CSU LAL-LO UNVEILS COFFEEHUB CAFÉ AND VALENA VIEWDECK, HIGHLIGHTS ₱5-MILLION RDE PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS

LAL-LO, CAGAYAN — Cagayan State University Lal-lo Campus officially launched yesterday, August 06, its most ambitious coffee innovation initiative yet, with the blessing and unveiling of the CSU CoffeeHub Café and Valena Viewdeck.

These landmark developments are part of the ₱5-million institutionally funded CoffeeHub Program, led by Dr. Ana Marie Cristina C. Cauilan, Vice President for Internationalization, Partnership, and Resource Mobilization.

Attended by representatives from partner agencies and institutional stakeholders, the event showcased CSU’s sustained commitment to coffee-centered instruction, research, extension, production, tourism and enterprise.

The highlight of the program was the formal introduction of the CoffeeHub Café—a student-managed learning and training space—and the Valena Viewdeck, a scenic educational site overlooking CSU’s coffee plantation.

“What began as a bold vision by Dr. Urdujah Alvarado—to revive and reimagine coffee in CSU Lal-lo—has blossomed into a dynamic, multi-dimensional platform for academic and community transformation through the strong support of OIC President Arthur G. Ibanez,” said Dr. Cauilan as she presented the program’s major accomplishments.

The CoffeeHub Program integrates eight RDE projects, an extension initiative, and infrastructure support into a unified framework. Among its Key Milestones are the following:

• Refurbishment of the Coffee Processing Center and establishment of the CSU Coffee Shop, completing the full coffee value chain on campus;

• Launch of Valena Heritage Coffee Blends, featuring specialty roasts such as Urdujah Premium, King Arthur Dark Roast, and Oliviante Robusta;

• Development of Valena Bliss, a wellness product line using coffee by-products for spa essentials, including soaps and candles, with filed utility model applications;

• Implementation of the Coffee Farm Tourism Project, with the Valena Viewdeck, among others, as a scenic and educational centerpiece;

• Creation of CoffeeHub Website (https://valenanet.free.nf/?i=1), an operational e-commerce platform connecting local producers to wider markets;

• Execution of the From Bean to Cup Extension Project, training 125 farmers, distributing 650 seedlings, and establishing five technology demonstration hubs;

• Successful implementation of the Quality Coffee Seedling Production Project, producing over 5,400 seedlings, constructing nurseries and clonal chambers, and establishing a one-hectare demonstration plot.

The CoffeeHub Café will be operated by students from the College of Hospitality Management, offering CSU’s signature blends alongside food service, providing real-world training opportunities.

Dr. Cauilan expressed gratitude to the administration, project leaders and CSU’s partner, the Filipino Coffee Institute. She gave special recognition to the Infrastructure Team for its tireless work in completing the facilities in time for the launch.

As CSU Lal-lo continues to expand the CoffeeHub’s reach, the university now stands as a regional model for coffee innovation rooted in sustainability, academic engagement, and community empowerment.