A Tattoo That Left His Colleagues Rubbing Their Eyes
When John Paul Penuliar, a Filipino expat working in Singapore, rolled up his sleeve to show his colleagues a fresh tattoo of the Ya Kun Kaya Toast logo, they thought it was a prank.
In the now-viral Instagram video posted on 30 November, his friends stared, gasped, swore, and even rubbed the tattoo to check if it would come off.
From confused “Why you have that?” to someone asking if he was “okay mentally,” the reactions were chaos, and pure gold.
The clip has drawn thousands of likes and comments from amused Singaporeans and fellow Filipinos.
Why Ya Kun?
John, 30, told various outlets that he wanted a tattoo to mark the end of his three-year stint in Singapore — something that reflected the country without being too literal.
Ya Kun became his routine when he moved to Singapore in December 2022. His go-to order:
- Iced soya milk coffee (his “post-lunch drink”)
- Set A kaya butter toast on weekdays
- Smoked cheese French toast or steamed bread on weekends
He visited some of the outlets so often that colleagues weren’t surprised he chose Ya Kun — only that he tattooed it.
Where He Got The Tattoo
John got the piece inked in Singapore by @/just_yeeling, who later jumped into the comments with a cheerful note of appreciation.
She even shared a picture of the tattoo to her page, captioned, ‘The most iconic tattoo I’ve done. Thank you @johnpaulpenuliar for letting me do this!! Give this man a life time supply of toast and coffee please. @yakunkayatoastsg 🍞☕’
John replied to her comment calling it a “core memory.”
One chimed: “Give Him Citizenship”
The comments section was its own party.
Some joked he deserved citizenship, while a few simply expressed envy.
One commenter joked that Ya Kun should give him a lifetime of free coffee, while another said his tattoo was basically “Ya Kun in your blood.”
Others chimed in with their own obsessions — iced soya milk coffee, steamed bread, and even someone naming their dog “Kaya” abroad.
Several Filipinos also resonated with John’s reaction, with one saying the video made them “giggle” because Singapore had become such a big part of their lives.
Returning to the Philippines — But Ya Kun Stays With Him
John has since returned to Manila for a new opportunity, though he is already planning a trip back to Singapore within weeks — and yes, he’ll be visiting Ya Kun again.
He was also told by commenters that Ya Kun now has outlets in the Philippines, including one in Makati, which he is aware of.
Colleague Reactions Captured in the Video
His colleagues’ live reactions — captured in the viral clip — added to the humour:
- “You crazy ah?”
- “It’s real? It’s forever?”
- “Why do you have that? Are you okay mentally?”
- “What the f**?*”
From confusion to shock to denial and even acceptance: a full emotional arc.
Ya Kun Kaya Toast: Where You Can Find It Around the World
There are currently 83 Ya Kun outlets in Singapore, with overseas franchise outlets in markets such as China, Dubai, Myanmar, the Philippines, and more.
Watch the video here:
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
“Cutest Thing Ever”: Singaporean Sets Up a Cozy Bed for Community Cat, Melts Hearts
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