TEOFILO GARCIA

The Casque Maker  | San Quintin, Abra

His craft demands a lot of personal input from him because there is hardly any way for him to source the materials he needs for his work unless he makes them himself. He has had to turn down large orders because he has no one to help him, and in any case, there is no one who matches his level of skill. Sometimes, he wants to give up because it’s hard work, but he doesn’t do it, for fear that the art will end with him.
His output is also limited by his harvest of gourds. In a good year and blessed with good weather, he can make up to 100 pieces. That year, inspired by increasing orders, he plans to increase the area of his farm dedicated to gourd planting. His increased visibility is also partly the result of the local agricultural fairs organized by the local government where he takes out a booth every year to showcase his work.