Many people did not want to eat rambutan during the early 60's. This was because then, the only available rambutan is the native variety which is sour and which flesh sticks to the seed (for this characteristic, the name supsupin was derived).   

   With the introduction of Maharlika and other new varieties, Rambutan became popular because of its sweet taste. Its seeds also readily separate from the flesh.

  In the late '80s, more outstanding varieties from Thailand (Rongrein and gulahbato), Malaysia (R162 and R5), Singapore (Jitless) were introduced in the country.

    Former elementary teacher Manalo Isidro of Alaminos, Laguna was given six grafted trees of rambutan. He then planted them in his yard and eight years later, would you believe that a single tree's yield gave him an income almost the same with that of his one year earning in an hectare of his coconut plantation? For this reason, he converted his coconut farm into a rambutan orchard.