Ilocanos commemorate 200 years of Basi Revolt

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — Local officials and residents in this Ilocano-speaking province in the North commemorated the 200th anniversary of the Basi Revolt, an uprising that cost the lives of several Ilocanos and Spaniards which took place from September 16 to 28 in 1807.

The promotion of Basi tourism is now within the program of Gov. Deogracias Victor Savellano and Congressman Ronald Singson because of the historical value of the province’s native wines.

Although the uprising was short-lived since it lasted only for 13 days, its history cannot be easily forgotten by the Ilocanos since the revolt stemmed from "basi," the native wine product made from sugar cane.

Basi (Source: www.region1.dost.gov.ph)

History shows that the bloody revolt was led by two Ilocano fighters – Salarogo Ambaristo and Pedro Mateo – after the Spanish colonial government issued an oppressive decree expropriating the manufacture and sale of basi in favor of the Spaniards.

The decree strictly banned the private manufacture of basi which was then already a popular drinking native wine of the Ilocanos. As a result, the Ilocano drinkers of basi have no other recourse than to buy their favorite basi from government-controlled stores. Their love of basi had actually fanned the Ilocanos to raise their arms against the colonial ruler.

The Basi Revolt actually started in Piddig town, Ilocos Norte and spread to other towns of Ilocos Sur. The fierce and bloody battle ended near the river banks of Bantaoay river, now known as barangay Gongogong, in San Ildefonso town.

Recently, the Sangguniang Bayan of San Ildefonso had passed a resolution declaring Sept. 16, and every year thereafter, as a non-working holiday. At the same time it named the old road in Gongogong as Ambaristo street in honor of the leader of the Basi Revolt.

Owing to the town’s unique history, Mayor Christian Purisima had enrolled the basi as their entry into the "One town; One product" (OTOP) program launched by Gov. Savellano.

Labelling the Basi

Local officials also composed a basi song to further promote the four types of basi being produced namely: the red labelled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807; the white labelled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807; the violet labelled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807; and the black labelled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807. It was not known which is the most severe among the four basi products but even foreign tourists, mostly Spaniards, are now also drinking the basi wine which they describe as suave.

Burnay (Source: www.ilocossur.gov.ph)
"Through this ‘Basi Revolt,’ we come up with the identity of our "one town one product" (OTOP) calling it Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807," Purisima said. "We are not only promoting the four types of Basi Revolt 1807 wines but most importantly we are promoting tourism because of the historical value of the wine. The "Basi Revolt" is unique because it dramatizes the Ilocanos’ love for basi, or sugarcane wine, which is actually the original wine of the Ilocanos since the time of the Galleon Trade."

In his speech, the governor pointed out that the celebration of the bicentennial Basi Revolt in the province was a manifestation of the rich historical–agricultural tourism in the province and the excellent quality of the OTOP of San Ildefonso.

In his bid to boost the basi tourism industry, Savellano donated a check amounting to P50,000 for the Basi Association of San Ildefonso (BASI), which is in charge of the manufacturing, labeling and marketing of the Gongogong Basi Revolt 1807 wines.