From Ink to Scalpel

By Mickaela Frances Daclag

She braved the seas when the tide seemed to be against her – Katrina Rachel “Katz” C. Lorenzana, renowned tattoo artist, is now a medical student. A very peculiar, yet usual, question people ask ‘why the change of heart?’

Katz grew up in a family who excelled in academics. Her mother is a Pediatrician who is a graduate of University of the Philippines – Manila. Having 4 scientifically-inclined siblings, she decided to become the “artist” of the family. Because of her curiosity since childhood, she already had thoughts of getting into a medical course. However, she pursued Studio Arts major in Painting in UP-Diliman and graduated Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude.

She worked in her own tattoo studio in Manila and has been in the business for 11 years, catering to a wide range of clients, including famous personalities such as Jay Contreras, vocalist of the band Kamikazee, and actor Jericho Rosales.

A few years back, her family faced a medical crisis. Her father, who seemed to be perfectly healthy, was suddenly rushed to the hospital. She could never forget the moment she was standing in front of her father’s brain scans showing progressing damage.

“My mom and my Dad’s neurosurgeon were saying medical things I could not understand. They need to immediately come up with a decision. Everything happened so fast and my mom immediately decided to stop resuscitating”.

Her father passed away in less than a day. Feeling helpless and puzzled, she researched a lot of ways on how they could have saved his father; but it could only go as far as Google could reach. She eventually realized that her mother did what’s best for her dad. “She is a physician; Of course, she knew what she was doing. I did not understand these things. Thus, I was challenged to take up medicine”.

However, tattooing made her happy too, and she thought that maybe medicine was for another lifetime. Years have passed, and still this dream was bothering her.

Continuing on with life, she got married a year ago and found full support from her husband. This paved way for her to pursue her dream in her husband’s hometown, Cagayan de Oro. And as much as she loves tattooing, she finally found the courage to study medicine.

Katz shares on how she spends hours and hours tattooing, only stopping when she needs to sleep; only to wake up and tattoo again the whole day.

Photo courtesy of Ms. Lorenzana

“It was tough on my neck, my back, and most especially my hands. But afterwards, it was exhilarating to see your finished work… The trust the person gave you and the finished artwor is enough of a reward.”

The hardest thing to do, she says, “...is leaving something that I really love doing because studying is now my topmost priority. I actually did not give up tattooing; it’s just that it’s hard because I don’t get the opportunity to do it anymore.”

She has this advice for those who are in a similar situation to hers: “If you really want to take up medicine, be 105% sure that you can let go of the thing that you are currently doing. If ever you choose medicine, don’t do it because of the title or the money; Do it because it will make you happy. It is never too late. ”