At the heart of Ibaloi Park, there exists a hidden gem: Tinapong Shia Onjon, a rustic coffee haven borne from the community’s steadfast embrace of its local identity.
Launched by the Baguio City Farmers Agriculture Cooperative in September of 2023,
Tinapong Shia Onjon endears locals with the distinct taste and aroma of its Arabica coffee. Adding to its charm is its idyllic ambiance reminiscent of one’s Cordilleran roots.
As the cooperative strives to develop a Baguio coffee brand that can rival those products from outside the city, the coffee shop, proudly standing within the Central Business District and defying its concrete landscape, embodies a symbol of the people’s aspiration for what the city ought to be: a perfect blend of progress and all that is worth keeping.
Amidst the allure of mainstream, popular, and imported coffee brands, Baguio Arabica insists that local products stand on equal, if not superior, footing. This Baguio product champions the distinctiveness that is intrinsic in our localities.
Baguio Arabica is aromatic, fruity, and velvety. But more importantly, it is ours. It is an assertion of our identity.
Baguio Arabica serves as a reminder of our ancestors’ profound reverence for the land. It evokes a deep sense of belonging that is ingrained in our consciousness. This connection is not only rooted in the production of coffee but also in rich social rituals that surround its consumption. These rituals transcend mere tradition and become sacred acts of communion, binding us to each other and to the land from which this cherished brew originates.
Baguio City’s Thriving Coffee Industry
It may seem unthinkable for coffee cultivation to thrive in a highly urbanized place like Baguio, but within the city’s nooks and crannies are pockets of land suitable for cultivating coffee.
Among the 128 barangays, the five major sources of harvested coffee beans in the city are Pinsao Proper, Irisan, Lucnab, Atok Trail, and Happy Hallow.
A modest amount of the cooperative’s supply comes from coffee enthusiasts in the city who have ventured into coffee cultivation. Some of them started growing coffee and other vegetation in their backyards during the peak of the pandemic.
With the city’s agricultural lands slowly succumbing to urban sprawl, farmers and coffee growers find innovative ways to optimize their planting spaces and maximize production.
Despite limited spaces for planting coffee, there is a steady supply from various sources. Although this is a notable achievement for the city’s growing coffee community, there is a need to scout for additional planting grounds to sustain growth and meet future demands.
Looking ahead, the cooperative is exploring the possibility of cultivating Arabica coffee within the city’s forest reserves and watersheds to boost the supply while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity in these areas, hopefully with the consent of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Since the cooperative’s inception, coffee farmers and suppliers as well as other members of the cooperative have been undergoing capacity training facilitated by the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and City Veterinary and Agriculture Office. These government instrumentalities have one common goal: to boost production, ensure quality harvest, and enhance the value-adding process which includes roasting, grinding, packaging, branding, and marketing of coffee products.
With adequate support given by the local government and government agencies to all the key players, the city’s coffee industry gleams with promise and potential. Baguio Arabica is poised to enrich our pride, local and cultural identity, and agricultural tradition.
Despite agriculture not always being the primary focus of attention, its significance has garnered substantial support from the city government through the Baguio City Council’s key legislation such as the Baguio City Coffee Ordinance authored by former Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan.
This ordinance has not only funded the skills enhancement of coffee farmers in the city but has also paved the way for the establishment of the Baguio City Coffee Processing Center.
The Future of Tinapong Shia Onjon alongside Ibaloi Park’s Development
The City Veterinary and Agriculture Office considers coffee production and the establishment of the Tinapong Shia Onjon as significant milestones, yet they signify birth pains of progress. Challenged by its mandate to implement agriculture projects and programs in the city amid the urban panorama, the office has encountered formidable setbacks in propelling the coffee industry forward.
From profiling the coffee farmers in the city and organizing them into a cooperative to presenting coffee-related projects to the Department of Trade and Industry, the office has hurdled all these daunting challenges.
The office has one final mission: to lobby for the coffee shop’s permanent location within Ibaloi Park. With the impending development of the park which will happen any time soon, the office hopes to gain the support of Onjon ni Ivadoi, the organization that manages the park, and the city’s indigenous peoples mandatory representative.
Baguio IPMR Hilario Edwin Jr. gives his assurance that the coffee shop will be integrated in the development plan of the park.
As the former president of Onjon ni Ivadoi, Edwin envisions the coffee shop as a valuable addition to the park’s attractions, complementing the proposed museum dedicated to honoring the Ibaloi heritage, the monument of the revered Ibaloi chieftain Mateo Carino, and the enhanced abong (hut), among others.
Though he endorses the operation of the coffee shop within the park, Edwin emphasizes the importance of affordability in the price list, especially given that the primary clientele comprises elders. He also emphasizes the need for a diverse menu selection which includes other food and drinks to cater to a wide range of preferences.
The development of the Ibaloi Park worth P68 million is expected to commence after its bidding which was scheduled on March 5, 2024. The completion of the project is likely to be achieved by December of the same year.
This development is anticipated to elevate the park’s current features with enhanced amenities while preserving its natural charm and historical significance.
With the integration of the coffee shop into the park’s development plan, locals expect to immerse themselves in the essence of Baguio’s storied past and relish the remnants of its former glory, all while indulging in the delightful experience of sipping Baguio Arabica coffee. **Jordan G. Habbiling
