Bila potters show traditional firing of earthen clay pots

By Francis B. Degay

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Officials and folks and visitors witnessed geba, an indigenous cooking of clay pots here in Bila recently.

Bila is one of the barangays of the famous vegetable producing town of Bauko.  

As part of the process, women potters arranged stones where the fresh pots were laid.

They tested the desirability of stones by placing and burning dried grasses and pine needles on top of the stones. 

Potters arranged the clay pots on top of the pre-tested stones. Dried pine needles and twigs and grasses were placed on top of the clay pots, until fully covered.

Small holes (kawkaw) were made around the base of the covered pots. Simultaneous burning was done thru the kawkaw. Accordingly, synchronized burning is needed so that the cooking of the clay pots will be done at the same time.

While some of the pot makers continuously turn the unburned materials to ensure that all were burned, the others prepared the glazing material. Said varnish material was processed from sap of almaciga tree.

The pots were glazed after the pots were taken from the burning area. To test the pots of any leaks, the pots were filled with water and left them overnight.            

According to some elders, diwin di banga was the major economic industry of the people of Bila in the past. These were brought to other places to be bartered with sugar, salt, and other household basic needs.  

They recounted that Igorot god Kabunyan appreciated the artistic and perfect made clay pots of Bila potters hence, he bequeathed the best clay to them, which is found in Kebasan that is located between baragays Bila and Otucan Norte.

Prominent Bila personalities who joined the event were Bauko Mayor Abraham Akilit, DTI-CAR ARD Juliet Palpal and Bila barangay chairman Rodrigo Payacda and his council members.