(Warning: this post contains information not relevant to those below 18 years old. But feel free to read on, If you like.)

What kind of savage son would get his father a lighter, an ashtray, and two boxes of hand-rolled cigars on Father’s Day? Well…the kind just like me, I guess.

“Are you trying to kill your dad?” mother asked when she saw what I was about to give him.

Of course not! Having trekked into the monstrously populated SM North EDSA / The Block on the eve of all fathers’ special day, I was easily tempted to be eclectic. No World’s Greatest Dad paper holder. No moleskin planner. No wallet. No Swiss knife. I wanted my gift to be a little out of the usual. And where do I get it? Kultura Filipino, of course.

The one-stop shop is a treasure trove of Philippine culture and crafts, all showcasing how unique being a Filipino is. There were two huge stands displaying the cigars. Naturally, already having bought a Coca Cola lighter from Lighter’s Galore, I was easily drawn, like to a magnet. I got two boxes and was given a free sample – which I smoked immediately after I got home. Thanks, Kultura Filipino!

According to Kabayan Central, each cigar from Tabaqueria de Filipinas (the leading exporter of premium cigars in the Philippines) is rolled entirely by hand, meticulously inspected, and packed in hand-crafted boxes and humidors made from Narra wood. I purchased two of the brand’s coronas.

The 1898 Independencia corona, as sales would probably have it, is their most popular cigar. It was launched in 1998 to mark 100 years of Philippine independence and combines “pais” fillers from Isabela as well as Isabela Binders and Java wrappers – thus producing a smooth, full-bodied flavor. On the other hand, the Flor de Filipinas cigars combine a rich blend of Cuban seed tobacco grown in La Union; it is a bold, spicy cigar with a Philippine binder and an Indonesian wrapper.

Whew. I am the exact opposite of a cigar connoisseur, but I am sorry I am not a no-smoking advocate either. Not yet.

For more information, simply e-mail info@tabaqueria.com.

(All photos from the Tabaqueria official website.)