I have to admit I really love coffee.
For me, coffee has always been more than just something I drink to start my day. There’s something comforting about holding a warm cup, taking that first sip, and especially smelling that beautiful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Somehow, that aroma alone can make me feel calm, relaxed, and ready to slow down for a while. And I think I got this love for coffee from my mother. I grew up seeing her enjoy her coffee, and I guess that love was passed on to me. So whenever I smell freshly brewed coffee, it somehow feels familiar and comforting.
One of the featured international speakers was Adam Esham, Co-Owner of House of Kendal in Malaysia, who shared his family's journey in coffee and the development of their business. His presentation provided a regional perspective on how coffee heritage, entrepreneurship, quality, and perseverance can help build a successful and sustainable coffee enterprise.
The IP Coffee Community panel brought together Gilbert Baltazar of DA-4K, Benjamin David Abadiano of the PAMULAAN Center for Indigenous Peoples Education, and Danilo D. Crobalde of LANDBANK. The panel explored opportunities for Indigenous coffee communities, particularly in the areas of education, financing, enterprise development, and market access.
Meanwhile, Gio Paolo Espital of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and Nicolo Aberasturi of Banhaw Agriculture discussed alternatives to commercial fertilizers. Their session highlighted organic and regenerative farming approaches that can help improve soil health while potentially reducing costs for farmers.
The Success Stories in Production panel featured coffee growers who shared their personal experiences, challenges, and achievements in developing coffee farms and enterprises.
Their stories demonstrated how perseverance, innovation, and community collaboration can help transform coffee farming into a sustainable livelihood and create new opportunities for local communities.
Celebrating Coffee Success Stories
The Success Stories in Production panel featured coffee growers who shared their experiences, challenges, and achievements in developing productive farms and coffee enterprises.
The panel included Democrito “Aljun” Diamante, former Mayor of Tuburan, Cebu and developer of Tuburan Coffee; Leovino “Oben” Anacay, a coffee farmer from Amadeo, Cavite; Ylaine Giangan of Kuvi Integrated Farm; and Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman of Isabela City, Basilan.
Their stories showed how perseverance, innovation, and community collaboration can help transform coffee farming into a sustainable livelihood and create opportunities for local communities.
The Women in Coffee panel likewise featured inspiring stories from women working across different areas of the industry.
Young coffee professionals Angelic Gail Perez and Angelin Gaby Perez, both 18, discussed their achievements in coffee quality assessment, roasting, competitions, and mentoring.
Maria Teofanie Tutanes, a nurse and entrepreneur behind Mnemo Coffee, shared her experience across farming, processing, manufacturing, and marketing. Noemi Dado of Agnep Heritage Farms in Benguet also shared her family's efforts to revive a heritage coffee farm while producing high-quality and traceable coffee.
Their experiences highlighted the significant role women play in coffee production, entrepreneurship, education, quality evaluation, and industry leadership, helping support the growth and regeneration of local coffee communities.
Expanding Opportunities Through Coffee Education
Education and skills development were among the key topics discussed during the congress, emphasizing their importance in strengthening the Philippine coffee industry.
Robert Francisco, PCBI Technical Director and Lead Instructor of UCC Coffee Academy, discussed career opportunities within the coffee sector and explained how professional training and specialized skills can create career paths beyond traditional coffee farming.
Brendan Rosen, Head Trainer of Naturland Philippines, introduced the Naturland Academy, highlighting its role in developing skills for organic coffee production and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through farmer education.
Meanwhile, Dave Lim, Technical Director of the ASEAN Coffee Institute, shared the institute's approach to coffee education and emphasized the importance of structured learning and professional development throughout the coffee industry.
The congress also honored Emmanuel “Manny” Torrejon, PCBI Director and Business Development Director of UCC Ueshima Coffee Philippines Inc., as the recipient of the 3rd Coffee Cup of Distinction Award in recognition of his longstanding contributions to Philippine coffee.
Experiencing Coffee Beyond the Conference
On October 16, participants experienced hands-on activities designed to bring the lessons and discussions from the first day into practical settings.
At Commune Cafe + Bar in Makati City, Robert Francisco facilitated a brewing workshop focused on the science behind hand-pour coffee preparation. Participants learned how physics and chemistry influence coffee extraction, flavor, and brewing techniques while exploring ways to develop their preferred brewing style.
The guided Legazpi Village coffee crawl featured five specialty coffee establishments, including Primal Brew Coffee + Roastery, Yardstick, Mechanika Coffee, A Cup, and The Curator Coffee & Cocktails. The activity gave participants the opportunity to discover different coffee offerings while experiencing Makati's vibrant specialty coffee scene.
Meanwhile, participants in the coffee farm tour visited the PCBI Coffee Technology Center in Amadeo, Cavite. The tour provided insights into coffee cultivation, farm management, and sustainable agricultural practices and included a special demonstration on coffee briquettes.
Working Towards a Sustainable Coffee Future
From farmers and Indigenous communities to entrepreneurs, government agencies, researchers, educators, and coffee professionals, every part of the industry has a role to play in creating a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Philippine coffee sector.
The event was made possible through the support of GCash as Platinum Sponsor; Alaska Professional and LANDBANK as Silver Sponsors; UCC Philippines, Allegro Beverage Corporation, Peace and Equity Foundation, Enviro Scope, Mayora, and BPI as Bronze Sponsors; and Curve Coffee Collaborators as Patron Sponsor.
What really stayed with me were the stories of resilience and hope. The speakers reminded us that sustainability is not just about coffee production. It’s also about the farmers, their families, their communities, and the future generations who will continue this beautiful industry.
We cannot build the future of Philippine coffee alone. Collaboration is key. When farmers, businesses, government, organizations, and consumers work together, we create opportunities that can benefit the entire coffee community.
I was also inspired by the conversations about innovation how new ideas, better farming practices, technology, knowledge-sharing, and stronger partnerships can help our coffee farmers adapt to challenges and continue producing quality Philippine coffee.
It made me realize that every cup we enjoy has so much more behind it than what we see. As someone who simply loves coffee, I left the congress with a deeper appreciation for what’s in my cup.
My mother may have passed on to me her love for coffee, but this experience reminded me that loving coffee can also mean appreciating and supporting the people who make every cup possible.
So the next time I enjoy my coffee, I know I'll be looking at it a little differently—not just as my favorite drink, but as a product of passion, perseverance, innovation, and collaboration.
Every cup starts with a farmer. Every bean carries a story. And every sip can be a reminder of the hard work, passion, and dreams of the people behind Philippine coffee.
Here’s to our Filipino coffee farmers, to the people working behind the scenes, and to everyone who continues to believe in the future of Philippine coffee.
Because the coffee we enjoy today is part of the future we are cultivating for tomorrow.
The 2nd Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress ultimately underscored one important message: the future of Philippine coffee depends on collaboration.
The event's media partners were Malaya Business Insight, BusinessMirror, and Manila Standard.
For more information about the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc., visit www.philcoffeeboard.com.












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