Anacleto owns a small coffee farm in the highlands of the Cordillera Mountain range in Northern Philippines. Like most coffee growers in this region, Anacleto was born into coffee farming.
It’s the end of coffee harvest season and Anacleto is more eager than usual to sell off his coffee beans. He sounded excited when he told us that his coffee beans have dried nicely and are ready for pick up. On this note, we were all looking forward to see Anacleto, and his coffee.
Anacleto owns a small coffee farm in the highlands of the Cordillera Mountain range in Northern Philippines. Like most coffee growers in this region, Anacleto was born into coffee farming.
For as long as he can remember, Anacleto has always tended to his family’s coffee trees, some of which were planted by his father, and others planted by his grandfather and great grandfather. One could say that Anacleto’s coffee trees are some of the most loved coffee trees in the country. And it shows in the cup as well!
It was shortly after we arrived at his farm that we found out what Anacleto’s excitement was all about. It was his daughter’s wedding day and the proud Anacleto was busy preparing for a grand celebration.
In the past, Anacleto often worried about his daughter whenever the thought that someday he can no longer work in the farm or when he passes on. He is worried particularly because his daughter is blind, a condition which developed when she was young.
So imagine Anacleto’s joy when he learned that his daughter was getting married.
A few moments later and with eyes beaming, Anacleto introduces us to the groom - who was quite soft-spoken despite his large built. He tells us that the groom works for a resort (or a hotel?) in Cagayan Province, a three-hour drive to the north. I held out my hand to shake the groom’s hand and congratulate him on his wedding day. But he seemed to be unaware of it. It was only then we noticed that he too was blind. Our hearts melted for the bride and groom.
We went about to check on Anacleto’s coffee harvest, and drank coffees as we weighed, marked, and loaded coffee sacks into the truck. Anacleto was pleased with the quality of this year’s coffee harvest, and getting a good income out of it. But we, on the other hand, were just too happy to be part of this wonderful occasion.
Anacleto has always persevered to support his family with coffee income. Over time, he’s learned to look at his coffee trees far beyond its commercial value, and regard them as heirloom passed from one generation to another.
Now at his daughter’s wedding, Anacleto especially looks forward to handing it over to the next generation, his future grandchildren.
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