A Craft Forged from Childhood (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Lake Sebu, South Cotabato – Bundos Bansil Fara transforms scrap metal into resonant symbols of T’Boli identity through centuries-old brass casting techniques.[1][2]
A Craft Forged from Childhood
Bundos Fara began honing his skills in brass casting at the age of eight, learning from his father and grandfather in the T’Boli community of Lake Sebu.[3] Over decades, he mastered kem tau temwel, the traditional method that recycles metals into bells, gongs, and ornaments. His dedication earned him the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan award in December 2023, marking the first time a brass caster received this National Living Treasure honor.[3]
Now in his late fifties, Fara operates the Brass Casting Center along Lake Sebu’s main highway, where visitors witness his unwavering commitment to handmade artistry. Blurry eyesight from years of intense labor has not dimmed his precision. He rejects machines entirely, insisting on ancestral ways passed through generations.[3]
The Intricate Lost-Wax Process
Fara’s workshop hums with the rhythm of earth, fire, and water in the cire perdue technique. Artisans first shape a mixture of beeswax, candle wax, and asphalt into the desired form, such as a bangle etched with patterns or a tiny bell modeled after mythological creatures.[4][3] This wax core gets encased in clay sourced from nearby mountains, dried, and fired to melt away the wax, leaving a hollow mold.
Molten brass, recycled from old gongs, padlocks, pipes, and bullet shells, pours into the mold through a nozzle. After cooling, the clay cracks open to reveal the unique piece, which undergoes polishing and refinement. Each item demands days of labor, blending utility, sound, and spiritual essence.[1]
- Shape beeswax model around tools like liquor bottles for bangles.
- Build and fire clay mold in ground pits.
- Melt scrap alloys in separate furnaces.
- Pour, cool, break, and finish by hand.
- Invoke Ginton, the metallurgy deity, for guidance.[2]
Resonating Through Rituals and Daily Life
T’Boli brass objects carry profound cultural weight, used in healing ceremonies, weddings, harvests, and festivals. The resonant tones of k’lintang bells and agong gongs summon ancestral spirits, restore harmony, and strengthen community bonds. Fara’s creations adorn bodies with anklets, belts, rings, and necklaces, each telling stories of protection and heritage.[1]
According to tradition, Ginton gifted these skills to the T’Boli, embedding spiritual power in every piece. Fara upholds this by sourcing sustainable materials and avoiding modern shortcuts, ensuring the craft’s authenticity endures amid commercialization.[3] His showroom displays polished bangles and gong necklaces, drawing travelers to Lake Sebu’s vibrant traditions.
Family and Future Guardians
Fara’s four sons form the core of his workshop team, each mastering vital roles. One melts the black wax putty, another fans the blazing coals in dual fire pits, a third carves intricate wax molds, and the youngest, Jayson, handles sales.[3] This apprenticeship mirrors Fara’s own path, emphasizing patience, humility, and respect for elders.
By mentoring youth and demonstrating publicly, Fara combats the pull of industrialization. His GAMABA recognition, including a lifetime stipend, bolsters efforts to transmit knowledge before it fades. “I make all of this by hand, from the smallest to the largest. Nothing is machine made,” he affirms.[3]
Key Takeaways
- T’Boli brass casting thrives on recycled metals and lost-wax precision, yielding unique ritual objects.
- Bundos Fara’s 2023 GAMABA award highlights his role as the first honoree in this craft.
- Family involvement ensures the tradition’s survival in Lake Sebu for generations ahead.
Bundos Fara not only forges brass but also the unbreakable link between past and future in T’Boli culture. Travelers to Lake Sebu find in his work a living testament to resilience and artistry. What draws you to indigenous crafts like temwel? Share in the comments.
<p>The post Master of Molten Brass: Bundos Fara Safeguards T’Boli Heritage first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>