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INDUSTRY
A PILLAR OF FEUDAL ECONOMY: THE TIGAON ABACA INDUSTRY
The transformation of Camarines Sur from a rice-producing province to an abaca-centered one found its roots in the early decades of the twentieth century. The last in a region of rice producing provinces to intensify its efforts in abaca production, Camarines Sur's radical shift to the cultivation of this indigenous crop was brought about by the intrusion of market globalization into the mainstream of daily economic life. At a time when adjacent provinces such as Albay and Camarines Norte were gaining profitably on abaca exportation, Camarines Sur remained as a staple rice producer, delivering much of the palay requirements of her sister provinces who have opted to train their sights on the development of the abaca industry instead. During the last decade of the nineteenth century and well unto the early years of the succeeding century, the last vestiges of abaca production dwindled in Camarines Norte and Albay. Camarines Sur, however, took up where they left off, commandeering the perpetuation of this crop which alongside with palay, was produced on a massive scale.
Manufactured since the sailing ship days of the eighteen hundreds, abaca has fibers which are tough and light and can be obtained in lengths from six to twelve feet. A plant of the banana family, abaca is indigenous to the Philippine Islands. Its fibers, which are most resistant to abrasion, are used in the manufacture of ropes, high-grade cordage, paper and grass cloth. Its importance in servicing shipping vessels which then plied the four corners of the world is legendary. It is reasonable, then, to deduce that famous shipping lines of the nineteen hundreds relied heavily on this fiber for the maintenance of their crafts.
The cultivation of abaca in Camarines Sur went hand in hand with palay. In most lowland areas of the Province, rice production took precedence, relegating abaca as a secondary crop. One particular town, however, deviated from this norm.
Located 44 kilometers from Caceres (now Naga City) and 4 kilometers from Nato Port in Sagñay town, Tigaon then was well known in the local dialect as “mabuhayan ilo”, a place where orphans can survive merely by stripping abaca anytime. Innately blessed with the kind of climate conducive to the growing of this indigenous crop, Tigaon's inherent rolling terrain makes it an ideal abaca producer in this side of the Province, with upland rice production taking a mere back seat. Abaca in Tigaon was so prolific that foreigners like Spaniards and Chinese and even Indios from as far as the Southern Visayan provinces who intermarried with Tigaoeños widely cultivated this popular crop. The nature of abaca farming which necessitated the acquisition of large tracts of agricultural lands to accommodate both abaca plants and complementary tree species for cover gave rise to the feudalistic nature of Tigaon's socio-economic structure which was then controlled by eight (8) prominent families, namely, the Moll, Garchitorena, Natividad, Estela, Cea, Jacob, Interino, and Baduria families. These landed few devoted much of their energy into maintaining their haciendas, utilizing tenants for clearing and stripping activities. Although the disparity between the rich and the poor was quite obvious, people then were contented with their way of life.
At the onset of the twentieth century, abaca trading in the international market began to escalate. Basically known as an abaca producer, Tigaon became the focal source for filling in local and international demands for abaca supply. In no time at all, Tigaon became the hub of abaca trading and firms such as McLeod and Company, Lee Sing Giap, See Kum Bieng, and the Columbian Rope Company started to mushroom in this town. The Chinese who were by nature enterprising expectantly displayed sharp business acumen in matters concerning the economy. Some successful Chinese businessmen started their entrepreneurship in Tigaon as abaca traders, moving out only to the cities when trading in abaca declined. One such person is DON PASCUAL LEELIN whose surname is synonymous to abaca industry as it is to the food industry. It was Don Pascual who drew attention to the worldwide acceptance of the Tinnawagan abaca, the best fiber variety of this crop which can be found on the slopes of Barangay Tinnawagan in Tigaon town. Using his base in Nato Port , Don Pascual would transport volumes of abaca fibers from Tigaon to Sagñay, stamping the world famous Tinnawagan Grade (TG) trademark on its bales for the assurance of high quality. Long after abaca trading waned in Tigaon, the TG trademark still retains its prestige in the world market. Abaca fibers from various provinces in the country are still being passed off as TG fibers for international market acceptance.
The perpetuation of Tigaon's feudal economy, however, was not meant to be. Immortalized for ages, the interminable bondage of small farmers to the haciendas they have for generations tilled have widened the gap between the so-called “menores” and “mayores”. At a time when liberal ideas from foreign countries have reached Philippine shores and touched the consciousness of the less fortunate in our country, social disparity in Tigaon became so evident that it drew up front the establishment of social change that was to affect the thriving abaca industry.
In a fit of bravado, tenants continuously wiped out scores of abaca plants and laid to waste hundreds of tree species to give way to the planting of cash crops, much to the dismay of landowners. Presidential Decree No. 27 and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) added insult to injury by paving the way for the dismemberment of all agricultural lands barring no exemptions. Landowners who are now the offsprings of pioneer abaca planters, have given up on their fight to save their mangled properties which were already being planted to corn and sugarcane. The profitability of cash crops during the early years of their introduction soared to great proportions due to voluminous production levels caused mainly by the fertile rich soil nurtured for decades by the planting of abaca. It was a good start for farmers and during the years that followed, harvest was indeed bountiful. Gradually however, the rich mineral deposits were being depleted by the planting of cash crops so much so that farmers today shoulder the burden of increasing farm inputs to realize higher production levels. And, to make matters worse, frequent occurrences of typhoons have ripped off farmers' expectations for a bountiful harvest, something which landowners of the past take in stride knowing fully well that abaca has the ability to withstand tempestuous weather disturbances. Unlike cash crops, abaca is planted only once and is harvested following a six month cycle. Once a typhoon passes over the land, remnants of abaca fibers are swiftly harvested to give way to new growth.
The significance of abaca as a high value crop took its toll in the last two decades of the twentieth century. The inference that environment protection takes priority over everything else has led to the appreciation of abaca as the ideal material, a welcomed comeback, in the making of high quality ropes instead of the popular synthetic nylon ones which proliferated the market during the middle of the twentieth century.
Today, only one trading firm survived the tempestuous journey of the abaca industry in Tigaon. Smith-Bell and Company was founded by Don Lazaro Larrauri, a Spanish gentleman who braved the changes that social and economic unrest brought to the town of Tigaon . Renamed TAG FIBERS, INC., this company continues trading in abaca but on a much lesser scale.
At present, government has taken a genuine interest in the revival of this industry. With the agrarian reform agenda being implemented, much has to be done in terms of devising strategies in intercropping patterns involving abaca, its complementary tree cover and other cash crops, all of which should be accommodated on a three hectare agricultural land, the maximum area that can be owned by a farmer. Meanwhile, it is heartening to note that abaca is once again being given the acknowledgement it properly deserves. And, to concede to the greater wisdom of our ancestors, it stands as a fitting tribute to the vision of our forebears who have never once doubted the significant role this indigenous crop would play in our lives – past, present, and future.
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