A Taste of Filipino Cigarettes

Finally, after quite a long wait, more than a year after posting Chasing Filipino Cigarettes, I've managed to get hold of Filipino Cigarettes. It took a trip to the central market of Gapan, Nueva Ecija to get these because they're not available here in Metro Manila. A previous discussion with the makers of these cigarettes didn't really help much, to which they suggested to go to Tarlac to buy their products.

Each pack contains 30 cigarillos, no filters unlike the more popular American Blended ones. Their packaging, wrapped in printed paper, much like the way it was done before during the late Spanish times. Might not be the best way to preserve flavor in the sticks, but who can complain since they cost very, very cheap. One of the brands sells for around 12 pesos.

Anting-anting Making in Mount Banahaw

Anting-anting are among the most sought after mystical objects here in the Philippines during the time of our forefathers, that still persist even today. Deeply embedded in the Filipino culture is the belief in talismans or amulets, rooted from the religious tendency and piety of Pinoys. Since the time of our ancestors, men and women have been searching for various anting-anting, while some have been making these. An encounter with a "maker" of anting-anting at the foot of Mount Banahaw gave more insights on how these things work.