The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Nestor Cuartero
The story goes that back in the 1800s and well into the 19th century, upper class Lipeno ladies wore sandals, called step-ins then, studded with bits and pieces of gold in them as a sign of wealth and the good life. It was the height of the coffee boom in Lipa, Batangas, then known as a major grower and exporter of the magical bean.
Lipa’s tradition as a major supplier of coffee in the Philippines and even abroad served as the core of a week-long festival that celebrated the city’s deep-rooted connection to coffee and culture. With the theme, “Coffee Liberica: Brewing Culture, Art, and Heritage,” the festival paid tribute to the city’s legacy as the home of the world-renowned Kapeng Barako, a symbol of Lipeño pride and resilience.
The Lipa City Coffee Festival 2025 officially opened at Robinsons Lipa on October 16 amid the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The festival, which featured a coffee painting contest, a coffee expo, an art exhibit by Sihay group, also showed off the book, “Mapping Out the Batangueño Identity: The Batangas Kapeng Barako,” which explains the historical and cultural significance of coffee in shaping Batangueño heritage. A coffee talk explaining the significance of coffee in Batangas tradition and history summed up the week-long celebration.
We were struck by the artistry of 15 high school students who took part in an on-the-spot painting contest using coffee bean as medium. Their works, done mostly in brown, but of course, paid tribute to coffee, both as a tree and a source of brew, Lipa landmarks as the San Sebastian Cathedral, among others.
Ms. Aylene Acorda, acting Tourism in-charge, said the celebration reaffirms Lipa City LGU’s commitment to promoting the local coffee industry while preserving the culture, creativity, and artistry that coffee continues to inspire. One way to honor the rich heritage of Kapeng Barako.
Lipa, she said, is steering efforts towards agricultural tourism, focusing on coffee farms as a key attraction.
“We currently have more than 300 coffee farmers in Lipa, and our goal is to reposition the city as a major coffee bean distributor in the country,” she said.
Through the leadership of Mayor Eric Africa, the city has ongoing programs to strengthen farmer support, sustainability, and market linkages.
The festival closed on October 21 with a grand finale at Plaza Independencia where youthful groups competed in a Coffee Liberica Street Dance Competition, a colorful celebration of movement, tradition, and community spirit capturing the essence of Lipa’s coffee heritage.
Over all, it was one fine week of an immersive experience blending coffee, art, craftsmanship, and culture.
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