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Pioneers honored as PH coffee gains global recognition

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Jeeves de Veyra

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer.jpg"/><figcaption>PCBI officers and the winners of the 1st Coffee Cup Of Distinction Awards pose for a group photo. <em>Jeeves de Veyra</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- The Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PBCI) recently honored &quot;pillars&quot; of the local coffee industry with the 1st Coffee Cup Of Distinction Awards at a special coffee dinner at the Dusit Thani Makati hotel.</p><p>“We haven’t looked back to who started coffee trading and roasting 30-40 years ago. We’ve been doing conferences and summits for the past 10 years. But this time, we felt we needed to look back who’s been supporting the coffee industry for the longest time.” noted PCBI president and co-chair Pacita Juan.</p><p>Juan shared that the Philippines is poised to become the next coffee “origin.” Aside from being one of only a few countries that produce all four varieties of coffee -- Arabica, Robusta, Liberica, and Excelsa -- the industry is shifting from commodity coffee to specialty coffee. Philippine coffee beans have started scoring over 80 on a scale of 100 on specialty coffee ratings. Coffee connoisseurs all over the world have also specifically started asking for fine robusta and specialty arabica from the Philippines.</p><p>Besides the traditional coffee-producing regions like Benguet and Batangas, Juan also recognized emerging coffee-producing provinces such as Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur, Bohol, Cebu, Maguindanao, Sulu, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.</p><p>The awardees have all contributed to this growth. They received a trophy created by Davao artist Ann Pamintuan made from a single strip of metal mimicking a steaming cup of coffee.</p><p>After the award ceremony, PCBI and the Dusit Hospitality College inked a strategic alliance to provide coffee education for the next generation of coffee entrepreneurs. Besides technical courses on coffee growing and business-oriented courses, there will be classes about cooking with coffee as an ingredient. </p><p>Chef Cyrille Soenen showed off some his savory coffee entrees during the awards dinner.</p><p>Here are this year&#x27;s awardees. </p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/11/24/pioneer5.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Ernest De Leon Escaler has had the privilege of tasting the best coffees from around the world. Through a commodity trading business that was started in the early &#x27;80s, he selected the best coffee beans from farmers around the country and brought them to the US. That commodity trading business grew into what is now Gourmet’s Coffee that built the first commercial roasting facility in the country.<cite> Handout photo</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Jose Mercado joked that he was born in a coffee sack, under a coffee tree. He started as a coffee farmer, then went on to become a trader and a roaster. In 1974, he started roasting and blending his own coffee line which would become Café Barako de Lipa. Mercado is also behind the Café De Lipa coffee shops that can be seen around the country today.<cite> Handout photo</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Enrile (posthumous) and Evelyn Asuncion leveraged on their close working relationship with Silang coffee farmers to establish Evrile Enterprises. From Cavite, they started sourcing beans from the Mountain Province and Mindanao. By 1988, they were the fourth biggest exporter of coffee beans to the US. In 2010, the business evolved into The Silca Coffee Roasting Company which produces the brands SilCafe and Kickstart which are available at supermarkets and groceries nationwide.<cite> Handout photo</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dr. Amado Silva took over his father’s coffee trading business in 1977. This was at a time when coffee beans were only available at wet markets and the potent barako brew was only known by Batangueño coffee drinkers. Rather than sell beans to traders, Silva opted to sell the beans himself. He helped put barako coffee beans on the grocery and supermarket shelves through his Siete Baracos label.<cite> Handout photo</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dr. Benjamin Dimas established the Benguet State Institute of Highland Farming Systems and Agroforestry of Benguet State University back in 1977, pioneering unheard of methods such as planting coffee trees under pine trees. The Benguet Pine Production system was adopted all throughout the Cordillera Region yielding the much sought after Benguet Arabica beans.<cite> Handout photo</cite></p></div></div></div>

<p>The Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PBCI) recently honored "pillars" of the local coffee industry with the 1st Coffee Cup Of Distinction Awards at a special coffee dinner at the Dusit Thani Makati hotel.</p>

The Philippine Coffee Board Inc. (PBCI) recently honored "pillars" of the local coffee industry with the 1st Coffee Cup Of Distinction Awards at a special coffee dinner at the Dusit Thani Makati hotel.