The kismet meeting of Pacita Juan, President of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) in the Philippines, with then IWCA President Phyllis Johnson started the cause of IWCA Philippines “to get more women to access markets and to let women get the full value of their work in coffee.” Juan said, “It has been a good seven years.”

Chapter heads of IWCA

Another fateful meeting right after was with Princess Kumala Sug-Elardo, the chair of a women-led multipurpose cooperative in Panamao, Sulu. Then there was a gathering of several women leaders passionate about coffee—including café owners Lot Manalo-Tan and Reena Francisco, research professional Josephine Ramos, and coffee processor Christine Abellon—that united and formed the IWCA Philippines chapter.

As beautiful as the coffee process is—from sourcing beans to planting to harvesting to roasting—the IWCA story unfolded beautifully to reveal how a single coffee bean can bring women to work together towards one purpose. Women are at their best when they come together. As a team, like clockwork, exhibited their coffee expertise, the “Women in Coffee” (WIC) brand came into fruition. Imagine each woman as a color in an exquisite tapestry, weaving across one another, either supporting or taking the lead. What a vivid and creative picture it brings!

IWCA-Philippines founders

Juan recalled how each one beautifully wove in together: “We met Ross Alonso, a Robusta farmer from Batangas; Noemi Dado and her daughter Marielle, who wanted to plant coffee in Benguet; Imelda Ahalul-Dagus, who started Dennis Coffee Garden in Zamboanga; Gold Quetulio, who would take care of our membership campaign; and many others who signed up because they believed in our advocacy.”

Imelda Ahalul-Dagus

Every year since 2012, Sug-Elardo has promoted during the harvest season the “Pick Red” campaign in Sulu as Juan and Nicky Matti would do the same in Benguet. The years 2014 to 2016 saw the purchase and transport of jute sacks to the Cordilleras. The coffee beans, in all forms such as parchment, green or roasted, were also purchased for the WIC brand. The brands Sulu Royal Coffee of Sug-Elardo and the Commune of Ros Juan were also launched.

The best part was providing jobs for women and encouraging them to participate in the advocacy with their coffee skills and talents. To continue building the women and the coffee culture, IWCA partnered with other agencies and NGOs; ACDI/VOCA, ECHOsi Foundation, and the DA’s Gender and Development (GAD) Office. Together, IWCA and its partners developed trainings under the “Women in Coffee” banner.

IWCA traveled to Davao, Butuan City, Sagada, Sultan Kudarat, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Cavite, Ifugao, and Kalinga to communicate coffee about, with and through women. There were quality coffee talks from all sectors, from women farmer groups to women cuppers to women tasters.

With the involvement of USAID’s Green Invest in 2018, IWCA has now gained momentum after a decade’s work. IWCA conducted studies for women in the coffee sector in the country and internationally through the International Institute for Environment and Development’s (IIED) commissioning to research and write case studies for journals. IWCA Philippines has grown and extended its reach with esteemed international partners such as the ASEAN Coffee Federation, who opened its conference and exhibition doors for IWCA in Cafe Asia in Singapore (March) and in the THAIFEX in Bankok (May).

Truly, the role that women and coffee continue to play together is this: “The mission is not just to upgrade the quality of coffee, but to use it to uplift the lives of the people in the community.”

written by Ann Kuy

“Especially if it rains,” adds her cousin, Nurul-In Minajul Sali, who is also wiping her tears. “The roads are muddy. Now, our community earned enough funds to have it cemented.”

That’s how the pendulum swings from tears of anguish to tears of joy. As Mimie looks back, she never realized that she could earn a college degree. “Thanks to coffee, I did, and I’m hopeful that my younger siblings will also graduate.” They recently finished their Hotel and Restaurant Management degree at the Immaculate Conception Archdiocese School in Zamboanga City. They are also new members of the International Women’s Coffee Alliance-Philippine chapter.

We did not know that our coffee is Robusta and that we were blessed to have civet roaming freely in our town. Princess (Kumala Sug-Elardo), our leader, discovered the proper way from the National Coffee Summit. She shared it with us. Now it’s our turn to teach it to the young ones,” says Nurul-In Minajul Sali (shown in photo with Mimie Alyub Sali)

The first time I met them was at the Philippine International Convention Center where they sold Sulu Royal Coffee at the GREAT Women in ASEAN trade showcase. It was fitting because the ECHOsi Foundation and the GREAT Women Project, back in 2014, had brought trainers to teach them and other young girls in their community to make grass and nipa baskets. These baskets were used as packaging materials for their coffee. Eventually, the men, the military and the other adults also participated because they were able to earn, and the additional income led to peace in their community.

From basket making, they learned the proper way to plant, harvest and process coffee. They reveal that the trainings instilled the importance of doing things the right way or they will have to do the process all over again. With bulk orders from Cotabato, Basilan, and additional orders from the Philippines and even from Canada, they managed their time wisely. They used the money they had earned for the school needs of their siblings like books and shoes. Mimie and Nurul-In also brought new phones to communicate with fellow IWCA-Ph members, eager to learn more.

I’m amazed at how they use their time, talent and money wisely. It’s a cycle of women helping women in IWCA-Ph―and I’m thirsty to learn more inspiring stories like this for The Ultimate Coffee Guide.

(article by Goldweene Quetulio / photos by Keith Dador)