LA TRINIDAD, Philippines – At just 22 years old, Rodyio Tubal Tacdoy is proof that excellence knows no age, and that the future of Philippine coffee is already brewing in the highlands of Benguet.
Tacdoy, a young farmer from Sitio Talingguroy, Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, bested hundreds of entries nationwide to clinch first place in the Arabica – Smallholder Farms Category at the prestigious 2025 Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC).
His entry didn’t just win top honors, it made history. At the PCQC auction held during the Philippine Coffee Expo, his beans were sold to specialty coffee company Equilibrium Intertrade Corporation at P9,900 per kilo, breaking the previous national record and totaling P1.158 million for 117 kilograms.
But behind the headlines and hefty bid is a deeper story of grit, innovation, and vision.
Tacdoy cultivates coffee under the canopy of pine and alnus trees at Aduyun Farm, a modest but thriving piece of land where he experiments with advanced processing methods like unaerobic fermentation to elevate the flavor profile of his beans.
His award-winning Arabica, processed naturally, scored 84.38, a specialty-grade mark, offering tasting notes of lychee, tropical fruits, and florals that captivated both local and international judges.
This isn’t Tacdoy’s first time to turn heads. At just 21, he was already the youngest ever PCQC participant in 2024. This year, he returned not just to compete, but to lead.
“What I told myself was simple,” Tacdoy shared in Ilocano. “If you win, buyers will come to you. You don’t have to chase the market; the market will chase you if they see the quality of your coffee.”
Indeed, his coffee caught the attention of Equilibrium’s Cherry Cruz, who declared in a social media post: “Why not?”
Cruz, known for backing innovation in Philippine coffee, said Tacdoy’s victory is a signal to young farmers: “Their time has come.”
The PCQC is no ordinary contest, it’s the country’s most prestigious platform for recognizing outstanding Philippine coffee. Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Agriculture, and the Philippine Coffee Guild, the annual tilt rigorously evaluates entries through visual grading, roasting, and cupping based on global SCA standards.
This year, entries were judged by experts from Singapore, India, Thailand, Russia, and Indonesia.
Tacdoy’s win is also a symbolic turning point for the Cordillera. For years, Mindanao dominated the competition, but in 2025, Northern Luzon rose to the top in both Arabica and Robusta categories.
Coffee growers from Benguet, Mt. Province, and Ilocos Sur proved that highland beans still hold their own, and perhaps, even better, with the right care and innovation.
Tacdoy hopes to pay his success forward. He envisions transforming Aduyun Farm into a learning site for young farmers, where knowledge isn’t hoarded, but shared.
“Farming isn’t just for old people,” he quipped. “Youths are for now. We belong here too.”
While his specialty beans fetched a premium price at auction, Tacdoy is quick to manage expectations.
“That price was for a competition lot,” he said. “For regular buyers, we stick to market rates. Don’t raise prices just because of that one bid.” Specialty-grade coffee in CAR typically sells for P850/kg, while commercial beans range from P550/kg.
The Municipality of La Trinidad is set to commend Tacdoy on May 19, recognizing not just his victory, but his growing contribution to the town’s coffee heritage and agri-youth empowerment. Municipal agriculturist Nida Organo affirmed that local farmers are continually supported with training, tools, and facilities to keep improving.
Tacdoy’s journey, from a small shaded farm in Wangal to the national stage, is more than just a win for one farmer. It’s a brewing revolution, showing the world what young, local, and highland-grown truly tastes like. – Rappler.com