that "40% of Nas Academy is made up of Filipinos."</p><p>Whang-Od's grandniece, Grace Palicas, earlier called out Nas Academy for being a "scam," saying that the traditional tattoo artist did not sign any contract to do the course. Her Facebook posts have since been deleted. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/04/21/nas-daily-takes-down-whang-od-tutorial-after-grandniece-says-no-contract-was-signed'>Nas Daily removes pay-to-view Whang-Od tattoo tutorial after complaint from artist's grandniece</a></li></ul><p>Aside from Whang-Od, other Filipino personalities featured in Nas Academy include former Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco, food content creator Erwan Heussaff, and singer Moira dela Torre.</p><p><strong>Related video:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwLGSAm2OVE?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div>

<ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/03/15/15/96-year-old-tattoo-artist-keeps-kalinga-tradition-alive'>96-year-old tattoo artist keeps Kalinga tradition alive</a></li></ul><p>"As a matter of fact, Whang-Od's trusted niece, Estella Palangdao, was present and translated the content of the contract prior to Whang-Od affixing her thumbprint, signifying her full consent to the project. This is the clearest evidence that it is not a scam and achieved the consent of her and her immediate family," Nas Academy said in a Facebook post.</p><p>"Everybody was compensated for their time, and for every sale the Whang-Od Academy generates, most of it went directly to her and her family. We just provided the technology and the marketing."</p><script src='https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.5' async type='text/javascript'></script><div class='fb-post' data-href='https://www.facebook.com/NasAcademy/posts/361111102188458' data-width='auto'> </div><p>Nas Academy has taken down Whang-Od's course on its website, but said it is only "temporary" as they resolve the issue.</p><p>"When we saw the falsehoods circulating online, we were sad. The truth is oftentimes not as simple as a 'tweet.' And online falsehoods can be dangerous. Out of respect for her family, we temporarily took down Whang-Od Academy while we resolve any issues that have arisen from these falsehoods," it said. </p><p>The online platform also assured that it is respectful of the Philippines and its culture, pointing out that "40% of Nas Academy is made up of Filipinos."</p><p>Whang-Od's grandniece, Grace Palicas, earlier called out Nas Academy for being a "scam," saying that the traditional tattoo artist did not sign any contract to do the course. Her Facebook posts have since been deleted. </p><ul class='op-related-articles'>	<li><a href='https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/08/04/21/nas-daily-takes-down-whang-od-tutorial-after-grandniece-says-no-contract-was-signed'>Nas Daily removes pay-to-view Whang-Od tattoo tutorial after complaint from artist's grandniece</a></li></ul><p>Aside from Whang-Od, other Filipino personalities featured in Nas Academy include former Miss Universe Catriona Gray, Dubai-based fashion designer Michael Cinco, food content creator Erwan Heussaff, and singer Moira dela Torre.</p><p><strong>Related video:</strong></p><figure class='op-interactive'><iframe height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwLGSAm2OVE?enablejsapi=1' width='560'></iframe></figure><div class='iwantbar'>Watch more in <a href='//www.iwantv.com.ph/'>iWantv</a> or <a href='//tfc.tv/'>TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The online learning platform created by Nuseir Yassin, more popularly known as Nas Daily, denied allegations that the course was created without Whang-Od's consent.</p><p>Nas Academy said its team pitched the idea to the artist herself as well as her family, and that they "have worked with us to build it, with Whang-Od teaching herself."</p>

<div class='embed-wrap'><figure data-feedback='fb:likes,fb:comments'><img alt='Whang-Od. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File' src='https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/06/13/whang-od-jc-1-2018-2018-061318.jpg' ><figcaption>Whang-Od. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Nas Academy on Thursday reiterated that its course featuring traditional tattoo artist Whang-Od is not a scam.</p>

Nas Academy on Thursday reiterated that its course featuring traditional tattoo artist Whang-Od is not a scam. 

'Not a scam': Nas Academy says tattoo course approved by Whang-Od, family | ABS-CBN News

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'Not a scam': Nas Academy says tattoo course approved by Whang-Od, family

'Not a scam': Nas Academy says tattoo course approved by Whang-Od, family