City Marks 110th Year with Tobacco Fest

Source from:  manilatimes.net March 31, 2008 03/31/2008

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." Enditem