Julia Christine Botin

Benguet farmer sets new record price for Philippine coffee

Article (news)

Jeeves De Veyra

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747124742046New Project (2).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy and the other winners of this year&#x27;s Philippine Coffee Quality Competition. <em>Handout </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- This was a record-breaking year for Philippine coffee as Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) winner for small estate farms, Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy, sold his green coffee beans for P9,900 per kilo at the auction held during the recent Philippine Coffee Expo.</p><p>This broke the previous record of US$91 set during the 2023 PCQC. </p><p>This was only Tacdoy’s second time to enter his coffee at the PCQC having joined last year. At that time, the Benguet farmer was already cited as the youngest farmer ever to participate when he was just 19 years old.</p><p>Tacdoy was awarded the best natural processed Arabica -- and deservedly so. When cupped alongside the other wiinners, it stood out for its intense fruity candy aroma that made its way onto the cup as tropical fruits and florals and lychee. </p><p>Why would anyone pay this much for coffee?</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747124797933New Project (3).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cherry Cruz of Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation. <em>Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><p>Winning bidder Cherry Cruz, founder and coffee visionary of Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation, answered “Why not?” in a lengthy social media post. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Feqcherry%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0332rJ3oyNaKF9fb2TJAWCAzLUjd5i9oYhC2Vu9pup7WAAKkeDtheADXBC2GdSV5nPl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="233" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>She further cited the effect of this win on the young coffee farmers in the northern region.</p><p>“He can inspire other young farmers from the North. His win should awaken them and tell them, their time has come. The youth of his region need to do something with their coffees,” Cruz said.</p><p>Tacdoy’s coffee will eventually be available under the company’s specialty coffee arm, Curve Coffee Collaborators.</p><p>The PCQC is organized in collaboration with the Peace and Equity Foundation, Barista Coffee Academy of Asia, Philippine Coffee Council Advisory Board, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Agriculture. Coffee beans from around the country are submitted for roasting, evaluation, and ranking by local and foreign coffee experts.</p><p>Mel Garcia, current chairman of the Philippine Coffee Guild, the body that organizes the annual Philippine Coffee Expo, observed that this year’s results were a reminder for the producers not to be complacent as after several years of Mindanao taking the top spots in the Arabica and Robusta rankings, it was Northern Luzon&#x27;s time to shine.</p><p>Coffee producers pushing new methods and processes to level up their coffee were also recognized with the Experimental Citations.</p><p>While Benguet took the top spot, Mindanao was well represented by Davao, Bukidnon, and emerging coffee region, Lanao Del Sur.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747124951148New Project (4).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Participants at a cupping session at the Philippine Coffee Expo. <em>Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span></div><div><strong>ARABICA – Smallholder Farms</strong></div><p>1.  RODYIO TUBAL TACDOY - Benguet</p><p>2. ROQUITA DELA CERNA – Davao del Sur</p><p>3. ULDARICO DEGUILMO – Davao del Sur</p><p>4. MAYNARD JOSEPH N. GARCES - Bukidnon</p><p>5. MARIFEL SOR DELA CERNA  - Davao Del Sur</p><p>6. GARETH LIKIGAN – Sagada, Mt. Province</p><p>7. SAMUEL M. OCHEA JR. – Lanao Del Sur</p><p>8. CARMELINO DEBALDE - Bukidnon</p><p>9. FERNANDO ENECITO - Bukidnon</p><p>10. JOCELYN SULATAN - Bukidnon</p><p>11. REGINO D. OMAROL – Bukidnon</p><p>12. NESTOR LABARQUEZ – Lanao Del Sur</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ARABICA – Estate Farms</strong></div><p>1. MANOLITO GARCES  -  Bukidnon</p><p>2. ADELINA D. TARINO- Bukidnon</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ARABICA - BEST PROCESS:</strong></div><p><strong>Natural:</strong> RODYIO TUBAL TACDOY</p><p><strong>Washed:</strong> GARETH LIKIGAN</p><p><strong>Honey:</strong> JOCELYN SULATAN</p><div><br/><strong>ARABICA - EXPERIMENTAL CITATIONS</strong></div><p>1. CHERRY GIL CABANDAY</p><p>2. MAUREEN F. BALANSAG</p><p>3. JOSEPHINE LIBRES</p><p>4. GNASH RYLAND L. LAWAGEY</p><p>5. CORAZON LLAUDERES</p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747125001668New Project (5).jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Ilocos Sur booth at the Philippine Coffee Expo.<em> Jeeves de Veyra </em></span></span></span> </div><p>Northern Luzon continues its winning streak with Ilocos Sur farmers on the top four slots of the Robusta rankings. The robusta here is very different from the dark brews that we’re used to. These were cupped light to medium roast with sweet, fruity, even fermented notes for some of these finalists.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROBUSTA – Smallholder Farms</strong></div><p>1. KRYSRTEL ANNE A. LAMES – Ilocos Sur</p><p>2. ROWELA S. LAMES – Ilocos Sur</p><p>3. JEOMAR U. ABAOAG – Ilocos Sur</p><p>4. MABINI UBUAN – Ilocos Sur</p><p>5. ORLANDO N. BAYUDAN – Sultan Kudarat</p><p>6. JOEY T. MARAVILLAS – Sultan Kudarat</p><p>7. GUMANA PANTALAN – Sultan Kudarat</p><p>8. DEXTER P. DAPLAYAN – Ilocos Sur</p><p>9. JEAR ABSALON  – Sultan Kudarat</p><p>10. DESIREE GRACE ARZAGON – Sultan Kudarat</p><p>11. MARIETA LIDEM – Ilocos Sur</p><p>12. REYJOHN BASCO – Sultan Kudarat</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROBUSTA – Estate Farms</strong></div><p>1. EDILBERTO B. RAMOS – Sultan Kudarat</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROBUSTA BEST PROCESS</strong></div><p><strong>Natural: </strong> KRYSRTEL ANNE A. LAMES – Ilocos Sur</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ROBUSTA EXPERIMENTAL COFFEE CITATIONS</strong></div><p>1. JULIET B. MORALES</p><p>2. CARLO T. CASENILLAS</p><div><br/></div><p>Excelsa coffee was included in the PCQC for the first time. Veteran coffee farmer Jose C. Del Fiero from Claveria, Misamis Oriental was given a citation for this category.</p>

<p>This was a record-breaking year for Philippine coffee after Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy sold his green coffee beans for P9,900 per kilo at the auction held during the recent Philippine Coffee Expo.</p>

This was a record-breaking year for Philippine coffee after Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy sold his green coffee beans for P9,900 per kilo at the auction held during the recent Philippine Coffee Expo.