Vigan Pagburnayan for the third time around

Posted by Enrico Dee on December 14, 2009

Last month, I got the opportunity to visit Vigan again. It was my third tmie to visit the UNESCO World Heritage city, but as always, I never get bored to go back here. Visiting Pagburnayan was one of our itinerary during the trip.

Pagburnayan is where the large burnay jars are made. These are either used in storing vinegars or bagoong. Some buy burnay for decorative purposes.

Making burnay is a tedious task. It would often take weeks before a piece of clay can be made transformed into a burnay jar. When we went there, the locals weren’t making any burnay but smaller jars, which, according to them when completely baked will be broken into pieces and be made into a salt bed.

When we got to pagburnayan, there were truckloads of wood which will be used in baking the jars. It would normally take days before the baking process is completed.

So when you get the chance to visit the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan, I would highly recommend that you drop by Pagburnayan. It is just a tricycle ride away from the city plaza. And if you want to try the ultimate experience in pagburnayan, you may try making a jar yourself. Or at last have a photo of yourself sitting in front of the rotating table where they make the jars.