The Continuity of a Village Industry in a Philippine Community:

The Pottery of Bari, Antique Province

Abstract

This research note aims to explore the existence of a traditional village industry in a Philippine community. The village of Bari is known for its pottery within the Province of Antique. It has been producing traditional wares such as water jars, cooking stoves and plant pots for local consumption. The first attempt to develop the pottery of Bari with a new kiln took place in the 1950s. With the Philippine government's policy to promote ceramic industries for export since the 1980s, the Department of Trade and Industry planned and implemented several projects such as forming an association of potters, providing loans, and introduction new technology. Despite these efforts, the pottery of Bari has shown no sign of expansion or growth. It has maintained its traditional structure up to the present.
 In Bari, pottery has been manufactured by the wives of small farmers and agricultural workers who live at the subsistence level. The need to secure a rice supply as well as cash income determines the division of labor in the household: the husband farms rice and the wife makes pottery. Their primary goal in making pottery is to meet the basic needs of the household and provide education for their children. Development projects, which endeavored only to improve the manufacturing process, were not appropriate to this socioeconomic situation of the potters. They have not only persisted in their traditional way, however, but also responded as independent artisans to trends in the local market. For instance, products such as charcoal cooking stoves which carry the name of a brand of propane gas, and a new type of plant pot called “bunsay” indicate the sign of change. It appears that such innovations have been able to sustain this village industry.