MAKATI CITY — In a remarkable display of agricultural prowess, five coffee farmer-processors from the Soccsksargen region clinched top honors at the prestigious Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) 2024, held on June 7-9.
The announcement of the PCQC winners took place at ONE Ayala in Makati City on June 9, during the Philippine Coffee Expo culmination program.
This year’s event saw Region 12 emerge as a coffee quality powerhouse.
Flora Politud-Gabunales, the regional director of DTI in Region 12, expressed joy that one of the coffee farmer-processors from Soccsksargen finally won first place after many years of participating in the competition.
Politud-Gabunales said she is delighted at “the recognition of one of Region 12’s coffee entries as the best Robusta coffee in the country, following numerous attempts and interventions by DTI-12 and our partner agencies.”
Sultan Kudarat’s Robusta coffee entrants amazed the judges, securing four awards out of the top twelve entries. Cotabato province’s Arabica variety also made a strong impression, with one entry earning accolades.
Leading the pack were the Basco brothers, Rey John and Roan, who achieved first and second place with impressive scores of 86.45 and 86.43, respectively.
Tagging along were Denz Bert Deramos and Orlando Bayudan, who finished fifth with an 84.85 and sixth with an 84.68.
Adding to the region’s triumph, Ylaine Joyce Giangan of Makilala, Cotabato, bagged sixth place in the Arabica category with an 83.94 score.
In addition to ranking first, Rey John’s natural processing method earned him the title of sole winner in the Robusta coffee processing category.
“This award represents a milestone not just for us, the dedicated coffee farmers, but it also serves to elevate the stature of Sultan Kudarat’s coffee on a broader scale. The accolade bestowed upon us by the PCQC is instrumental in broadening our market reach and promoting the distinct flavors of Soccsksargen’s coffee,” Rey John said.
Rey John is an excellent farmer, and his expertise extends to being a certified Q Robusta Grader and Q Processor.
He stands out among the young farmers in his community as a passionate advocate for high-quality coffee, dedicating his wins to his fellow coffee farmers in Soccsksargen, particularly in Sultan Kudarat.
“Above all, this honor serves as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging a new generation of farmers to embrace the competition and strive for excellence in coffee production,” he added, evoking hope for other young, aspiring coffee farmers.
Basco was among the Q Professionals who received the prestigious “Exceptional Coffee Processor” award at the 2023 Philippine Coffee Expo for his significant contributions to the Philippine coffee sector.
Meanwhile, Deramos has qualified nationally for the Department of Agriculture’s Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) 2023 in the production category, and Giangan has emerged as a regional winner in the processing category, underscoring the region’s dedication to excellence in coffee farming and processing.
All four top winners hail from Sultan Kudarat, specifically from the Municipality of Senator Ninoy Aquino, locally known as Kulaman.
Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu, who graced the event, said that he is “happy and proud” that the province has finally secured the top spot in this year’s PCQC.
The official described the achievement as highlighting the farmers’ exceptional performance and passion to produce good-quality coffee for the local coffee industry in the region.
He expressed confidence that this recognition will greatly enhance the visibility of Sultan Kudarat’s coffee at the prominent national coffee event, extending his gratitude to all the participating farmers and stakeholders while also reaffirming his 100 percent support for the coffee industry.
The recognition at PCQC 2024 underscored Soccsksargen’s role as a leader in the Philippine coffee industry, promising a rich future for the nation’s coffee culture.
According to Philippine Statistics Authority data from 2021, Sultan Kudarat province is the Philippines’ top coffee producer, accounting for 35 percent of the country’s total coffee production.
The provincial government of Sultan Kudarat is actively working with various government agencies to promote the area as the “Coffee Capital of the Philippines.”
With support from the government, the private sector, and donor-funded projects, the PCQC is an annual event that aims to identify and promote the highest-quality coffees in the country.
Furthermore, PCQC aims to elevate Philippine coffees by conducting evaluations that align with the grading and profiling protocols of the Coffee Quality Institute.
It also seeks to make the country’s coffee known in both local and international markets.
The three-day coffee expo gathered coffee enthusiasts and industry stakeholders to feature their latest products, emerging trends, and insights from international coffee experts.
Organized by the Philippine Coffee Guild (PCG), the expo attracted over 1,000 attendees to its Kape’t Kwentuhan Series, in addition to more than 70 exhibitors and nearly 8,000 industry stakeholders.
It also included a variety of activities designed to foster a vibrant network among coffee experts on a local and global scale.
Aside from the Kape’t Kwentuhan (Coffee Talks), the expo also featured a coffee exhibition, business matching and product demonstration sessions, roasters-producers forum, and cupping rooms for tasting.
Moreover, competitions like the Duo Latte Art Challenge, the Signature Coffee Beverage Challenge, and the Fine Robusta Brewing Contest added luster to the event.
The much-anticipated Philippine Coffee Quality Competition Awards capped the event, celebrating the country’s pinnacle and essence of coffee excellence. (Genory Vanz Alfasain/Soccsksargen Coffee Council/PIA SarGen)
