Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) together with Department of Agriculture (DA), ACDI/VOCA, the Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia (BCAA), and Coffee Quality Institute, awarded the best coffee producers in the country through the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) Awarding Ceremony on 26 May 2021.

Considered as the most loved beverage by many worldwide, coffee was once again the focus of a recent nationwide event that enticed 103 coffee growers across the country to submit their entries for the 2021 PCQC. The annual competition is meant to assess and promote locally produced coffee to a bigger market, as well as improve local coffee production in the country through consultations and capacity-building activities.

DTI Regional Operations Group (ROG) Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona highlighted the importance of the PCQC as a response to the strategic objectives of the Philippine Coffee Roadmap, which is to improve competitiveness, increase market price, and enhance the quality standards for Philippine coffee. “It is the aspiration of the local coffee industry that the Philippine coffee, at the price that is commensurate to its quality and value proposition, will be the preferred coffee of local and international buyers. When this happens, the coffee growers and processors will be able to improve their income and eventually move out of poverty,” Undersecretary Lantayona added.

DTI-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Myrna P. Pablo, the DTI National Industry Cluster Coordinator for Coffee, commended the efforts of all parties involved and encouraged everyone to nurture and institutionalize the platform for coffee farmers in the country. RD Pablo noted that the participants joined the PCQC “because they believe in us and on what we can do to help them. They are here because they see life in coffee. Ika-nga, bukas ang kape, may bukas sa kape.“

Topping the list for Arabica according to rank are:

• 1^st Marites Arellano of Sitio Balutakay, Brgy. Managa, Bansalan Davao del Sur
• 2^nd Lendilou Loon of Alegre/Mahayahay, Bansalan, Davao del Sur
• 3^rd Jastine Mae Dubria of Sitio Balutakay, Brgy. Managa, Bansalan Davao del Sur
• 4^th Marifel dela Cerna of Sitio Balutakay, Brgy. Managa, Bansalan Davao del Sur
• 5^th George A. Dapliyan of Sagada, Mountain Province
• 6^th Maria Luz Dubria of Sitio Balutakay, Brgy. Managa, Bansalan Davao del Sur
• 7^th G Sip of Poblacion, Benguet
• 8^th Florencia Inojales of Sitio Balutakay, Brgy. Managa, Bansalan Davao del Sur
• 9^th Anielyn L. Tiongan of Lubas, Benguet
• 10^th Lim’s of Bontiway, Benguet
• 11^th Martes Alodos of Poblacion, Benguet
• 12^th Bumolo’s Integrated Farm of Poblacion, Nueva Vizcaya

For the Robusta Category:

• 1^st Mabini C. Ubuan of San Elias, Sigay, Ilocos Sur
• 2^nd Marielle M. Gannad of Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
• 3^rd Erlinda Dao-ayan of Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
• 4^th Rodolfo A. Aciong of Quirino, Ilocos Sur
• 5^th Juana Bitongan of Gregorio del Pilar, Ilocos Sur
• 6^th Pablo Helomoc of Pigtauranan, Bukidnon
• 7^th Carlo Casenillas of Pigtauranan, Bukidnon
• 8^th Rebecca Gacayan of Malegdeg, Sultan Kudarat
• 9^th Leonilda Dalogdog of Brgy. Marayag, Lupon, Davao Oriental
• 10^th Florentino Hermoso of Kaatu-an, Bukidnon
• 11^th Finca De Gabriela of Candumayao, Bohol
• 12^th Eljean Dagohoy of Pigtauranan, Bukidnon

The 103 coffee submissions were judged by the following professional coffee graders and cuppers:

Foreign Judges

1. Shaun Ong – Bettr Barista Academy, Singapore
2. Krude Che-Hao Lin – Head Judge of Taiwan National Coffee Evaluation
3. Adi W. Taroepratjek – Director, 5758 Coffee Lab – Indonesia / Q Arabica

Local Judges and Volunteers

1. Victor Bas – Q and R Grader, roaster, from Curve Coffee Collaborators
2. Andy Luyugoy – Head Roaster at Toby’s Estate Coffee Roasters Philippines
3. Roberto Francisco – Q Grader and Roaster, Head Instructor for the UCC Coffee Academy Philippines
4. Cherry Cruz – Q Arabica and Robusta Grader, Cupper, CQI Q Processing Professional, from Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia
5. Ronald Yu – Cupper and grader, founding president and chair of Coffee Collective of the Philippines, Inc. or (Philippine Coffee Guild)
6. Daniel Byron Pantoja – Cupper and Q grader, Vice President of Operations at Coffee for Peace
7. Emeline Sabado – Cupper and Licensed Q Grader, from ACDI/VOCA PhilCAFE Project
8. Gina Esperanza Ellorango – Cupper, co-owner of FROG Kaffee and Roastery
9. Marietta Claver – Cupper, Operations Manager at JAC Farms
10. Anj Ferreria Tan – Data and Competition Overseer, from BCAA

All winning coffee bags will be auctioned for local and international buyers.♦

Date of Release: 7 June 2021