The coffee table book, “Peaks and Valleys: The Story of Lipa”, produced by Lipa City Tourism Council, narrates that in 1740, a Franciscan friar brought the first coffee tree in Lipa which originated from Mexico. The Macasaet clan, who were the first settlers of Brgy. Pinagtung-ulan, were the ones who cultivated the first barako tree.
Capt. Francisco Mantuano, Frs. Elias Nebrada and Benito Baras, and Don Gallo De Los Reyes urged Lipeños to plant coffee trees and had them multiplied in huge numbers. In 1880s, Lipa, the first coffee capital of the Philippines, became the world’s fourth largest coffee producer.
The glorious years of coffee in Lipa were halted when coffee rust hit the plantations in 1889. The Philippine coffee industry struggled, causing the consequential downfall. This created a strong motivation for three Batangueños to reclaim what once belonged to Batangas – the grandeur of kapeng barako.
Retired Col. Nicetas Katigbak holds the essence of being a genuine coffee farmer. He owns Katy’s Farm and supports Lipa Coffee Academy, DepEd Lipa’s K-12 program where students in Grades 11 and 12 are taught of lessons and skills about coffee farming. He grew the obsession of bringing back kapeng barako to Lipa City. Another Lipeño who breathes coffee all his life is Mr. Joe Mercado, the founder of Café de Lipa. Their family endeavour is bringing coffee to everyone “from tree to cup”. Their coffee company aims to introduce all coffee varieties available in the country, in commercial packs or drinking cups. Still another who holds the same advocacy is Dr. Amado Silva of Mataasnakahoy, the man behind Siete Baracos Coffee – the first, original Batangas brewed coffee in the market since 1977. Siete Baracos Coffee reached supermarkets in Metro Manila and Cebu, making kapeng barako a household regular.
Coffee industry in Batangas will regain its glory if there is a collaborative effort between the Provincial Government, LGU of Lipa City, and us, Batangueños. WOWBatangas Team is one with you in this advocacy.