In today’s world, we can say that industries have become more gender inclusive. What used to be an all-male profession like in the military has opened its doors for female soldiers. Likewise, nursing, as a traditionally female dominated field has seen an increase in the number of male nurses.
In Kalinga, at least in Barangay Dangtalan in Pasil, Kalinga, pottery still remains to be an exclusively female craft.
“Men do not know how to make pots, only women can mold pots,” shared Nora Ayangwa who is into the pottery business for 18 years now.
From Mother to Daughter
Pottery has already been part of the lives of the people in Pasil.
“Pottery was already around even before and it was passed on to generations,” Pasil Tourism Officer Milagros Butalao explained.
The process, the skill, and even the materials are handed over from mothers to their daughters.
Anita Alwod, now 64, started doing pottery since she was a teenager.
“I learned the craft from my grandma and mother since I was a child,” she said.
Like Anita, Nora started pottery in 2001 because her mother is also making pots.
“I learned pottery since my mother knows how to make pots. When I was just learning, I only made one pot a day which easily broke,” she added.
Craft “women” ship
Pasil’s pottery stands out not only because it is an all-female industry but it is also a handmade craft using indigenous tools and plants.
Butalao explained the women potters finish high quality pots from scratch using only their hands and some indigenous tools.
“The clay they use is different from others because it is a special kind of clay that can only be found in Dangtalan. They make use of their hands; from scratch, the design, and all just making use of indigenous materials without machines. It is really craftsmanship.”
The Pasil Potters Association
From four women potters in 2005, the association grew with more than 30 women potters from Barangays Dangtalan and Dalupa.
With the association, the women potters were able to link up with government agencies like the Department of Tourism that helps in promoting their products.
“The Tourism Department helps us sell our products since we bring our pots to their office for display,” Ayangwa explained.
Butalao shared that aside from the outlet in Tabuk City, their office is planning to strengthen the pottery industry as an added tourism activity which offers immersion on pot-making for visitors.
She said Pasil’s pottery product reaches as far as other countries through foreigners and balikbayans who buy it as souvenirs or pasalubong.
DOT- Cordillera officer-in-charge Jovy Ganongan added that making Pasil’s pottery as an added tourist attraction will not only be beneficial for the municipality but will also help the women potters in marketing their products.
New Breed of Women Potters
With the oldest potter now at 80 years old, the members of the Pasil Potters Association are sharing their skills and knowledge with their children.
The association is also looking forward for a possible grant to have a School of Living Tradition particularly for pottery to ensure the sustainability of the craft among the younger generation.
For now, Ayangwa shared their children are starting to learn the craft starting with piggy banks and pots as school projects.
“We teach our kids this pottery so that they can continue it when they grow up and after we die,”she said.
The Pasil pottery tradition lives on. **JDP/JJPM-PIA CAR
