Francisco Barbac, Jr, 77 years old, has been making
kalesa (chariot) since he was 14 years old when his father taught him. He is the last
kalesa maker in Brgy. Duljo, Cebu City. He can make a
kalesa in one and a half month and sells them for P32,000 and P40,000 if the materials used is bronze. The volume of kalesa he makes in a year would depend on the orders he get. In more than 60 years of making
kalesa, Tatay Francisco continues to live modestly.
In Brgy. Duljo, a kalesa ride costs P3 per person while in Carbon to Taboan, markets in Cebu, the ride costs P10 per head.
Tatay Francisco's children are all professionals, some are engineers, and no one will inherit his livelihood.
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| Tatay Francisco shows a kalesa wheel he repaired |
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| He demonstrates how he makes a kalesa wheel |
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| He demonstrates how he makes a kalesa wheel
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| He demonstrates how he makes a kalesa wheel
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| He demonstrates how he makes a kalesa wheel
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| A tool used for making a kalesa |
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| Some of the tools used in making a kalesa |
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| Brgy. Duljo, Cebu City |
This is a fast disappearing fixture in Filipino culture. Tell me, is he still alive? It's very hard to find skilled craftsmen as him.
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ReplyDeleteYou can look for him in Brgy. Duljo, Cebu City, everybody probably knows him
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