IN the quiet highlands of Benguet, 22-year-old Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy is reshaping the Philippine coffee story. After a motor accident left his father unable to tend to his sayote farm, Rodyio took charge of their family’s neglected coffee trees in Sitio Talingguroy. What began as a way to support his family grew into a passion.
By 2025, his naturally processed Arabica beans captured national attention at the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition. With floral, lychee, and tropical notes, his crop scored 84.38 on the Specialty Coffee Association scale and fetched ₱9,900 per kilo—earning over ₱1.15 million. Rodyio proved that with innovation and grit, even a small mountain farm can yield world-class results.
This reminded me of a time in Basilan, where I encountered a similar passion. Then-Brigade Commander Colonel Charlie Galvez—now Secretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity—had developed a deep love for Basilan coffee.
During my visit to the 4th Special Forces Battalion, he sent me a package of locally grown beans. But his emissary was stopped at the gate due to camp protocol. Colonel Galvez called the battalion commander, then-Lieutenant Colonel now Brigadier General Eliglen Villaflor, and with a hint of “tampo”, said, “Ang hina ko na talaga sa iyo.” That gentle reproach worked like a charm—Ltc. Villaflor personally delivered the coffee to me that evening via one of his water assets, all the way to the Zamboanga International Airport.
In one of our conversations, Colonel Galvez spoke with conviction about Basilan coffee’s potential. “With the right packaging and consistent quality,” he said, “Basilan coffee can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the country. All we need is marketing and the right packaging.”
Now, as Secretary Galvez continues his mission of unity and peace in the country, I hope his early dreams for Basilan coffee take root. From the hills of Benguet to the valleys of Basilan, the Philippine coffee narrative is being brewed anew—steeped in hope and the belief that every bean carries a story worth sharing.
