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#IFoundIt: This 500-Peso Burnay Jar Is Your Not-So-Common Kind of Pasalubong from Ilocos Sur
There’s nothing more unique than a burnay jar as pasalubong from Ilocos!
By: Kriszel T. Rago | November 04, 2023
Hailed as the pride of Ilocos Sur when it comes to handicrafts, these Burnay jars, from small to large ones, are something to check on and bring home as pasalubong on your next trip to Vigan, Ilocos.
Images: UNP – Bachelor of Physical Education (L); Vigan City PH (R) Facebook pages
Vigan, Ilocos Sur, is most likely popular with tourists for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its cobblestone streets and ancestral houses, this city will take you to a different time when you visit. Vigan is also known for its delicious cuisines, such as Vigan Longganisa and Bagnet. For its handicrafts, while Ilocos Norte has Inabel and Inabel making as its pride, the south also has its own, the handcrafted unglazed earthen jars called burnay and burnay pottery in Ilocos Sur.
Burnay making in Vigan is a traditional craft known for its distinct techniques and artistry.
Image: UNP – Bachelor of Physical Education Facebook page
Characterized by the handcrafting of grade-A clays sourced mainly from the western area of Vigan, Ilocos’ burnay jars are molded, shaped, and designed meticulously by skilled potters using only their hands and simple tools.
Burnay jars come in various shapes and sizes, from small to large. While most burnay jars nowadays are used as adornment and souvenirs, some still put these crafts for practical use, such as containers for salt, brown sugar, water, or even local wine and bagoong.
Burnay making in Vigan is a fascinating and traditional craft practiced for centuries, considering it a valuable cultural heritage recognized by various preservation efforts and designations.
Image: Rgjarfactory alcid Facebook page
The most known places in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, considered essential parts of the said culture, are the RG Jar Factory and Ruby Pottery.
At these two remaining major burnay potteries in Ilocos, you can move and look around to see a vast collection of burnay jars or buy some different shapes, sizes, and designs to your preference. You could also experience doing one of your own and taking it home for free.
You can bring home these Burnay products starting at PhP500.
Image: Rgjarfactory alcid Facebook page
Despite being considered a cultural site, these burnay potteries in Ilocos have no entrance fee, and trying out pottery making is also free of charge. Still, guests are encouraged to donate or buy some souvenirs. Prices of burnay jars start at PhP500 for salt jars and go higher depending on the size and design of the jars.
Don’t miss the chance to witness the remarkable artisanal pottery of the region, experience making one, and buy some of these burnay jars as your non-typical pasalubong on your next trip to Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more unique and exciting finds in Ilocos!
Price may change without prior notice.
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About Kriszel T. Rago
Kriszel is a writer, an aspiring multimedia journalist, and a strong-willed, pierced & inked modern-day kikay tita. As a former iskolar ng bayan–still one at heart, Kriszel is passionate about social issues and everything under the sun. She loves to read, watch documentaries, thriller-mystery series, and anime, cook for her loved ones, and play Valorant & Mobile Legends with friends. Kriszel dreams of being a multiple degree holder and traveling to every province in the Philippines.
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