Tabuk Coffee farmer is 2025 National Gawad Saka awardee

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Engr. Sunshine Sacki-Molintas, a dedicated coffee farmer in Tabuk City, brought home the National Gawad Saka Award, an annual honor given by the Department of Agriculture to outstanding Filipino farmers/fisherfolks.

Sunshine, who produces high-quality Robusta Coffee, was among the few from across the country who received the award from President Ferdinand “ Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the awarding ceremony held on June 30 in Munoz, Nueva Ecija.

The lady coffee farmer is an  Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer but explained that coffee farming isn’t just something she returned to, rather it is something that has always been a part of her.

Growing up in household where coffee trees surrounded their family farm, she witnessed how the crop provided income and stability for her family.

“ I grew up in a community where coffee was not just a crop—it was a way of life. Our family farm, surrounded by coffee trees and fruit-bearing trees, was a familiar and nurturing environment. My mother was into coffee farming as one of our sources of income, and I saw firsthand how this humble crop could sustain a family, provide livelihood, and connect people with the land,” Sunshine relayed during an interview Guru Press Cordillera.

“...What truly propelled me to take coffee farming seriously—beyond just nostalgia or family legacy—was the realization of its greater potential. The global coffee market continues to grow, and this opens up economic opportunities, especially for smallholder farmers like us,” she added.

While Sunshine pursued a career in engineering, her heart never left the coffee farm. She said her path to farming wasn’t accidental but was a realization that coffee has the power not just to generate income, but to transform communities and protect nature.

“ More than just income generation, coffee farming contributes significantly to climate change mitigation and sustainable landscape management. When practiced responsibly, it protects the environment, supports biodiversity, and enhances soil and water conservation. It’s a vocation that aligns both with livelihood and stewardship of creation,” she said.

Sunshine, in her message, encouraged young farmers to see agriculture not as a last resort but as vital path to creating change in their own communities.

“Embrace your roots and see farming not just as tradition, but as a powerful tool for change. In coffee farming and agriculture in general, there is great potential—not only to earn a living, but to care for the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future. Combine your passion with knowledge, stay curious, and be open to innovation. Farming today is both a livelihood and a calling—and you have the power to make it thrive. Be an asset to this country, not a liability!,” she concluded.