22/05/2026
| 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐋 𝐜𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Kalinga coffee farmers emerged among the top winners in this year’s North Luzon Coffee Quality Competition (NLCQC), securing top honors in both the Arabica and Robusta categories during the awarding ceremony held on May 21, 2026 in Baguio City.
In the Arabica category, Kalinga produced the highest-ranking entry, while in the Robusta division, a Kalinga coffee entry shared the top spot with an entry from Nueva Vizcaya. A total of 63 entries from Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) supported coffee producers across North Luzon were evaluated for this year’s competition.
The competition gathered coffee producers from across Northern Luzon to recognize high-quality Arabica and Robusta beans and further promote the cluster’s growing coffee industry.
In the Arabica category, Erwin C. Mangaoang of Hiddenhills Regenerative Coffee Farms in Balbalasang, Balbalan, Kalinga ranked first with a cupping score of 85.5. Shiela L. Patong and Joyce Busoy, both members of the Sagada Arabica Coffee Growers and Processors Organization (SACGPO) in Mountain Province, tied for second place with a score of 83.58, while Geoffrey B. Palao-ay of the Tuba Benguet Coffee Growers Organization (TUBENGCOGA) placed third with a score of 83.50.
In the Robusta category, Olivia Imperial of the Gawidan Malin-awaan Marketing Cooperative (GMMC) in Tabuk City, Kalinga shared the top rank with Joan Dulagan of the Tiblac Farmers Agricultural Cooperative in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, both earning a cupping score of 85.06. Estrella Balnao, also from GMMC and last year’s NLCQC Robusta champion, placed fourth with a score of 84.44.
Robusta champion Olivia Imperial shared that she also joined the competition last year, but did not land a place.
“Naki-compete ak met idi last year ngem haanak nga napagasatan ket haanak nga naawanan ti namnama, sige pay agingga nga mangabak,” Imperial said, adding that she hopes to encourage her children and fellow coffee growers in their community to produce better-quality coffee that can command higher prices in the market.
Other entries from the Cordillera, including members of several coffee-producing groups such as SACGPO, TUBENGCOGA, GMMC, Northern Hill Farmers Association, Mountain Province Arabica Coffee Enterprise, and Conner Multipurpose Cooperative, also made it to the top 10 of their respective categories.
The NLCQC sessions were conducted on April 29–30 for green bean grading, May 4 for roasting, and May 6–7 for blind cupping. These were undertaken by professionals composed of CQI Q Arabica and Robusta graders, SCA CVA cuppers, and a master roaster.
The event, spearheaded by DA-PRDP North Luzon in partnership with the Regional Project Coordination Offices (Regions CAR, 1, & 2), DTI, Benguet State University (BSU), and the Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia (BCAA), concluded with a coffee forum and awarding ceremony held from May 20 to 21, 2026 in Baguio City.
Following the competition, the coffee lots that made it to the top 10 of each category will be auctioned through an online platform and awarded to the winning bidders. # # # (Elvy T. Estacio, RPCO CAR)
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For more information regarding the auction, interested buyers may send a message to the official page of DA-PRDP North Luzon: PRDP – North Luzon ().
