VIGAN CITY (PIA) — Highlighting the steady rise of the coffee industry of Ilocos Sur, the provincial government organized the first ever Coffee Festival dubbed “Kape De Ylocos: A Robusta Coffee Trade Fair 2022.”
The provincial government, through the Provincial Planning and Development Office along with the Ilocos Sur Export Enterprise and Development (ISEED) Marketing Cooperative, planned the week-long event from October 24 to 28, later extended until the 29th.
Over 13 coffee shops heeded the call of the organizers and made a profit of more than P200,000 at the closing of the coffee trade fair not including the sales made by the different local government units and coffee growers.
Mishelle San Miguel-Tongson, chair of ISEED Marketing Coop, said “We held this to encourage our coffee farmers and the local coffee shops to rise up after the pandemic. We hope our kababayans will support them together—our coffee growers from the upland municipalities and also the local coffee shops—to empower our coffee industry in the province.”
Ilocos Sur is home to nine coffee growing municipalities, namely, Sigay, Alilem, Cervantes, Gregorio Del Pilar, Quirino, Salcedo, San Emilio, Suyo, and Sugpon.
Among the coffee growers who were invited to the Coffee Festival is Mabini Ubuan of Sigay town, who gained acknowledgement in the industry after reigning victor to the Best Philippine-origin Robusta Coffee in the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition for two consecutive years since 2021.
“My role here is to explain the process of roasting coffee, I am grateful that our coffee shops in the province supports and uses our local coffee beans,” Ubuan said.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Sur Governor Jerry Singson boasted that the local coffee in the province is not only the best in the country but could probably be the best in the world too.
“Coffee is truly alive, especially in the upland municipalities. It is an identity of Ilocos Sur that truthfully, we should be proud of. The provincial government will support the coffee industry by all means,” said the governor.
Moreover, the festival also allowed the baristas from different coffee shops to showcase their talents during the latte art competition where the Amian Café finished as first placer, the Barastea coffee shop as the second place, and Double Drip won the third place.
Other competitions held were the Best in Specialty Coffee using local beans, Best Aroma, and Latte Art – Student Category.
On the second day, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Science and Technology joined the Sustainability Forum, together with Vice Governor Ryan Luis Singson, to discuss the technologies in coffee production and processing with the coffee growers. (JCR/AMB/ATV, PIA Ilocos Sur)
