Bauang hails legacy of ‘Grape King’

August 20, 2018 Community Billboard

BAUANG, LA UNION – Though grieving over the loss of one of the innovators to the province’s grape industry, Bauang is celebrating the life and legacy of Avelino Lomboy, known as the “Grape King of the Philippines”, who passed away early morning of August 8, 2018.
Lomboy’s hard work came into fruition when Bauang, particularly barangay Urayong where he was born, became the center of the grape farm industry.
Planting grapes started for him as a hobby way back in 1970. He became so successful and became very prominent figure in the grape industry since he was able to discover the technology of planting grapes and harvesting its fruits three times a year, thanks to the good weather of Bauang where grapes grow so well.
Abe, as he is fondly called by close friends and relatives, did not become an instant success in his business venture.
When interviewed by Karen Davila, the last interview was aired over “May Puhunan” T.V. program last August 14, 2018 episode, he proudly answered the question, “Paano mo maikukumpara ang negosyo ng pagkakaroon ng vineyard sa buhay ng isang tao at ano ang natutunan ninyo?”
“Una, tiyaga, and then disiplina, not only hard work but you have to work smartly kung kailan ka magtatrabaho, kalian ka hihinto.”
Another follow up question asked by Davila, “Sa mga gustong magsimula ng negosyo na ganito, is it worth it or sakit ng ulo?”
Again Avelino hurriedly answered with a smile “Kailangan may sakit ng ulo, walang good path to heaven. Talagang mabato at matinik at matiyaga.”
These were the magic formula that Avelino Lomboy painstakingly imbibed to his family especially to his family especially to his two daughters, Dra. Menchie Lomboy, a successful radiologist at Ilocos Training Regional Medical Center and wife of Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. de Guzman III.
Gracia Lomboy, a certified public accountant, the youngest daughter inherited the passion of his father to love plants.
Now that their beloved father is gone, the grape industry–his legacy–is left in good hands under the caring hands of Ace, Gracias’ pet name.
Lomboy’s Farms, through Abe’s initiative, didn’t stop learning new technology to improve his farm. He learned the technology of diffusion. He was not contented of what he achieved and he found this successful endeavor meaningless without sharing it to the other farmers in his barangay. This is the reason why, at the present, there are more than 55 grape growers and other fruit growers of guapples, dragon fruits and papayas in Urayong and other neighboring barangays of Bauang.
Guapples, which became Bauang’s popular One Town One Product, brought the town into fame especially during agri-farm and trade competitions.
With the very popular pick and pay which the grape farm industry offers to tourists, the more that the municipality reached its limelight through features of various T.V., radio, newspaper and magazines.
During rainy season, when the pick and pay activity becomes slow, Avelino taught the women of the barangay alternative livelihood to help them. These include food processing like jelly, jam making and wine making, grapes wine, guapple wine, dragon fruits wine and water melon wine. The grape wines were of high quality because they undergo nine months to a year of fermentation. These wines are preferred by most Filipinos because of the sweet taste. They can be compared to Grape California Wines, Brazilian, and Fresh wine.
Avelino Lomboy has left the people he loved behind but the good deeds he has done have been left imprinted in the hearts of everyone.
This is his lasting legacy – the grape farm industry of Bauang. For as long as the grape vines grow and the grape fruits ripened into green and red cardinals, and tourists flock to these grape farms to pick and pay, Avelino Lomboy will always be around. MYRNA ROMERO, BAUANG PIO / ABN