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VIGAN ILOCOS SUR

The Art of Making Burnay
TEXT and PHOTOS BY AUBREY SC MAKILAN
Ilocandia's century old produce is one of the philippines wealth.

Burnay Jar

Burnay Jar

Burnay Jar Making

VIGAN, ILOCOS SUR Aside from protecting their historic Antillan

ancestral houses, Viganos struggle to preserve the traditional way of
making burnay (unglazed earthen jars), an industry that literally came
from earth. The burnay is made of clay mashed by carabaos and mixed
with sand. The more convenient electric kilns are however displacing the
dragon kilns where the burnay jars are baked, leading to the slow demise
of a centuries-old tradition and way of life.
Burnay are earthen jars with small openings while those with bigger
mouths are called wangging. In the early years, the burnay, locally
known as tapayan or banga, was used for storage of water, rice grains,
basi (sugarcane wine) and condiments like salt and bagoong (fish paste).
Burnay jars are also used in the fermentation of vinegar that comes from
the sweet sap of the Arenga Pinnata, a sugar palm tree more commonly
known as kaong. According to locals, Arengga vinegar tastes better
if stored in burnay jars than in plastic or metal containers.
The jar maker takes a piece of the clay according to his desired jar size.
He sprinkles it first with fine sand before placing it on the potters
wheel, which he manually operates with his foot. He earns P5-7 for
every large jar he makes.

Burnay Jar Making

For huge jars, the molder creates the lower and upper parts separately.
Then, another helper combines the two parts. The jars are then left to dry
for a day and then placed in the oven or dragon kiln, which is 50 meters
long and more than four feet high. Made of bricks, its roof is designed
with dragons scales. The jars are cooked in 1200C heat, vitrifying
the sand and clay to form a metal glass-like surface that resonates like a
bell when struck by stone. After three days in the kiln, it takes another
20-22 hours for the jars to sufficiently harden.

Burnay Jar Making

Unfortunately, not all jars come out perfect. Out of the 500 jars that a
dragon kiln can bake at a time, more than 50 usually become deformed
due to over firing. These melted jars however are still used by
landscape artists to bring a touch of Ilocos to their houses. Some
deformed jars are sold at half, or even less, than the usual price. Some
factories sell them at P4-7 per kilo. Well-made jars on the other hand
cost P300-P600 per piece depending on the size.

Burnay Jar Making

The Ilocanos have a rich, blessed culture. They

are one of the most influential regional cultures in the Philippines next to Tagalog, Cebuano,
and others.
In Ilocos Norte, the natives take pride in their various songs and dances, which display their
different customs, beliefs and practices. Most of their native songs express their
characteristics, aspirations and occupations. Passed down from generation to generation,
the ethnic Ilocano culture lives on in the heart of the modern Ilocanos.

Native Ilocano songs

The Ilocanos have a handful of meaningful ethnic songs. These songs narrate life stories of
the native Ilocanos, which are mostly about courtship, marriage, occupation and life.

Osi-osithis ethnic song portrays the traditional ways of courtship.

Ayat ti Ina (Love of a Mother)is a song that expresses how a mother loves and takes care
of her child.
Napateg a Bin-I (Cherished Seed)this song basically uses metaphors comparing a
woman to a seed.
Pamulinawen (Hardened Heart)this is the most popular Ilocano love song, which portrays
a girl who does not heed the pleading of her lover. It compares the heart of a girl to a
hardened flint.
Duayya ni Ayat (Loves Lullaby)is a song that expresses a mans love for his lady. The
man asks the lady to be careful in changing her mind and choosing another man.
Siasin ti Agayat Kenka (Who is in love with you?)this song expresses an insistent love.

No Duaduaem Pay (If You Still Doing)this is an ethnic song that gives the idea that the
lover feels that his loved one doubts him. The man asks the lady to understand him and
convince her to believe that his love is true.
Teng-nga ti Rabii (Midnight)is a song that tells a lover who sees the image of his loved
one in the middle of the night and is awakened by her voice.
Dinak Kad Dildilawen (Do Not Criticize Me)is an Ilocano song that expresses patriotism.
This song conveys service to love of country.
Kasasaad ti Kinabalasang (The life of a Maiden)is an advice for the young maidens to
consider carefully their plans of getting married.
Other popular ethnic songs are Agdamili (Pot Making), which is an occupational song;
and Kanaganan, which is a birthday song.

Native Ilocano dances

The Ilocano ethnic dances are mostly perfumed during rituals and celebrations.

Binigan-bigat (Every Morning)is a courtship dance that narrates the story of a boy who is
in love with a girl from whom he asks pity.
Sileledda-ang (Grief-stricken or Laden with Sorrow)a courtship dance showing the lovers
fondness for each other.
Manag Bidayit is a courtship dance usually performed by young people.
Sabunganay (Banana Blossom)it symbolizes a young lady who is still too young to be
courted.
Pandanggo Laoagueait is a courtship dance performed by either young or old Ilocanos.
Vintareait is a dance performed by one or two couples in social gatherings like
baptismal, wedding, birthday, or thanksgiving parties.
Kutsara Pasuquiait is a dance during birthday parties and festivities.
Ilocana a Nasudi (Chaste Ilocano)it is a dance that portrays a chaste and virtuous
Ilocana. This dance may be performed by four pairs.
Surtido Norte (Assorted Dances from the North)this dance is a combination of different
Ilocano dance steps manifesting thrift as a trait of the people.

Rabong (Bamboo Shoot)it is a dance glorifying the bamboo shoot as a delicacy of the
Ilocanos. In Rabong, the participants sing the lyrics themselves.

Kalapati - Ilocano Folk Dance (Dance Video)

Kalapati
Philippines: Ilocano Folk Dance
Kalapati means dove. The Kalapati is a dance patterned after the characteristic seats of the
doves as they court - bowing, billing, and cooing. Originating fromCabugao, Ilocos Sur, this
lovely courtship dance depicts the typical traits of the Ilocanos simplicity, naturalness, and
shyness.
This dance shows an old custom of the Filipinos before presenting a number for entertainment,
giving due courtesy and respect to the people present in the gathering and apologizing for any
shortcomings one might commit during the performance.
The following words are sung and expressed in movements:
Dios ti mangted ti naimbag arabii yo,
Senores, senoras ditoy acto;
Takid-dawen deytoy numo toy biangco,
Quet mangtedac ti pam-magosto.
Translation
In the name of the Lord I wish you all good evening,
Gentlemen and ladies who are present;
It is asked of my humble self (to present you a dance)
And I shall try to please you.
COSTUME. Dancers are dressed in typical Ilocano costume.
MUSIC is composed of three parts: A, B, and C.