Kalinga Brewers Excellence: FOUR iKalinga coffee producers secure top spots in North Luzon Coffee Quality Competition

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Known for its rich tradition of authentic and traditionally brewed coffee, Kalinga Province has once again proven the quality of its locally grown beans after four coffee producers from the province secured top spots in the recently concluded 2026 North Luzon Coffee Quality Competition (NLCQC).

The achievement further strengthened Kalinga’s reputation as one of Northern Luzon’s emerging coffee capitals.

The NLCQC is a regional event that recognizes the best Arabica and Robusta coffee beans produced in Northern Luzon. It gathers coffee farmers, cooperatives, and producers—mainly from the Cordillera Administrative Region and nearby provinces—to have their beans professionally evaluated through standardized processes such as green bean grading, roasting, and blind cupping.

During this year’s competition held on May 21 at The Orchard Hotel in Baguio City, Kalinga stood out among 63 coffee entries, earning top placements in both the Arabica and Robusta categories. Notably, two iKalinga coffee producers emerged as Top 1 winners in their respective categories.

Arabica and Robusta are the two main coffee species grown and traded globally. Arabica is known for its smoother, sweeter, and more aromatic flavor, while Robusta is recognized for its stronger, bolder taste and higher caffeine content.

In the Arabica category, Erwin C. Mangaoang of Hidden Hills Regenerative Coffee Farm in Balbalasang, Balbalan topped the competition with a cupping score of 85.5. In the Robusta category, Olivia Imperial of the Gawidan Malin-awaan Marketing Cooperative (GMMC) in Tabuk City shared the top spot with Joan Dulagan of the Tiblac Farmers Agricultural Cooperative in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya after both earned a score of 85.06.

Meanwhile, two other iKalinga coffee producers also secured spots among the top performers. Estrella Balnao, last year’s Robusta champion, and Filisa Batawang, both from GMMC, placed fourth and ninth, respectively, in the Robusta category.

The strong performance of Kalinga coffee producers in the regional competition highlights the dedication of local farmers and cooperatives in improving coffee quality through a blend of traditional farming practices and modern processing standards. Their achievements continue to elevate Kalinga’s standing as a major coffee-producing province in Northern Luzon and a growing force in the Philippine coffee industry.