Igorot coffee roaster is FIRST RUNNER-UP in 2025 Philippine Coffee Roasting Competition

Baguio City, Philippines - An Igorot coffee roaster from the Baguio City wins big in the national coffee scene after securing a spot in the prestigious Philippine Coffee Roasting Competition (PCRC) 2025, showcasing not only exceptional roasting skills but also the rich coffee heritage of the highlands.

The PCRC is an annual competition that brings together the nation’s finest roasters to highlight innovation and excellence in Philippine coffee. This year the contest was held from October 5 to 9 at the Sultan Kudarat Convention Center in Tacurong City.

Representing the Red Soil Coffee, Jeric Gumpic ranked first runner-up in said roasting competition, only a spot away from Bruce Bryan Rubio of Bukidnon, who was named the overall champion.

Jeric bested 13 other top-tier roasters from across the country in a showcase of precision, creativity, and passion for the craft.

In a heartfelt post, Jeric shared on social media his thoughts on being just one place away from the championship and gave heartfelt thanks to those who stood by him, saying, “... sayang lang kinulang nang konti, piru dibali. I still have much to learn, and I'm eager to learn more. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Other roasters who took home awards included Arnel Banuag of Cagayan de Oro City who emerged as the 2nd runner-up; Kelvin Lim of Panabo City, Davao del Norte (3rd Runner-Up); and Joey Maravillas from Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat (4th Place).

Held alongside the Southeast Asian (SEA) Green Coffee Competition and the Philippine Coffee Innovation Summit, said event was organized by the Filipino Coffee Institute (FCI), drawing participants and stakeholders from across Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines.