The Brew comes Home

Baguio-Mt. Provinces Musuem Curator Leonor San Agustin and former Baguio Mayor Viriginia De Guia, with owners Mary Grace Arboleda and Frank Young, unravel the tapis for the Cordillera Coffee opening at SM Baguio. With them are SM Mall Asst. Managers Amy Gonzales and Marc Janssen-Pe. Photo by Redjie of PIA.

It will be a month now after the much awaited grand opening of Cordillera Coffee in Baguio City, our first store in the Cordillera! From its small beginnings in 2003, Cordillera Coffee Company has been actively seeking new investment opportunities to spread the word about the best mountain coffee in the country! Last year we opened a shop in the River City, promoting arts and culture through various exhibitions, workshops, and talks.

What better way to expand and enlarge territories than going back to where our coffee belongs? The Cordillera region is home to a rich culture, a diverse people full of pride for their motherland. The region is of course home to the Cordillera Arabica, its shady mountains giving just the right climate and elevation for growing coffee beans.

19th of May marked the inauguration of the Cordillera Coffee shop in Baguio City. It has been a challenge and a worthy endeavour putting the place together -- recruiting and training a new CordiCoffee team, selecting pieces for the shop, enjoining artists for the art exhibition, the list goes on...

We say thank you to those who have been part of the opening night. For your presence and support, we cannot thank you enough. To those who were unable to attend because of geographical distance and other circumstances, we understand. We know you were there with us in spirit.

Tawid ti Cordillera leads the celebration

Ruel Bimuyag with friends

Tommy Hafalla with friends

Our guests of honour, Coffee AID Farmers

On exhibit are works by Joe Abawag, Lowell Aromin, Donahue Calderon,
Sultan Mang-osan, Dexter Simsim, Joey Simsim, Ruel Bimuyag, and Tommy Hafalla

Cozy corner for bookworms and writers

Dap-ayan Workshop II: Unang Halik sa Panitik

gusto mong matutong tumula?
gusto mong matutong tumula at tumulong sa kapwa?
gusto mong matutong tumula at tumulong sa kapwa habang
sumisimsim ng kape mula sa Cordillera?

aba'y magregister na sa:

Unang Halik sa Panitik: TULA

Kailan: 12 Enero 2007, ika-6 ng gabi
Saan: Cordillera Coffee - Riverbanks Center, Marikina City
Mga dapat isama/bitbitin: pad paper, panulat at isang estudyante mula sa public high school or state university/college (except University of the Philippines) OR out of school youth

THIS POETRY LECTURE/WORKSHOP is Free. :-)

Handog ito ng Cordillera Coffee at Dagdag Dunong Project sa lahat ng nilalang na interesadong kumatha ng tula.

Para magrehistro at sa ibang mga katanungan,

tumawag sa Cordillera Coffee: (02)4330634

o magtext sa 09193175708 (bebang) o 09226702205 (iona)

o mag-email sa Cordillera Coffee - cordilleracoffee@gmail.com

at Dagdag Dunong Project - russell_gabriel@yahoo.com/ bebang_ej@yahoo.com

para sa panitikan, para sa bayan.

www.panitikan.com.ph
www.dagdagdunong.blogspot.com

http://dagdagdunong.multiply.com

Three is a magic number (Part 1)

Three. This number is significant to quite a number of important people.
3 was the number of rounds it took Manny Pacquiao to knock Morales down.
3 was the number of times Peter denied His Master,
and also the number of times Jesus asked 'Do you love me?' to reinstate him.
And while '3' may be a crowd for some, it is without a doubt, a very important number for Cordillera Coffee.

Three years ago, a small coffee shop was put up by husband-and-wife Frank Young and Mary Grace Arboleda (born and raised in Kalinga) along Xavierville Ave., hidden from the busy Katipunan thoroughfare. Such a small cafe it was and 'easy to miss', as one writer put it.

From its small beginnings, Cordillera Coffee has now grown into a cozy art gallery, which has been space to some of the country's most interesting art works; pieces that showcase the beauty and richness of Cordillera culture.

Works by Tam-awan artists at the Cordillera Coffee Art Wall.

Though a tiny shop, its goal was big. The mission was to promote the best Philippine mountain coffee and in turn help the native growers in the Cordillera. Fair trade became its primary endeavour, seeking to make a difference in the lives of indigenous farmers by buying the coffee at above-market prices; the right price for their quality produce.

This undertaking has led Cordillera Coffee then to put up Coffee AID (Assistance for Indigenous Development) to further help uplift the livelihood of the farmers.

One of the monthly Coffee AID meetings up the mountains of Benguet.

2006 also marked the first year in Coffee AID's efforts to empower the growers. Advance-buying coffee enables the farmers to receive regular income -- a rare opportunity because they only come across money once a year, during the harvest. This makes possible regular maintenance of farms, that ultimately leads to quality crops.

More programs and activities are lined up for Coffee AID farmers and family. Farmers will be taught craft-making and other sustainable livelihood projects. The farmers' children will also have arts, music, and literacy workshops in the coming months.

To be continued...