Burnay (Jar) Making

Mixing Process Mixing is the first process in burnay making. It is where the clay, sand and water are being combined and mashed by a carabao. The potter first put clay in the mixing hole, the circle one where the mixing process is being taken, and then place immense amount of water and leaved it until morning for the clay to fully absorb the water. Next mixed sand the let carabao mashes the mixture until it becomes sticky.

Molding Process The bibilan or potters wheel is the medium being used in molding the burnay or jar. Before putting some clay and embark molding a jar, the potter sprinkles some fine sand to the top of the potters wheel. It is being done to have a friction, thus it will be easy to take out the molded burnay in the potters wheel. The potters wheel is manually operated by the foot of the potter. Using his skillful hands, the potter molds and designs the burnay or jar.

Drying Process Drying process takes place right after molding burnay ceased. It takes two to three days for the burnay or jar to be totally dried. This process improves the form and shape of a burnay or jar and also accelerates the quality output. It is a way of preparing the burnay or jar for the next procedure which is cooking.

Cooking Process After the drying process, the burnay or jar will be placed in the urno or dragon kiln. It is called dragon kiln because of its roof which is designed with dragons scales. This dragon kiln is fifty (50) meters long and more than four (4) feet high. The burnay or jar is baked or cooked for twenty four (24) hours in more or less two thousand ( 2000 ) degree Celsius heat. This process is the most essential one because it would speak out whether or not the burnay or jar was successfully made with high quality. It needs a careful attention of a potter to make sure that he gives intense supervision in managing this process.

Cooling Process To finish completely burnay making, it needs to be cooled for two to three days to have a well elegant, attractive and fine burnay or jar output. This process is called cooling process which takes place right after baking or cooking the burnay. After this process, the burnay or jar can now be displayed for sale or otherwise deliver to the purchaser in case it is an order.

As one of the tourist spots in the Philippines, Ilocos Norte and Sur has variety of captivating sceneries and panoramas by which multitudinous people longing to visit this place. It is truly rich of historical sites. Aside from those ancestral houses and churches, there is also a place called pagburnayan located in Vigan, Ilocos Sur wherein there are burnay factories that are popular in making burnay in a traditional way. Vigaos strive hard to preserve the traditional way of burnay or jar making. As we had our educational trip in Ilocos Norte and Sur, we toured around RG Jar Factory. That time, we are uncertain if we would witness burnay making and lucky we are, the potter is just about to embark making burnay or jar. It is a part of learning to interview and so therefore we grab the opportunity to have a personal conversation with the acting manager as well as the supervisor of the factory, Ms.Teresita Alcid. According to her, burnay making was first introduced by the Chinese people and later on adopted by the Vigaos which becomes their livelihood. This approachable and kind hearted woman permits us to interview the potters.