|
CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur: While the ongoing
festivities mark the 110th anniversary of the city, “Ikkis ti
Candon” or the Cry of Candon, which was when Ilocano
revolutionaries continued the struggle for Philippine Independence,
the current tobacco festival is in recognition of the tobacco
industry as the savior of the city’s economy.
“We are not promoting
cigarette-smoking,” said Deputy Speaker Eric Singson. “We are
just acknowledging the role of tobacco in our culture and
economy.”
The Tobacco Festival features the
Panagdubla or the age-old industry of rolling tobaccos.
As in the past years, this is a
festival for senior citizens in the city, with one contestant in her
90s and two in their 80s. Most of the participants are in their 60s
and 70s.
Fifteen of the 42 barangays
participated in the Panagdubla.
City Councilor Fredilino Balagot,
committee chairman in this year’s Tobacco festival said that
“Since we are the major producers of Virginia tobacco we are just
giving a big celebration to our community and as well as
thanksgiving to our Creator to continue in giving us bounty tobacco
harvest to uplift the livelihood of our Ilocano farmers”.
Winners of the “Kinaatidoggan a
Madubla sa Masusop [Contest for the Longest Cigar Rolled with
Guarantee that they can be smoked]” are from the Bugnay Team
composed of Magdalena Justo, Elena Sagay and Marina Omaoeng. The
second winners also came from Bugnay while third are from Amguid.
Jean Bautista, one of the
youngest participants at 53 years, won in the individual category,
rolling 1.3 meters in 5 minutes.
In the fastest roller for
standard 6-inch cigars, the winners are Gloria Espino, 55, of Tablac
and Marina Omaoeng, 66, of Bugnay.
The fastest smoker is 73-years
Teresita Galanto who almost finished a 6-inch cigar in five minutes.
Second is 65-year-old Antonia Garino of Tablac and Cecilia Managsar
is 3rd.
Today (Monday), the tobacco
rollers would be parading a 101.23-meter cigar made by the rollers
of Bugnay. This big cigar has a diameter of 8.5 cm and was made of
300 kilos of tobacco.
There will be dancing around the
huge cigar to be paraded along the Quirino Highway and the main
streets of the city.
Balagot added that “If this
would continue we might aim for the Guinness Book of World
Records.”
--Thom F. Picaña
|
