Give Me Some Sugar Give Me Some Sugar

Bacolod, Philippines: A city located in the northwest coast of Negros Islands is responsible for most of the nation’s sugar production, dubbed the sugar capital of the Philippines because of how much sugarcane is grown and exported out of Bacolod.

One of the top export crops to come out of the nation alongside coconuts and mangoes. Because of how important sugarcane and the sugar industry were to the people of this area, when it was threatened it brought a whole area into a state of turmoil alongside another tragic accident to follow shortly after. Most people don’t think hard on exports or the state of crops growing in their home country. However, the slightest bit of change, such as a bad harvest, that can take away a leading export can impact a country for better or for worse.

This book aims to display the influence one crop has on a nation, the strength and perseverance of the Filipino people during times of low morale and hopelessness, and a look at the culture of Bacolod that was created and circles around how important sugarcane was to its people. Serving as an education of culture while displaying it in a way for travelers to come to Bacolod as tourists to find out more for themselves.

So much can happen to a country with a seemingly minor change, that a large group of people can be brought into a state of hopelessness. With nowhere to go but up, the Filipino people will eventually bring themselves back up. Sugarcane lead into traditions that have stood strong for decades.