by Cassandra Stacey S. Tupag & Elma Leanne M. Castillano | Dec 16 2025
One of the most inspiring outcomes of the Barista Training: Introduction to Latte Art is the remarkable progress of Mr. Ace S. Cabasa, one of the program’s training beneficiaries. After completing the DHTM and SHTM-led extension activity, Mr. Cabasa continued to refine his barista techniques and deepen his understanding of coffee production—from bean selection to cup profiling. The foundational skills, exposure, and confidence he gained through the training became instrumental in shaping his development as both a coffee practitioner and an emerging entrepreneur.
His dedication and commitment soon translated into significant achievements. Mr. Cabasa earned two awards in the BREW ta BAI Competition and was named Champion in the Kahimunan Excelsa Tasters Cup 2025 under the Farmer-Producer Category. These recognitions underscore not only his personal discipline and growing expertise but also the effectiveness of community-based capacity-building programs in producing individuals who can excel at a competitive level.
Today, Mr. Cabasa owns and manages a coffee shop at the Sikyop Agriculture Cooperative, where he integrates his barista and latte art skills into daily operations. His enterprise stands as a tangible example of how skills-based local training can lead to meaningful livelihood opportunities. At the same time, it enhances the tourism appeal of Sikyop by offering visitors high-quality coffee crafted by a locally trained, award-winning barista.
His journey reflects the broader aims of the Human Development and Sustainable Management extension project. By providing structured, hands-on training in hospitality and tourism-related competencies, the initiative equips community members with practical skills that support livelihood development, entrepreneurship, and sustainable tourism growth.
Through activities such as the barista training, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Society of Hospitality and Tourism Management demonstrate how academic institutions can contribute to community empowerment—transforming skills into opportunities and opportunities into success stories, much like the inspiring path of Mr. Ace Cabasa.