LA UNION-The largest tobacco producer

Tobacco History

Tobacco is a unique plant for several reasons. First, it has penetrated the economic and political systems

in the country so as to warrant policy considerations as well as legislative interventions through the years.

Second, among the non-food crops, tobacco is the most widely grown commercially, thus, contributing a

sizable amount to the economy. Third, it has spurred wide scale controversy about its use which,

nevertheless, has not decreased but rather has steadily increased despite the warning that consuming

it in any form is dangerous to one's health.

The Tobacco Monopoly

Tobacco as smoke and snuff became very popular to the Spaniards, other foreigners in the Philippines

and Filipinos alike but the colonial government only learned to exploit its popularity in the latter part of the

18th century. The actual establishment of the Tobacco Monopoly in 1782 came only after considerable

prodding from the metropolitan government. It was an answer for the need to raise money to defend the

island from Muslim warriors who lived in the unconquered part of the Philippines.

The Filipinos, especially those in the Ilocos Region and in Cagayan Valley, were forced to plant tobacco.

Each farmer had a quota to produce. At the start, the farmer were treated fairly and got the right price for

their produce. But in the end, the Filipinos abhorred tobacco not because of the difficulty in growing it but

due to the abuses committed by the Spaniards as they forced the Filipinos to grow this crop. The tobacco

monopoly was a source of misunderstanding even at the start.

The habit of smoking, sniffing or chewing tobacco and the knowledge to grow the crop remained with the Filipinos.

It became part of their cultural heritage. Unlike in the days of the monopoly, however, the crop was grown as the

people wished it.

Moreover, to encourage the farmers to produce the best leaves, they were awarded diplomas for excellence

in tobacco production.

Tobacco has always been of great importance to the economy of the Philippines. The pattern of the country's

tobacco industry since the outbreak of World War II changed tremendously with exports greatly reduced and

imports increasing greatly.

“Tobacco symbolizes Filipino triumphs. Even the process of making."

Each kilo of tobacco leaves sells for about P70, but these are graded first AA (high-quality) to R (rejects)

by the traders buying them.

A Love-Hate Relationship with Tobacco

Undeniably, the Philippines has had a long standing affair with tobacco, dating way back into the Spanish colonial period.

It was one of the first plants to be brought to Philippine shores as Spain intended to turn its newfound colony into a

tobacco producer. And the plant seem destined to be in these lands as it displayed a strong compatibility and

affinity with the soil.