Davao City cacao farmer brings honor to the PHL after win in Int’l Cocoa Awards in Paris

Jose Saguban, a cacao grower from Davao City, placed second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the Top 20 producers of Best Bean during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris. (Photo courtesy Ma. Socorro de Jesus, Eagle News Service)

By Marilyn Rayray
Contributor, Eagle News Service

PARIS, France (Eagle News) –Jose Saguban cacao grower from Kialaw, Malabog, Paquibato District Davao City placed second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the top 20 producers of “Best Bean” during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris.

First time to travel abroad, Mang Jose was ecstatic. “Masaya ako, dahil nakuha ko yung award. Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon, sinusuwerte ako sa cacao beans.,” he said.

A supplier to Auro Chocolate, Saguban dedicates his award to his family and everyone who has helped him all throughout his journey to the International Cocoa Awards.

Jose Saguban, a cacao grower from Davao City, placed second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the Top 20 producers of Best Bean during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris. (Photo courtesy Ma. Socorro de Jesus, Eagle News Service)
Jose Saguban, a cacao grower from Davao City, brings honor to the Philippines as he places second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the Top 20 producers of Best Bean during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris. (Photo courtesy Ma. Socorro de Jesus, Eagle News Service)

Prior to this, Saguban’s top-scoring cacao was among the Top 50 best bean samples selected by the experts, thus qualifying in the Cocoa of Excellence Programme of the International Cocoa Awards.

With 223 bean samples from 55 cocoa-producing countries, the Cocoa Excellence Programme (CoEx Programme) is the toughest competition in the “chocolatier” domain. These 50 samples were processed into chocolate for evaluation by a broad panel of professionals of the CoEx technical committee.

-Symphony of flavors-

Following rounds of blind tastings and intensive analysis by an international jury of top culinary and chocolate experts, Saguban’s bean was recognized for its symphony of flavours.

“The chocolate from Jose’s beans is delight to the eyes. The flavour, the experience… As the mystery unfolds, this flavour expresses itself as a mouth exhilaration of a smooth chocolate flavour that is evident in its modest chocolate intensity and at the same time is paralleled by a fresh fruit acidity, a character that joins with the chocolate,” says Edward Seguine, chair of CoEx Technical Committee.

Jose Saguban, a cacao grower from Davao City, brings honor to the Philippines as he places second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the Top 20 producers of Best Bean during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris. (Photo courtesy Ma. Socorro de Jesus, Eagle News Service)

Kelly Go, marketing director of Auro Chocolate, mentor and promoter of Saguban’s cacao said, “Ito po and pinakamahirap na kompetisyon sa buong mundo for the cacao. Ang hinahanap po nila ay yung pinaka-espesyal na flavour ng cacao at yun ay galing kay Mang Jose na pasok sa Top 20.”

According to the CoEX technical committee experts, Saguban’s cacao is very fruity with romance of delightful flavours. “Now the world knows that the Philippines has amazing cacao. This benefits not only Mang Jose but all of our Filipino cacao farmers. So we’re very, very proud,” added Go.

In 2015, Auro Chocolate team visited Paquibatao cacao farms and found Saguban’s family whose passion for cacao trees is exceptional. Since then, Auro’s expert team has started mentoring Saguban’s family in the improvement of production and quality of cacao and in the fermentation, which is the essential part of turning cacao into delicious chocolate.

Jose Saguban, a cacao grower from Davao City, brings honor to the Philippines as he places second in Asia Pacific and landed as one of the Top 20 producers of Best Bean during the International Cocoa Awards at the Salon du Chocolat, the world’s biggest chocolate trade fair in Paris. (Photo courtesy Ma. Socorro de Jesus, Eagle News Service)

Mark Ocampo of Auro Chocolate shared the happiness of the joint accomplishment. “Masaya kami talaga sa accomplishment niya kasi hindi lang inspiration sa lahat ng Filipinos pero inspiration din sa lahat ng mga farmers sa Pilipinas. Imagine, ngayon di na lang Top 50, even more exceptional than the Top 50, taking the Philippines to the top and to highlight more of the characteristics of the Philippines and how we can compete now with the rest of the world.”

-Inspiration to other PHL cacao farmers-

The coming of Jose Saguban to the global chocolate stage which is Salon du Chocolat has already lit up the enthusiasm of cacao farmers to grow more trees to increase the production of globally competitive Philippine cocoa products added Ocampo.

Saguban is part of the Philippine delegation spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture, DTI, Paris Philippine Trade and Investment Center, Philippine Cacao Council and the Philippine Embassy in France which is highlighted by the participation of 11 PH cacao brands — Malagos Chocolate, Theo & Philo, Auro Chocolates, Kablon Farms, Nutri Rich, Coscao, Co Chocolat, Guilang Tableya, MS3, Coco Dolce and Tablea. Their distinctive installations in a prominent space and the hospitable staff who wore Filipiniana have given the hall of Salon du Chocolat an air of traditional Philippine culture.

Department of Agriculture undersecretary, Waldo Carpio emphasized that the Philippine participation at the Salon du Chocolat is part of the ‘One-Nation Approach’ advocacy of the administration.

“As embedded in the directive of the president na lahat po ng departments, Department of Agriculture, DTI (Department of Trade and Industry), PTIC (Philippine Trade Investment Center) and the Philippine Embassy will work hand-in-hand para po i-promote and isa sa mag indigenous products which is cacao, proudly Philippine made dito sa Paris, France,” said Carpio.

He further believes that this endeavour will open opportunities to improve the country’s economy. “First, masaganang ani at malakas na kita sa lahat ng mga farmers and on the part of mga traders natin, to improve the economy for the benefit of all.”

Philippine Ambassador to France and Monaco, H.E. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro expressed her pride about the presence of the Philippine cacao team in the prestigious world chocolate trade fair.

“It’s really the time for the people to know especially people back home na when it comes to chocolatier, to our cocoa beans, it’s top class, world class! We are very happy because we’re now in the center of all these chocolates all over the world. Now it’s bigger, now it’s more prominent, the awareness level has gone up,” she said.