Philippines, Pinatubo Ash Art Ware Project
The volcanic eruption of Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 devastated the surrounding area, robbing the inhabitants of their homes and fields. In subsequent years flows of mud and ash (lahar) from the mountain covered more villages and fields. The Pinatubo Ash Art Ware Project was started by Ernesto and Luz Gamboa, an evacuee couple with seven children. Training was offered by the Department of Trade and Industry and then six evacuees began work in the project. Today the group has eleven regular employees. They have transferred to a bigger site and improved facilities, although most of the work is still labour-intensive. Curing of the products in ovens heated by wood has been replaced by acids and chemicals plus hardeners. The project is also known now as Disenyong Pinatubo Craft. The do not confine themselves to religious images, but have expanded to other models as requested by customers.
Although this is not a project of the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Sisters in the Philippines have given great support to the people of the area since the disaster and have been one of the regular marketing outlets for the ash art ware.
The Mt Pinatubo volcanic eruption of 1991 was the second largest eruption of the 20th Century in terms of the amount of material blown out of the vent. 722 people died in and weather globally was affected.
