Out of Town Blog
Davao Through Coffee and Cacao
There are so many reasons to visit Davao. You have the beaches, highlands, food, and culture. But there is more waiting here. On my recent visit to the region, I gained a deeper appreciation for coffee and cacao, not just as drinks or desserts but as windows into a way of life.
The Coffee and Cacao Tour, organized by Cebu Pacific Air and the Department of Tourism Region XI, with on-ground arrangements from Cybercribs Trips and Tours and Ces Travel and Tours, filled us not just with delicious brews and bars but also with stories of change, hope, and homegrown success.
From our home base in Davao City, at Park Inn by Radisson Davao, we followed the story of coffee and cacao from seed to cup and from pod to bar. It was one of the most meaningful journeys I have ever taken.
The coffee leg of the tour began in Barangay Catigan in Davao City, where we visited the Bagobo Tagabawa Coffee Nursery Farm. The community welcomed us warmly. They walked us through their nursery and shared how coffee has become a source of livelihood and pride. The highlight of this visit was planting our own coffee tree, which made us feel part of the cultural community’s story.
From the nursery, we traveled to Balutakay in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, to meet Marivic Dubria, the celebrated Coffee Queen of Davao. Her story was one of strength and transformation. From being a beneficiary of the 4Ps program, she has become an award-winning Arabica producer whose beans are now internationally recognized. She leads a cooperative, trains other farmers, and continues to prove what is possible when women are given the chance to lead.
Later, in Kapatagan, we visited the Coffee for Peace Training Center. The organization was born out of a conflict that was resolved through a simple conversation over coffee. That peace talk became a movement, and today, the center trains Indigenous and local farmers not just in coffee processing but also in using coffee as a platform for healing and dialogue.
We joined a hands-on session and learned about different processing methods, including wet, dry, and honey. Alwin, one of the farmers we met, shared how coffee…
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