The Basi Industry in the Ilocos Region: Its Culture and Opportunities

Sigrid Salucop
Basi del Diablo Wines
Salucop Group, Inc.

THIS IS ILOCOS

Many know it for its tourist attractions

And it's frugal people

BUT THESE NORTHERN PROVINCES

IT IS THE HOME OF BASI

THAT REBELLION WAS A BLOODSHED

But those who marched did not only fight for their table wine

Armed with their bolo knives, they fought against economic persecution

Today, Basi producers still experience a form of economic persecution

IT'S JUST MORE MODERN NOW

AND THE CULPRITS ARE FELLOW FILIPINOS

YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT BASI

Basi is made from sugarcane - a type of grass grown in the Philippines and other warm places

BUT BEFORE THE STORY OF BASI,

THE PERSIANS DISCOVERED SUGARCANE IN INDIA

And those who have tasted its sweetness described sugarcane as, "Reeds that produce honey without bees."

Merchants began buying sugar from India later on - selling it to different parts of the world.

People liked the sweet stuff and sugar became a luxury

By the 18th Century, landowners from the Caribbean, South America, India, and the Pacific started their own sugarcane plantations

In 1855, the port of Iloilo opened itself to the world and this led to the development of the Philippine sugar industry

It was encouraged by a British man named Nicholas Loney

The former Vice Consul was described as "a one-man whirlwind of entrepreneurial and technical innovation"

He arranged credit terms for local landowners so they could invest on sugarcane

MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR LANDOWNERS IN NEGROS

Migration from Panay to Negros started because many wanted to work in the sugar plantations

The former military district, at the time, was on its way to become the centre of the country's sugar production

Continuing his work in the industry, Loney introduced sugar refineries in the region, replacing the crude methods we used before

Years later, sugar became the most important export of the Philippine Islands

And we started exporting sugar to Britain and Australia

By the 19th Century, the sugar barons from Negros became a powerful political and economic force in the country

But there is one question

Did Filipinos start making Basi when the sugar barons built their businesses?

We don't know. But we intend to find out

WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE SOME BASI?

In the North, we make Basi from sugarcane juice by mixing it with Samac bark and yeast.

THE RECIPES ARE DIFFERENT

THERE ARE A FEW TYPES OF BASI

Basi Babai and Basi Lalaki

YES, THERE IS A GENDER DICHOTOMY IN THIS LEGACY WINE

Basi Babai is the sweeter kind of Basi

BASI LALAKI IS THE BITTER, STRONGER KIND

And no, we are not sexist

THERE'S ALSO YOUNG BASI CALLED UBING (CHILD)

Young Basi is fermented for three months

It almost tastes like punch

There are many Basi Producers

Most of them are farmers and they sell their goods per cup or by the gallon

Others who have bottled their Basi come from different parts of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan

WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS THOUGH BUT AGAIN, WE INTEND TO FIND OUT

Now let me tell you about my company

SALUCOP GROUP, INC.

WE PRODUCE BASI

Our first brand is Basi Del Diablo Wines. It was launched in 2014

But the recipe we use is that of my great grandfather's who made his first batch of Basi in 1906

TODAY, BASI DEL DIABLO WINES

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WE CREATED A BRAND

A product that stands out because of its design

But more importantly, because of its quality

WE BUILT A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE

WHILE WE WORKED ON

AND IMPROVED OUR TECHNOLOGY

After over two years in the business, the brand cultivated a base following here and abroad

BUT OUR GLASS IS HALF EMPTY

WE WANT TO ESTABLISH

WE HAVE COME ACROSS A FEW HURDLES

FILIPINOS DON'T LOVE THEIR OWN PRODUCTS

HOWEVER

AND WE KNOW

AND WE WILL MAKE ENOUGH

EMPLOY MORE PEOPLE

STRENGTHEN THE BASI INDUSTRY

IMPROVE LIVES

AND MAKE FILIPINOS PROUD

We have not lost hope

NOT ON BASI

Because we haven't brought out the big guns yet

We have determined, from our studies, that all we need is an aggressive marketing campaign

We have taken initial steps to do this and we believe that this will not only help our brand but will help the industry as a whole

The usual marketing style for Basi, in general, is limited to blog posts, online reviews, and blurbs in newspapers

MOST BRANDS DON'T EVEN MARKET AT ALL

Most go straight to retailers but the problem is, most retailers turn us away

THE SADDEST PART IS MANY FILIPINOS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT BASI IS

And on this note, we have somehow failed

BUT THERE IS A WAY

IT ONLY TAKES MONEY

Sure, some Filipinos don't like spending for local products

BUT WE CAN'T CHANGE THE CULTURE

SO WE INTEND TO BYPASS THIS BY EXPORTING

While Basi producers only make so much per year, it still contributes to rural development

ASIDE FROM SUGARCANE FARMERS WHO MAKE

Those who bottle it either have their own plantations or buy from farmers

SOME DO BOTH

THROUGH CENTURIES OF PRODUCTION,

THE GROWTH HAS BEEN SLOW

Agriculture has always played a significant role in the country's economy

CONTRIBUTING 20% TO OUR GDP

AND EMPLOYING AROUND 40% OF FILIPINO WORKERS

IN 2012, THE SUGARCANE INDUSTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES

But what of Ilocos?

THE ECONOMY OF THE ILOCOS PROVINCES IS ANCHORED

MOST OF THE ILOCANO INCOME COME FROM

THESE CROPS INCLUDE

• Rice
• Onion
• Garlic
• Corn
• Tobacco
• Sugarcane

IN 2015, ILOCOS NORTE'S ECONOMY GREW 16.7%

HIGHER THAN THE 5.72% GROWTH

BUT WHAT ROLE DOES SUGARCANE

WE DON'T KNOW

But we intend to find out

For our own sake as a people and for our children.

WHO DRINKS BASI?

Basi is more than just an alcoholic beverage

Like most wines from other parts of the world, it is part of the Ilocano culture

WEDDINGS, BIRTHS, GRADUATIONS

And it's been there during depressing times, too

It's been there during deaths, funerals, and heartaches

It's a part of Ilocano life and through the years, its audience expanded

Patriots and those who want to try something local or something new drink Basi

Those who love drinking, especially Filipino men outside of the Ilocos Region, drink Basi for bragging rights

Because they know that too much Basi will knock them out senseless

The Philippine government has tried to help Basi makers for years

But the efforts of the government are not enough

WE CAN'T BLAME THEM THOUGH

In a perfect world, we'd love to establish a Basi region. But although we don't have it, the FDA already has standards and regulations for Basi production

The industry needs new technology

Basi del Diablo Wines has been in the forefront of new technology in Basi making and we intend to share this technology as we expand

But before that, we need to find out what made the Basi industry the way it is today. How did we get to this point and what can we do to fix the problems faced by Basi makers?

HOW CAN WE MOVE FORWARD?

HOW CAN WE HELP THE BASI INDUSTRY?

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS

Basi del Diablo Wines, together with respected authors from the academe, will be working on a book on Basi

BECAUSE BOOKS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

THE BOOK WILL ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

WHEN DID FILIPINOS START MAKING BASI AND WHY?

What is stopping the Basi industry from succeeding as a mainstream alcoholic beverage?

WHAT CAN WE DRAW FROM THE BASI REVOLT OF 1807?

Does Basi have an influence in local literature, dance, music, and the arts?

Do sugarcane farmhands in Basi regions work all-year-round or are the jobs seasonal?

How does the experience of Basi makers affect the local economy?

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS

BUT WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR OWN

WE NEED YOU

LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER