PANAGDAMILI: A POT OF TREASURE

By: Vice Mamaril, GPC–PIO

Aside from surfing and its beaches, San Juan, La Union is also known for the famous pottery making or “panagdamili.” Have you ever wonder how it started? Pottery is known from the beginning of time. It started from mud that shows the emergence of civilization that leads to the development of culture. Barangay Taboc, San Juan is one of the areas wherein the art of pottery prospered.

“Damili” is one of the most useful fruits of arts and crafts. It can be used for planting or for decorative purposes. Its other forms can also be used for storage of food, dry goods and water. It can also be made as a “palayok” and used for cooking.

Along the stretch of Brgy. Taboc are stalls selling various damili or pot products. One of these is the Red Clay Pagdamilian, a stall in the locality that offer lessons for those who want to try it on-the-spot. For P500, one can experience making their own pots. They can also apply their creativity because they can design it according to their own preference or taste. One can also take home the end-product once it dries out. This is a perfect souvenir made by tourists themselves.

The Department of Trade and Industry has the One Town One Product (OTOP) program where each town has to identify a distinguished product to showcase to tourists. For the Municipality of San Juan, pottery was identified as their OTOP. This only connotes that it is not only the waves that people visit in San Juan but also the hidden treasure of pottery in Taboc.