Every cup of coffee tells a story. Every weave carries a legacy. Every community connects us to our rich cultural heritage. The Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival, happening from March 14 to 16, 2025, at Parqal, Aseana City, invites you to discover how Filipino culture thrives in every sip, stitch, and step toward sustainability.
The Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival is a three-day event that celebrates the culture, creativity, and craftsmanship of the Filipino people. At the festival, attendees will experience diverse heritage products and practices that help define Filipino identity. Formerly known as the Manila Coffee Festival, the event has been expanded to include the work of some of the country’s unknown but unmatched artisans. Through craft, coffee, and clothing, the Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival hopes to nurture our cultural heritage while advancing environmental sustainability.
Why Biyaya Matters
At its heart, the Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival is about the communities—farmers, artisans, and designers—whose dedication ensures that Filipino culture not only survives but also thrives. By nurturing these communities and promoting their heritage crafts and practices, the festival underscores the profound connection between cultural conservation and environmental protection.
By highlighting the inspiring stories of these cultivators, this endeavor hopes to bridge the gap between producers and consumers. It serves as a vital platform hoping to spark conversations about the intersection of coffee, craft, clothing, culture, community, and the environment.
“When we protect, nurture, and grow the heritage craft and practices of Filipino communities, we ensure their sustainable livelihood,” says Richard Watanabe, founder of the Coffee Heritage Project and co-founder of the Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival. “In the process, these communities can continue to live on the land of their ancestors, safeguarding not just their culture but also the environment. Thriving, sustainable communities are the foundation for environment protection.”
By emphasizing community support, Biyaya promotes a holistic approach to sustainability where preserving tradition ensures both people and the planet can flourish.
A Catalyst for Cultural and Agricultural Empowerment
The Biyaya Festival is more than just a marketplace for coffee sellers; it is a launching pad for a larger initiative where communities embody heritage as progress. Its role is crucial in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers and artisans by fostering a deep appreciation for local products and the stories that accompany them. By attending the festival, the public can become part of a broader narrative that champions cultural heritage, sustainable living, and community empowerment. They can learn about the importance of ethical consumption while providing farmers and artisans with the attention and support they deserve.
The impact of this festival extends beyond the event itself; Biyaya supports a long-term value chain that ensures Filipino farmers and artisans are empowered at every stage. With transparency checks in place, Biyaya guarantees that the processes behind the products are ethical, fair, and environmentally conscious. This ensures that every purchase contributes directly to sustainable livelihoods while holding the value chain accountable for its social and environmental impact. It strengthens an ecosystem where cultural practices can thrive, and where the contributions of local artisans and farmers are valued, ensuring that their legacies are preserved for future generations.
In essence, the Biyaya Festival is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and community. By participating, you are not just enjoying a festival; you are committing to support and uplift the very heart of Filipino culture.
From Farm to Fabric to Future: A Holistic Approach
The Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival offers an array of activities tailored for attendees of all ages and backgrounds. With a focus on engagement and education, this year’s festival builds on the success of the Manila Coffee Festival, which welcomed over 12,000 visitors and generated 45 million pesos in earnings for its exhibitors—highlighting the significant economic impact of supporting local communities.
“As we worked closely with farming communities, we saw firsthand that coffee is just one part of their livelihood. Since coffee farmers only harvest at certain times of the year, they rely on other trades—cacao farming, coconut production, weaving, basketry, and even pottery—to sustain them year-round,” Watanabe shares. “Biyaya isn’t just about coffee; it’s about uplifting the entire ecosystem of heritage industries that allow these communities to thrive.”
This year will feature up to 200 exhibitors, including coffee, cacao, and coconut farmers, as well as craftsmen, weavers, and local fashion designers. They will not only showcase their wares but also offer interactive workshops and live demonstrations:
- Agriculture Workshops: Learn about sustainable practices that can enhance your gardening or farming efforts.
- Unlimited Coffee Tastings: Discover the rich flavors of award-winning and single-origin Philippine coffee. This year’s festival will also feature internationally recognized coffee recently awarded by the Agency for Valorization of Agricultural Products in Paris. Festival participants will have the rare opportunity to taste and purchase these world-class coffees from Sagada, Batangas, and Sultan Kudarat—further elevating appreciation for Filipino coffee on the global stage.
- Artisan Craft Demonstrations: Engage with experts who are creating sustainable products that showcase techniques that bring to light the disappearing art of traditional crafts such as weaving and basketry. Discover how cacao farmers are innovating beyond chocolate, utilizing the plant to create home décor and personal care products—demonstrating the versatility of this cherished crop and expanding its role in sustainable livelihoods. Likewise, coconut farmers are finding new opportunities by utilizing black coconut as a main ingredient for craft beer, showcasing how traditional crops can be reimagined for modern tastes and industries.
- Sustainable Fashion Shows: Enjoy a parade of modernized and elevated traditional fashion, showcasing innovative designs that honor cultural heritage.
- Baybayin Art and Traditional Tattoos: Immerse yourself in the captivating world of ancient Filipino script and explore the rich heritage of traditional tattoos.
Cultural performances featuring traditional dances and music will also take place to enrich the festival atmosphere further.
Biyaya Speaks: A Platform for Dialogue and Inspiration
One of the most exciting components of the festival will be “Biyaya Speaks,” a dynamic platform designed to foster meaningful dialogue and inspiration. This segment will feature a diverse lineup of thought leaders, innovators, and cultural advocates who will share their insights on topics such as sustainability, cultural conservation, and community empowerment.
“Biyaya Speaks” aims to create a space where attendees can engage with ideas that resonate with their values and aspirations. Each session will be crafted to inform and inspire action and collaboration. It seeks to empower individuals and communities to embrace sustainability in their own lives. The insights shared during these sessions could ignite new ideas, making them valuable tools for anyone interested in making a positive impact in their community.
Be Part of the Change to Help Transform Lives and Communities
Supporting the Biyaya Sustainable Living Festival means investing in a brighter future for Filipino farmers and artisans. By amplifying their voices and stories, we can facilitate greater awareness and appreciation for our local industries. It serves as a renaissance for these Filipino farmers and artisans, reminding us that progress and conservation are not opposing forces but complementary values that can shape our shared future.
Mark your calendars: March 14 to 16, 2025, at Parqal, Aseana City, Parañaque. Let’s celebrate the gift of a sustainable future—together.
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