SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur – Residents here joined their officials Sunday in the launching of the native wine called “basi” as one town, one product (OTOP) of the town.

The launching coincided with the commemoration of the bi-centennial anniversary of the historic “Basi Revolt” in Barangay Gongogong here.

The present-day Barangay Gongogong was where the last battle of the Basi Revolt was fought 200 years ago. The Basi Revolt was short-lived. It happened September 16 to 28, 1807.
Ilocos Sur Governor Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano, Vice Governor Jerry Singson and Congressman Ronald V. Singson led local officials at the local celebration.

Local officials also presented a composition of the “basi” song that seeks to further promote the four types of “basi” being produced in the town.

These are as follows: the red labeled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807, the white labeled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807; the violet labeled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807 and the black labeled Gongongong Basi Revolt 1807.

In Philippine history, the “Basi Revolt,” also called by the Spaniards as “Ambaristo Revolt,” started in Piddig, Ilocos Norte on September 16, 1807.

It ended September 28, 1807 in a bloody battle between the Spanish soldiers and the insurgents led by Pedro Ambaristo along the bank of the Bantaoay river, now Barangay Gongogong in San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur.

The wine-lovng Ilocanos rose in revolt when the Spanish colonial rulers monopolized the manufacture and sale of “basi”.

A royal decree promulgated as early as 1786 banned private individuals from manufacturing “basi”, extracted from sugarcane. The Ilocanos were then forced to buy “basi” from government stores.

San Ildefonso town Mayor Christian Purisima said that September 16 is a very significant date because it was the date when the Ilocanos started the Basi Revolt in Piddig, Ilocos Norte 200 years ago.

The uprising spread to other towns of Ilocos that were producing “basi”.

The “Basi Revolt” is unique because it dramatizes the Ilocano’s love for the “basi”, or sugarcane wine, which was concocted by the early Ilocanos since the time of the Galleon Trade, the mayor said.

According to Purisima, the true delicious “Basi Revolt 1807” wine will depend on the one who drinks it, thus, was the reason why he initiated the production of four types of “basi”, known for their varied tastes and distinguished from their corresponding labels.

Governor Savellano, who was the guest speaker during the celebration, said that the celebration of the bi-centennial “Basi Revolt” is a manifestation of the rich historical-agricultural tourism in the province and the excellent quality of the OTOP of San Ildefonso.

In order to further strengthen the “basi industry” of the town, Savellano turned over a check amounting to P50,000 to the Basi Association of San Ildenfonso (BASI),” which is in-charge of manufacturing, labeling and marketing of the “Gongogong Basi Revolt 1807” wine.