Coffee lovers, how do you like your coffee? Some people like it hot. Others prefer it iced. Some crave its strong and bitter taste or love it with lots of sugar and cream.
But for Rodiyo Tacdoy of Benguet province, a former monitored child of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a coffee is more than just a drink as he took the La Trinidad-grown coffee to the next level.
Proof to this was when Rodiyo Tacdoy was able to sell his special coffee beans for a hefty price of Php9,900 per kilo during the Philippine Coffee Quality Competition (PCQC) last May 9.
The 22-year-old Rodiyo also made history in the Philippine-grown coffee business when he emerged as winner in the Arabica category during last month’s competition.
The taste of Rodiyo’s coffee surprised everyone when a buyer made a bid of Php1,158,300 for 117 kilos of his Benguet-grown beans.
Rodiyo humbly shared that this was his way of giving back to the land that raised him, and brought honor to his family of farmers from Barangay Wangal in La Trinidad, Benguet.
What’s the secret behind this one-of-a-kind brew? Rodiyo’s determination and strong purpose to achieve a better life.
4Ps as game changer for Tacdoy family
Rodiyo grew up with his parents and his five all-girl siblings who were later supported by the 4Ps program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2012. His father, who farms various fruits and vegetables for a living, was the family’s breadwinner at that time.
As recalled by Rodiyo, the conditional cash grants they received went a long way and was the game changer for the Tacdoy family.
Rodiyo is grateful to the national government’s anti-poverty program as he owes it to 4Ps that he was able to secure his senior high school diploma despite his family’s low income. In addition, the Tacdoy family also had the means to support their siblings’ health needs because of the 4Ps program.
“Before kami naging miyembro ng 4Ps, talagang kapos kami sa pangangailangan sa pag-aaral. Ang 4Ps ay nagbigay ng malaking tulong sa amin upang bigyang importansya ang aming pag-aaral. Kahit may kalayuan ang aming eskwelahan, nagbigay sigla ang tulong ng 4Ps sa aming magkakapatid. Dahil sa 4Ps, nakapagtapos ako ng Senior High School,” Rodiyo shared in an interview with the DSWD’s Field Office (FO) – Cordillera Administrative Region.
Family Development Sessions
Rodiyo narrated that aside from the cash grants, the learning and knowledge he gained from the Family Development Sessions (FDS) helped him mature as a responsible and persevering person.
“Naranasan ko na mag-attend ng FDS at napakadami kong natutunan doon. Bilang panganay, may mga pagkakataon na ako ang pinapadalo ni mama. Isa sa mga natutunan ko ay ang pagiging isang ehemplo sa aking mga kapatid, paano sila alagaan, at pagiging isang mabuting anak,” the former 4Ps monitored child said.
And when life threw another curveball when his father had a motorcycle accident, Rodiyo’s determination to help his parents and siblings never faltered despite how difficult the incident was for their family.
“So parang yun nga po yung simula ng interes sa kape kasi hindi na makapagtrabaho yung father ko wala nang pagkukunan ng gastusin ganon. Tapos ayun, nakita ko nga po yung mga coffee beans ng grandfather ko, tinignan ko bakit nasayang, ano kaya ang pwedeng gawin para mapakinabangan?,” Rodiyo pointed out.
Rodiyo took the chance to learn how to harvest and sell the beans himself. Little did he know, this first step would not only get them back on their feet but forever change his life.
“At nung sinimulan namin, yung knowledge ng father ko inassist niya po kami so sabi niya ganito, ganito gawin niyo. Then may mga coffee farmers din na pinagkunan namin ng knowledge para maproces po ang kape namin,” Rodiyo shared.
From 4Ps-monitored kid to coffee entrepreneur
Rodiyo learned modern techniques like anaerobic fermentation and the cultivation of beans with other flavors such as lychee, tropical fruit, and floral flavors.
“Yung coffee na pinrocess namin na guided by my father, sinali po namin sa La Trinidad competition, naka-second po siya, so do’n po kami nagka-interes about coffee politics. 2020 tinuloy po namin po hanggang 2021 stable naman po yung phasing nasa first and second din ako nung 2023. Nung 2024 po dun tayo nagkainteres na mag-increase sa national PCQC,” Rodiyo said in his recollection.
At the 2024 PCQC, Rodiyo made history as the youngest contestant.
A year later, he brewed another historic moment, this time, as a champion who was able to sell his coffee to the highest bid ever recorded in the prestigious competition.
With his string of success, Rodiyo happily shared his intent to pursue his love for coffee while earning enough to support himself and his family. He also bared plans to continue his study while pursuing his passion for growing coffee beans.
“Ituloy ko pa rin ang pagtatanim ng kape. Pero, gusto kong ituloy ang aking pag-aaral. Balak ko na ituloy ang matagal kong pangarap na kukuha ng Engineering. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan kong mag-ipon para may sapat akong gagamitin sa pag-aaral ko,” Rodiyo said.
“Gusto ko rin na makatapos sa pag-aaral ang aking mga kapatid upang mas mabigyan kami ng magandang kinabukasan,” Rodiyo continued.
Rodiyo is also now mentoring other young farmers, passing on what he’s learned, and helping others believe that a future in farming isn’t just possible— it can be powerful and uplifting.
“Gusto ko rin na matutunan ng iba pang mga kasama na nagtatanim ng kape na bigyang importansiya ang tamang pagtanim at pagproseso ng kape, dahil ang kape natin dito sa Benguet ay talagang may kalidad,” Rodiyo said.
While his family is about to exit 4Ps as they have attained a level 3 or self-sufficient status, Rodiyo said he will forever be grateful to the program. He is also thrilled to take a leap into the next chapter, knowing so well that a bright future not only awaits him and his family, but also, for the hard-working coffee farmers of La Trinidad.
In a world where young people are often told to leave the farms for something “better,” Rodiyo is a living example that there are times that the best path forward is the one that brings you back home.
The 4Ps is the national anti-poverty alleviation program of the Government implemented by the DSWD with the objective of breaking the inter-generational cycle of poverty. Like the Tacdoy family, the program intends to help the beneficiaries reach an improved quality of lives. (LSJ)