Pottery-making
 
photo credit to: http://www.launion.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=577&Itemid=641



    If one travels up north,he would be instantly captivated by the magnificent pots displayed along the narrow borders of San Juan,La Union,particularly in Barangay Taboc,whose folks' ingenuity has remarkably sprawled over one place to another.

    Pottery-making in the Philippines dates back to the days of our Filipino ancestors when they placed their clay containers on the embers of an open fire to cook food. In Albay,people use the coron as a cooking pot. The Bicol region makes us of ""pikpik" which refers to the repeated paddling needed to compress and strengthen the clay mixture and other forms of pottery in some tribal territories in the country.

    In La Union,it has been long embraced as a way of life to every household whose members sit down together the whole day to bring the beauty of pottery out of clay.

    Just like any other work of art,pottery making does not only draw out more of a person's artistry if not his covert attributions,but it also helps him pattern and nurture a legacy that is passed on from generation to generation. Although technology has afforded easier production: producing piles of creations with ease and uniformity,Pots in La Union are made using the traditional manual way. The process begins with digging clay from the mountain or purchasing it for ten pesos a sack. It is then sun-dried and sifted to rid it of twigs and pebbles,after which it is crushed using stones,pulverized and sifted again.  The clay comes in three colors: white,black and red for a solid outcome.

    Once it is formed into a beautiful artwork through a template,it has to be dried slowly for several days. Then,it is ready to be exposed in the kiln,which is usually situated at the backyard with a sort of a roof so as to shield it from the excessive heat of the sun. The ground is covered with sand and at least three layers of bagul (dried coconut shell),guhi (bamboo stalks) and dry pieces of wood. The pots are arranged on top of the bed of wood. A fire is lit in the center and then the "ata" (rice husk) is quickly shoveled over the pots to seal in the heat.

The process takes almost a week.

    It requires a lot of skill to make a pot or any related product. It is only a matter of practice to perfect the process without the benefit of written manuals.

    To date,San Juan products range from the famous "dalikan" or the traditional cooking stove,bricks,jars,fountains,lamps and other earthenware products of varied sizes and designs. These,which are being sold at a reasonable cost,have been boosted by the tourism package of the Province of la Union to local and foreign tourists.

Getting there…

By air:
    One may opt to take a plane from lands which lands directly in San Fernando City.

By land:
    There are several buses that pass through la union. Although the ride may be quite long,because of all the stopovers,sometimes it is simpler to hire a private vehicle or take ones own. Travel time by bus is 6-8 hours by car,4-5.

Photos and information taken from:
http://www.launion.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=577&Itemid=641

for more details visit:
http://www.travelmart.net/philippines/la-union-attractions.html