BREWING A STRONGER COFFEE COMMUNITY
These partners include both public and private institutions and offices, which believe that a stronger and more productive coffee sector is the route towards a sustainable future for our coffee farmers. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The Department of Agriculture (DA) worked with PCBI on the Pilipinas Gising at Magkape (PGAM) Program from 2008 to 2010. That… Read More
WANT TO PLANT SOME COFFEE?
I planted my first coffee tree back in 1999 in a farm lent to us by a religious order somewhere in Tagaytay. But sadly, that property was taken over by urbanization and my tree was part of the sale. Then my next experiment was in Lucban, Quezon where we planted row upon row of Robusta… Read More
TRAINING FOR QUALITY
“Can you come over to Nueva Vizcaya next?” the ladies asked ECHOsi Chair Chit Juan. These ladies from Region 2, along with some women from Region 1, joined the Women in Coffee Training session held in Sagada mid-January, amid cool temperatures and chilly weather. The Philippine Coffee Board, Inc. (PCBI) and ECHOsi Foundation, with Philippine… Read More
PHILIPPINE WOMEN IN COFFEE
Just as coffee is a wonderful way to discover regional flavors with every sip, women in coffee are similarly amazing, with their diverse profiles and activities but united in their quest for quality in Philippine coffee. The Ultimate Coffee Guide raises a cup to salute these women and their achievements.
KAPE ISLA: RAISING AWARENESS FOR PHILIPPINE-GROWN COFFEE
“When the National Coffee Development Board (now the Philippine Coffee Board, Inc.) was first created, one of our challenges was to get consumers to focus on Philippine-grown coffee as opposed to imported coffees,” related PCBI founding trustee Guillermo Luz on the creation of the iconic Kape Isla seal. Luz pointed out that the group’s original… Read More
URC AND SULU COFFEE FARMERS: BREWING A PROJECT FOR PEACE
Princess Kumala “Lalah” Elardo dreams of peace and prosperity for her beloved Sulu. Determined to realize this dream, she embarked on projects that could help find livelihood opportunities for more people, particularly in coffee farming. She also searched for groups who share the same dream and found food and beverage company Universal Robina Corporation (URC).… Read More
7 STEPS TO HONEY-PROCESSED COFFEE BEANS
Honey processing has started to gain the spotlight to differentiate specialty coffee beans. The process refers to the honey-like liquid that is produced before drying. PICK RED Follow a strict “pick red” only harvesting protocol of coffee berries. FLOAT VERSUS SINK After the berries are washed, flotation of berries is conducted to separate the floaters… Read More
GENDER GAINS
The law mandates that at least 5% of the budget of government agencies and NGOs should be spent on Gender and Development (GAD) programs. Unfortunately, because of lack of knowledge, it is misused, underspent, or not used at all. GAD, however, is not just a matter of budget. It also ensures that there is gender… Read More
