LA TRINIDAD, Benguet (PIA) -- From cacao pods to cacao beans, tablea to mint chocolates, hot chocolate to cacao vinegar, Cordillera has gone loco on choco. 

Benguet State University recently hosted the 1st Cordillera Chocolate Festival where micro, small, and medium enterprises had the opportunity to promote their cacao-based products. The event was also organized to further push for the development of the local cacao industry.

Among the exhibitors during the festival is the Kaplea Kapangan Tablea, which is among the winners of the 70 percent dark chocolate competition in the festival.

Judilyn Bitayan of Kaplea Kapangan said their products are unique because they practice farm-to-bar or farm-to-products manufacturing.

“Pag kami ang nag-harvest, kami na rin ang nagpro-process. 'Yung ginagamit namin is direct namin na kinukuha sa farm. Ang ginagamit na asukal is diretso rin from sugarcane na galing sa farm [We also do the processing after harvest. The ingredients we use come directly from the farm. Even the sugar we use comes directly from the sugarcane planted on the farm]," Bitayan shared.

One of their products is a skin moisturizer made from cacao oil. She said aside from skin care, the product is also edible.

Sabdang Brew, another exhibit participant, showcased cacao vinegar which is made from the juice of cacao beans. 

Grace Camarillo said their tablea which is 100 percent made of cacao stands out. She explained that the prices of their products are a bit higher due to the lengthy process from pods to finished products which often takes 21 to 23 days.

The participants expressed their gratitude to the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology, and other agencies that have assisted them in terms of training and equipment to be able to produce chocolates and other cacao products.

"May mga equipment na ibinigay ang DOST, 'yun ang ginagamit namin. 'Yung raw materials, we get from different farmers in our place [We have equipment from the DOST which we used. We get our raw materials from our local farmers]," Camarillo shared.

The 1st Cordillera Chocolate Festival was hosted by Dulche Chocolates Inc., a startup funded by the DOST- Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development  through its Women Helping Women Innovating Social Enterprises Program, in collaboration with the DTI,DA,DOST, BSU and the Benguet Congressional Office. (DEG-PIA CAR with Gabriel Madriaga-SLU Intern)