Teaching others the rolling techniques to finish an artisanal cigar, as well as the construction of the bunch –its inner core– is a true pleasure for Francisca Paola Paulino. She is a facilitator for the National Institute of Technical Professional Vocational Training (Infotep) at the Tobacco School recently established in Tamboril, in partnership with the Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers (Procigar).
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She was born in Villa González –the land where, they say, the finest tobacco is grown– and moved to Tamboril, the industrial hub that crafts artisanal cigars ranked among the best in the world, which together represent one of the country’s primary exports.
Francisca shares that she has always been involved with tobacco. Her father was a grower, and from a young age, she was in the fields witnessing processes that have changed over time. “Now they are curing barns, but before they were just ranchos (shacks), and I loved going inside when the tobacco was ripe because I love the scent it releases.”
When she came of age, she enrolled in the cigar-making course at the Tobacco Institute (Intabaco), and she now has 18 years of experience. Her first job was at the Davidoff factory, but a year later she returned to Intabaco as an employee crafting cigars; it took her only one more year to rise to the position of facilitator.
“Since I began this process, I have trained many groups, and the vast majority –80 percent– are women. In the past, there were many men, but I don’t know… it seems we are taking control in almost every company.”
For Francisca, who has had the opportunity to attend international trade fairs in various countries, “It is a point of pride to say I am Dominican, as tobacco is a culture passed down from generation to generation that represents us. I feel happy to participate in this work, which supports those seeking to enter the workforce. For me, besides being a job, it is a hobby.”
To women who wish to become cigar makers, she says: “Don’t be afraid, because developing this skill is an art that changes our lives. For example, through this, I was able to pay for my degree in clinical psychology, though I have never practiced because I fell in love with tobacco. It is my way of escaping when I feel stressed, whether working or smoking, because I enjoy it too.”
According to Francisca, to enter this free school –which offers courses in three weekday shifts and a Saturday session– one only needs to be of legal age and know how to read and write. “The age range is from 18 to 99… there is no limit.” The course lasts 78 hours, but as it is a highly practical endeavor, “it ends when you are fully qualified.”
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