Roman Coffee is more red than Tobacco Brown
Smokable, non-offensive, very mild (actually, too mild to my liking)
I'm not greedy," said Singson, who attributes his vast wealth to a successful business empire involved in many sectors including construction, transport and mining.Ilocos Sur politics was shaped by a deadly fight for control of the province's tobacco trade.The Crisologo clan, whose patriarch was a congressman and matriarch the provincial governor, demanded that all tobacco grown in Ilocos Sur in the 1960s be sold to a processing firm controlled by the family, according to Singson.But Singson, their nephew and protege, began to sell tobacco elsewhere, claiming his uncle shortchanged farmers.This angered the patriarch, Floro Crisologo, who sought to stamp out his new rival's challenge with a team of gunmen who, according to historical accounts, murdered many of Singson's allies.Singson said he survived seven assassination attempts that claimed the lives of two bodyguards and 11 supporters."Everyday killings -- night and day you could hear gunfire," Singson said.Politicians in the Philippines then, and now, often employ their own security forces and both sides in the family conflict were heavily armed.In 1969, Singson defiantly but unsuccessfully ran against his uncle, who was an ally of then-president Ferdinand Marcos, for Crisologo's House of Representatives seat.One turning point for Singson occurred in 1970 when the Crisologo patriarch was assassinated inside a local church during an afternoon Catholic mass.Singson then defeated the widow in elections a year later to become provincial governor.He has ever since been in control of Ilocos Sur -- either as governor or congressman, or with his allies in those posts.When asked who he believed was responsible for Crisologo's murder, Singson replied: "Well, it was never solved because the whole province was celebrating when he was killed".Singson, 71, added later that his security forces during the tobacco wars were on the defensive, and he did not order any killings.Father Danilo Laeda, a parish priest in neighbouring Ilocos Norte province and another top tobacco-growing region, told AFP the golden leaf's levy had been a double-edged sword."It can work both ways
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It's an amazing tobacco
Young users may be moving to alternatives, though -- including refillable vapor devices, as well as disposable vape devices, such as Puff Bars and Stig
