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Puerto Rico Cigar Convention...
A tribute to Gabriel Cruz Ayala, El Chan I
n recognition of the struggle led by José Gabriel Cruz Ayala, El Chan, in favor of tobacco and cigars produced in the country, a tribute was paid to him during the Puerto Rico Cigar Convention (PRCC) 2024. Attendees lit up a cigar from La Hoja del Chan, remembering its founder with the cry of “Somos la Resistencia.” “I knew my husband was known and what he was doing was something historic, but realizing that everyone who came recognized him with applause was more than beautiful,” says Liz Janice López de la Rosa, his widow and current CEO of the company. In this larger-scale setup than its predecessor, La Hoja del Chan also obtained from the country’s government the Certification and Excellence Award in Quality Hecho en Puerto Rico, reaffirming its position in the market, alongside other companies seeking to reach the US market, considered the most important in the world.
Yesi Rosa, Nova Cigar collaborator; Liz Janice López, CEO of La Hoja del C
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