Tattoo artist Christian Cabardo dies

MANILA, Philippines – Christian Cabardo, 34, a filmmaker, graphic and tattoo artist, died Sunday afternoon, February 9, in Manila after serious injuries following the fatal bus accident in Bontoc on February 7. 

More popularly known as Mylo, Cabardo was airlifted to Manila on Saturday for treatment, but succumbed to injuries the following day. A Florida bus he was on plunged into a ravine on the border of Talubin and Bayyu villages in Bontoc, Mountain Province. 

At least 14 other passengers, including comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, have died from the accident. Jimenez, along with musician David Sicam and artist Gerard Baja, were headed to the mountains for various reasons – Tado was working on his “40 Mountains” project, while Sicam and his friends had just celebrated the birthday of Sicam’s youngest child in Kalinga. 

Cabardo’s family friend Athena Masilungan confirmed his death as she wrote on her Facebook page: “My brother’s friend, Christian Cabardo who was in the Florida bus that crashed in Bontoc, flatlined and passed on today. Such sad, sad news. He was a dear friend to my brother, my parents were very fond of him, and he was always so nice to me.”

As a fellow tattoo artist, Cabardo was keen to meet and see Fang-od, the nonagenarian woman from Butbut who was also the last of her tribe using traditional tattooing methods. Cabardo was the tattoo artist on board M/V Coco Explorer 1 from 2003 to 2004. The ship travelled to and from Puerto Galera, a popular tourist destination.

A Fine Arts graduate of the Philippine Women’s University, Cabardo worked as graphic artist and event coordinator for several companies. – Rappler.com