CABADBARAN CITY — The AGNOR Tourism Exhibition will continue on October 20, 2026, with the AGNOR Sikwate and Coffee Pairing Competition at Gaisano City in Cabadbaran City. The event, scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM, will place Agusan del Norte's homegrown coffee and traditional sikwate at the center of a program designed to highlight local flavor, craftsmanship, and culinary heritage.
A Competition Rooted in Local Harvest
Sikwate, the thick, bittersweet hot chocolate made from roasted cacao seeds, has been part of Filipino food culture since the Spanish colonial era. In Agusan del Norte, that tradition intersects with a growing coffee sector. The province's fertile soil and climate have supported coffee farming for generations, and recent initiatives have strengthened the sector further. In Cabadbaran City, the Department of Trade and Industry's RAPID Growth Project has facilitated the expansion of coffee farms covering 130 hectares while training farmers and indigenous peoples' organizations in post-harvest processing, handling, and bean grading. Local enterprises like Nissen Coffee Farm in Kitcharao have carried Agusan del Norte beans to European markets, building an international identity for the province's coffee.
Pairing as a Platform for Producers
The competition will bring together local producers, baristas, and culinary creatives to present pairings that explore how sikwate and coffee can complement one another. Rather than a simple taste test, the event will be structured as a showcase of technique and ingredient knowledge, with participants drawing on the distinct profiles of locally grown beans and cacao. Organizers have framed the activity as an opportunity to recognize the farmers, processors, and entrepreneurs whose work sustains these industries. By placing their products in a competitive but celebratory setting, the event will give local flavors a public stage and a reason for visitors to seek them out beyond the exhibition.
Beyond the Cup
The pairing competition will serve a broader purpose within the AGNOR Tourism Exhibition. It will position Agusan del Norte as a destination where culinary heritage and agricultural livelihood intersect, giving travelers a tangible reason to engage with the province's local products. The event will also reinforce the connection between tourism and community enterprise, showing how a cup of sikwate or coffee can carry the story of the farmers and producers behind it. For residents, the competition will be an invitation to take pride in what the province grows and makes, and for visitors, it will be an introduction to flavors that are difficult to find elsewhere.
