Production Challenges and Coping Practices among Traditional Potters in Canduao Occidental, Valencia, Bohol

From sourcing clay and tempering materials to shaping and firing pottery, artisans in Canduao Occidental, Valencia, Bohol, encounter various conditions that affect the continuity of their craft. This study examined the production challenges experienced by members of the Canduao Occidental Pottery Makers Association (COPMA) and the coping practices they employed to address them. Using a qualitative research approach, the study applied Mayring's qualitative content analysis to examine the experiences and narratives of the participants. The findings revealed that the pottery makers encountered various challenges, including difficulties in accessing raw materials such as janang (clay soil) and bonbonon (sand temper), the physically demanding nature of pottery production, damage to unfinished products, unfavorable weather conditions, declining sales, declining demand and reduced economic viability of traditional pottery. Despite these challenges, the participants demonstrated resilience, patience, perseverance, resourcefulness, and adaptability in sustaining their traditional pottery-making practices. Their coping practices included protecting unfinished pottery from possible damage, adjusting production schedules according to weather conditions, planning to secure necessary materials, and modifying their workload based on their physical capabilities. Some participants also reduced or discontinued pottery production due to physical limitations and other circumstances, highlighting the difficulties associated with sustaining the craft. The findings further emphasized that the continuation of traditional pottery making depends on the availability of resources, the physical and economic capacity of practitioners, and the transmission of cultural knowledge to younger generations. The study concludes that the pottery makers of Canduao Occidental employ various coping strategies to overcome challenges however, the long-term sustainability of their craft remains dependent on their individual circumstances, available resources, and opportunities for cultural preservation