MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/ 03 June 2025)—Coffee farmers in Bukidnon were once again recognized in the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition this year at One Ayala, Makati City, May 9.
The annual competition evaluates the Philippine green coffee beans, which were roasted and cupped, and then assessed in quality, flavor, acidity, and sweetness according to standard protocols.
Manolito Garces of Finca de Garces in Pangantucan garnered the top spot in the Arabica Estate Farm category. His coffee, grown on the foothills of Mount Kalatungan, achieved a cupping score of 84.02.
Meanwhile, Adelina Tarino of the Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Malaybalay claimed second spot with a cupping score of 82.94. They grow their coffee within the Ancestral domain of the Daraghuyan Bukidnon tribe.
The two topped all 69 entries for Arabica, which is noted for its more complex flavor profile—sweet, nutty, fruity, and floral—and more expensive cost.
PCQC 2025 also recorded 109 Robusta, seven Excelsa, and one Liberica entries, with a total of 186 entries.
Smallholder Arabica Farms
In the Smallholder Arabica Farm category, five more farmers from the province placed in the Top 12.
Fourth Place: Maynard Joseph Garces of Granja Alegre (Pangantucan, Bukidnon)
Eighth Place: Carmelino Debalde of MILALITTRA Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (Talakag, Bukidnon)
Ninth Place: Fernando Enecito of MILFACO (Talakag, Bukidnon)
Tenth Place: Jocelyn Sulatan of MILFACO (Talakag, Bukidnon)
Eleventh Place: Regino Omarol of Inhandig Tribal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Malaybalay, Bukidnon)
Special citations
Aside from the main awards, special citations were also given to Jocelyn Sulatan for Best Honey Processed Arabica; Corazon Llauderes of Impalutao Dalwangan Sawaga ARC from Malaybalay City for Experimental Coffee (Arabica); and Carlo Casenillas of Bayanihan Millenium MPC from Pangantucan for Experimental Coffee (Robusta).
PCQC is one of the major events of the Philippine Coffee Expo held on May 9-11, 2025. (With reports from Julie Nieva/DTI-10)