TOBACCO STORIES IN AN ILOCANO CONTEXT

Jenny Joy Magpale1, Rona Genn Agbunag1, Rom-zcle Aiyra Beninsig1

Sir Jolan Jasmin2

1
Student Researchers, Lorma Colleges, Senior High School

2
Researh Adviser, Lorma Colleges, Senior High School

I. INTRODUCTION introducing and influencing the

1.1 BACKGROUND STUDY Christian

Under the heat from the sun that

circulates through the land, Juan still

continues his work, for in the end of the

faith to the Filipinos, as well as their
day, he had done such a productive day.
other practices. The Philippines was
Farmers do indeed have a tiresome task
then experimented on cultivating
in every crops that needed a proper and
tobacco by the Spaniards, to which they
good cultivation.
came up with an idea of
Filipino Tobacco farming was
commercializing the tobacco
introduced during the Spanish
production or using it as cash crops, for
colonization era in the Philippines way
this non-crop has been seen to have a
back in the 16th century, wherein the
potential to make their government
Spaniards were more focused on
rich, and had established the tobacco 1882. Despite of the maltreatment that

monopoly in the Philippines which refer they have experienced before, the

to the 1782 economic program of country became known globally as the

Spanish Governor- General Jose V. largest Tobacco-producing country in

Basco, in which the production of Asia.

tobacco in the Philippines was under

The tobacco production was
total control of the government. In the
linked to the program on economic
areas of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos
development of the country. Those who
Provinces, Nueva Ecija, Marinduque,
were permitted to raise tobacco were
Filipinos were forced to plant tobacco,
promised prompt and adequate
whereas each farmers had a quota to
payment for their produce.

produced tobacco in the field. The

Tobacco was grown on small pots
tobacco monopoly was misunderstood
by individual farmers instead of on a
and became burdensome to the
plantation wherein the government
Filipinos way back, because of the
would have complete control of the
treatment to the farmers like being paid
operations. The government, therefore,
at a lower rate and through promissory
had to negotiate with individual
notes.
farmers, thus, involving hundreds of
But as years have passed, the
separate contracts and the need for
tobacco monopoly was abolished in
more people to implement the activity.
 A collector was contracted to Ilocano farmers usually

collect the leaves from all the tobacco works with their family members since

areas. In effect, these collectors served the post-harvesting of tobacco is mostly

as middlemen between the government done during break. Every member of the

and the farmers, so the difference family has a part in harvesting. For

between what the government gave example, the father and the elder

them to pay the farmers and what they children is responsible for seed bedding

actually paid the farmers was theirs. The to gathering leaves. And the other

collection of leaves was placed under member of the family and even the

direct government administration after neighbors helps in sticking and sorting

many complaints. This gave the farmers of leaves. Women usually joins their

better terms like fair treatment and the husband in selling their produced

correct prices. products in the trading center.

Compared with other crops, tobacco We chose this topic in order

needs much more attention to produce to learn and have basic knowledge

a quality leaves. But in order to about the long term practices of the

produced a high quality leaves, patience tobacco farmers in the Ilocos Region

and hard work is needed in growing that reflects the Ilocano culture, also to

tobacco. have a better understanding about the

behaviors and practices that have been

adopted and applied through out the an ultimate direction, as for the

years of cultivating Tobacco crop. evolution of the country’s farmer’s

cultivation of tobacco proves that we

1.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

are somewhat improving. It is because

Our study only focused in two
of our farmers way back, they endure
theory: the LINEAR THEORY and
the sufferings from the Spaniards and
MARXIST THEORY.
that’s the reason why we are improving
LINEAR THEORY
today. . As W. Brian Arthur of the Santa

History is about progress. The Fe Institute believes that Technology

world is constantly improving and evolves over time: “machines started as

heading in an ultimate direction. There disparate pieces of seemingly

are no real repetitions in history, unconnected technologies, but like

although they may appear to exist every humans, they also have an origin and a

once in a while. This theory is heavily process of evolution.”

based on the idea of cause and effect:

Thus, over the years, according to

“this happened then that happened;

the Philippine Information Agency,

that happened because this happened

farmers financed by the National
first.”
Tobacco Administration(NTA) under

According to this theory, the world the contract growing system (TCGS) has

is constantly improving and heading to been assured of accessing to new

technologies, extension, training and paid at low rate that makes them

information, and reduction of suffered a lot.

production and marketing risks; ready

1.2 RESEARCH PARADIGM
production input or credit assistance.

MARXIST THEORY

History is the story of struggle

between different social classes:

powerful groups that control wealth

and resources, and the powerless

groups who struggle to survive. In other

words, “It’s all about money”-

economics determines everything. INPUT

People leaders and nations act out of Determining the changes of tobacco

economic self-interest. farming and traditional method of its

There is a connection between this cultivation in La Union.

theory and our study. It is the struggle PROCESS

of Filipino specially to those Ilocano

Providing a semi-structured interview
farmers from Spaniards . They are
with tobacco farmers in La Union.
forced to grow tobacco and they are
OUTPUT
 Have the basic knowledge about the https://nshslibrary.newton.k12.ma.us/C

long term practices of tobacco farmers assellTheories

reflecting the Ilocano culture.

1.4 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

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1. What are the changes of the 3A%2F%2Fpia-gov-

tobacco farming in La Union? ph.cdn.ampproject.org%2Fv%2Fs%2Fpi

a.gov.ph%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F10067
2. How is the traditional way of
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planting and harvesting?

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3. Why does the tobacco farmers still
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sticking on the old way of planting and
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harvesting tobacco?
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REFERENCES: 26amp_tf%3DFrom%2520%25251%252

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http://nta.da.gov.ph/news_articles_tob
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production.html?fbclid=IwAR3bg8tvyrj
icles%252F1006722&h=AT09HPXK_vBZI
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9duBMQL5iMmQLdK0mb3owjLSkEcZIT
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