Cigars of the Philippines

benedic08 · 06-06-2010, 12:22 AM

After searching the forums for a while I didn't find any threads about the cigars from the Philippines(Known before as the Cuba of Asia), So i thought maybe i start a thread about it. I'm a Filipino born in Davao City. I just recently moved here to the US in 2007 for college but still go home every summer (I'll be flying back there June 26 this summer and come back here Sept 16 no trading during that time

) Okay lets go to the Cigars of the Philippines. Kinda drifted away to my personal life there for a bit.. hehe

Lets start it off with a little history of the cigars of my country. Cuban tobacco seeds were first introduced into our country in the 17th century by the Spanish. It was carried on the Spanish Galleon "San Clemente" bringing 200 ounces of Cuban seed tobacco and brought to Isabela province of Cagayan Valley.

Here's a pic of the locals in Isabela during the Tobacco festival.

Yeah they go crazy with tobacco like that. We just love our tobacco.

In 1881 the company "La Flor de la Isabela" was born there making the most famous Cigar brands of the Philippines like "Don Juan Urquijo", "Alhambra"(President Kennedy Loved the Alhambra cigars"), and "Tabacalera". Tabacalera is the oldest and most popular brand of cigar in the Philippines. It has been for many years defined as the "Manila Cigar" and has been credited as the cigar that made the all the Philippine cigars world famous.

Here's a pic of tabacalera cigars:

Another notable cigar maker in the Philippines is the "Tabaqueria de Filipinas". These guys started in 1993 by Gabriel Ripoll, Jr.. These guys dont have much history yet but they do make good cigars specially the "Antonio Gimenez" brand.
Here's a pic of their cigars:

We also have really local cigars. Most of these are made by the farmers themselves. These guys are made without presses so these are usually not round and really ugly looking. These things are really cheap and i mean not even half a dollar cheap per pack. These are really good smokes to really taste the local flavor. These are not easy to find though. I cant even find these in our city. I had to fly to Isabela and go to the farms just to see these.

Here's a pic of the really local cigars:

I'll give you some translations too!
Blanco = white (most of you would know this as its spanish)
Magkaibigan = Friends
Matamis = Sweet
Mahaba = Long
Payat = Thin
Miss Philippines = I think this one is pretty self explanatory hhehehe

So there you have it guys! Thanks for reading!!

When I get back from the Philippines i'll try to bring back as much cigars as i can to let you guys try it. Maybe i'll also make a contest before coming back to the US and give the winner a Humidor made with Narra wood with your name engraved into it. You also get Tabacalera cigars in it! WOOO!! hahhaha

icehog3 · 06-06-2010, 12:30 AM

Cool information and pictures, Benedic...thank you!

bvilchez · 06-06-2010, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Cool information and pictures, Benedic...thank you!

..I guess you do learn something new everyday

06-06-2010, 01:09 AM

Excellent information, thanks for sharing. Gonna have to get my hands on some of those when I get back home.

06-06-2010, 01:37 AM

Thanks for the info and pics Benedic. Can you explain a little bit more about what's going on in the first pic? It looks interesting.

68TriShield · 06-06-2010, 02:01 AM

Cool stuff Benedic,boy talk about hot boxing

Don Fernando · 06-06-2010, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benedic08

After searching the forums for a while I didn't find any threads about the cigars from the Philippines

Look again, again, again, again and again

Some of my old reviews from Phillipian cigars.

benedic08 · 06-06-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Fernando

Look again, again, again, again and again

Some of my old reviews from Phillipian cigars.

Hmmm i must be doing the search wrong LOL..

@Mario: The first picture is a contest part of the festival. The rollers (all women) are to roll the longest cigar they can and it has to be smokable. Longest one wins. In the picture the woman on the right is actually trying to light the other womans cigar by putting the ends together hahah..

quantim0 · 06-06-2010, 06:55 AM

Thats very cool. Thanks for that insight into cigars from your native land. I for one, would love to sample some of those local smokes at some point. I hope you can carry enough back to feed our desires, you may need to charter a cargo plane.

Subvet642 · 06-06-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quantim0

Thats very cool. Thanks for that insight into cigars from your native land. I for one, would love to sample some of those local smokes at some point. I hope you can carry enough back to feed our desires, you may need to charter a cargo plane.

1badhog07 · 06-06-2010, 08:06 AM

very cool indeed..

SmokinApe · 06-06-2010, 09:36 AM

Nice thread...

cort · 06-06-2010, 10:04 AM

Great post buddy, thanks.

06-06-2010, 11:39 AM

Very neat, good info.
I would definately get in on a competition for some of those.

maninblack · 06-06-2010, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the info! That first pic is freakin cool. Great post!

CasaDooley · 06-06-2010, 12:09 PM

I love the Philippines and hated it when the Navy closed its base there. I have smoked many Philippine cigars but don't remember what they tasted like (Mojo has a tendency to erase your memory

). I must have liked em though!

G G · 06-06-2010, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the info.

bobarian · 06-06-2010, 01:53 PM

Thanks for the info, Benedic! Lots of interesting stuff there.

chachee52 · 06-06-2010, 02:09 PM

I never knew that they were known for cigars!!! My receptionist is from the Philippines, I'll have to ask her what she knows about them....... and if she can get me some!!!

CigarNut · 06-06-2010, 02:55 PM

Very cool! Thanks for the info and pics!

06-06-2010, 12:22 AM	#1
benedic08 Bob's great grandson Join Date: May 2010 First Name: Benedic Location: Hot and Wet Manila Posts: 525 Trading: (8)	Cigars of the Philippines After searching the forums for a while I didn't find any threads about the cigars from the Philippines(Known before as the Cuba of Asia), So i thought maybe i start a thread about it. I'm a Filipino born in Davao City. I just recently moved here to the US in 2007 for college but still go home every summer (I'll be flying back there June 26 this summer and come back here Sept 16 no trading during that time ) Okay lets go to the Cigars of the Philippines. Kinda drifted away to my personal life there for a bit.. hehe Lets start it off with a little history of the cigars of my country. Cuban tobacco seeds were first introduced into our country in the 17th century by the Spanish. It was carried on the Spanish Galleon "San Clemente" bringing 200 ounces of Cuban seed tobacco and brought to Isabela province of Cagayan Valley. Here's a pic of the locals in Isabela during the Tobacco festival. Yeah they go crazy with tobacco like that. We just love our tobacco. In 1881 the company "La Flor de la Isabela" was born there making the most famous Cigar brands of the Philippines like "Don Juan Urquijo", "Alhambra"(President Kennedy Loved the Alhambra cigars"), and "Tabacalera". Tabacalera is the oldest and most popular brand of cigar in the Philippines. It has been for many years defined as the "Manila Cigar" and has been credited as the cigar that made the all the Philippine cigars world famous. Here's a pic of tabacalera cigars: Another notable cigar maker in the Philippines is the "Tabaqueria de Filipinas". These guys started in 1993 by Gabriel Ripoll, Jr.. These guys dont have much history yet but they do make good cigars specially the "Antonio Gimenez" brand. Here's a pic of their cigars: We also have really local cigars. Most of these are made by the farmers themselves. These guys are made without presses so these are usually not round and really ugly looking. These things are really cheap and i mean not even half a dollar cheap per pack. These are really good smokes to really taste the local flavor. These are not easy to find though. I cant even find these in our city. I had to fly to Isabela and go to the farms just to see these. Here's a pic of the really local cigars: I'll give you some translations too! Blanco = white (most of you would know this as its spanish) Magkaibigan = Friends Matamis = Sweet Mahaba = Long Payat = Thin Miss Philippines = I think this one is pretty self explanatory hhehehe So there you have it guys! Thanks for reading!! When I get back from the Philippines i'll try to bring back as much cigars as i can to let you guys try it. Maybe i'll also make a contest before coming back to the US and give the winner a Humidor made with Narra wood with your name engraved into it. You also get Tabacalera cigars in it! WOOO!! hahhaha

06-06-2010, 12:30 AM	#2
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 70,583 Trading: (60)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Cool information and pictures, Benedic...thank you! __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

06-06-2010, 01:09 AM	#4
ABNMP619 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Excellent information, thanks for sharing. Gonna have to get my hands on some of those when I get back home.

06-06-2010, 01:37 AM	#5
mariogolbee Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Thanks for the info and pics Benedic. Can you explain a little bit more about what's going on in the first pic? It looks interesting.

06-06-2010, 02:01 AM	#6
68TriShield Got Torque? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Maryland Posts: 7,184 Trading: (40)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Cool stuff Benedic,boy talk about hot boxing

06-06-2010, 06:55 AM	#9
quantim0 Feeling at Home Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Andrew Location: Palm Bay, Fl Posts: 528 Trading: (20)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Thats very cool. Thanks for that insight into cigars from your native land. I for one, would love to sample some of those local smokes at some point. I hope you can carry enough back to feed our desires, you may need to charter a cargo plane. __________________ All animals are equal, but some are more equal then others. -George Orwell

06-06-2010, 08:06 AM	#11
1badhog07 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: gustavo Location: laredo,tx Posts: 215 Trading: (2)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines very cool indeed.. __________________ I WILL SMOKE NO CIGAR BEFORE ITS TIME

06-06-2010, 09:36 AM	#12
SmokinApe Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeremy Posts: 1,267 Trading: (35)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Nice thread... __________________ Try my Cigar Glue

06-06-2010, 10:04 AM	#13
cort ◤◢◣◥ Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gary Posts: 4,478 Trading: (41)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Great post buddy, thanks.

06-06-2010, 11:39 AM	#14
E-Tx Surveyor Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Very neat, good info. I would definately get in on a competition for some of those.

06-06-2010, 11:54 AM	#15
maninblack Will smoke for food Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Kevin Location: Where the hoot owls f$ck the chickens Posts: 10,637 Trading: (80)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Thanks for the info! That first pic is freakin cool. Great post! __________________ Proud member of the GMCGTPWHAFA

06-06-2010, 12:09 PM	#16
CasaDooley Herf Crew of 2 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kevin Location: The birthplace of Fathers Day Posts: 2,465 Trading: (41)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines I love the Philippines and hated it when the Navy closed its base there. I have smoked many Philippine cigars but don't remember what they tasted like (Mojo has a tendency to erase your memory). I must have liked em though! __________________ *Founding member of the Lilac City Dedicated Herfers*

06-06-2010, 12:59 PM	#17
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,701 Trading: (10)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Thanks for the info.

06-06-2010, 01:53 PM	#18
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Thanks for the info, Benedic! Lots of interesting stuff there.

06-06-2010, 02:09 PM	#19
chachee52 Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Dec 2009 First Name: Todd Location: Tyngsboro, MA Posts: 399 Trading: (2)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines I never knew that they were known for cigars!!! My receptionist is from the Philippines, I'll have to ask her what she knows about them....... and if she can get me some!!! __________________

06-06-2010, 02:55 PM	#20
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,038 Trading: (111*)	Re: Cigars of the Philippines Very cool! Thanks for the info and pics! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.