Mon Alpas, United Arab Emirates
Heirloom X Goldbox
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I hail from Cebu, and my coffee journey began in 2014. At that time, friends in the coffee industry assisted me in landing a barista position at a café in Abu Dhabi. Inspired by my fellow Cebuano friends, particularly coffee champion Lyndon Recera, and motivated by my fiancée, Kiah, I set out to demonstrate my skills on a national stage. In my first national competition in 2019, I secured third place, and I vowed to work even harder to achieve the title of champion.
What are you excited to do while you are in Geneva?
To explore Geneva and try its local cuisine, along with visiting cafés. I'm also looking forward to connecting with coffee friends and meeting new ones.
What are your interests outside of coffee?
Apart from coffee, I really enjoy aquascaping, and lately, I've been enjoying making kombucha.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I couldn't have made it without the support of Heirloom Cafe, Goldbox Roastery, SCA UAE Chapter, Mr. Khalid, Victoria Arduino, Brewing Gadgets, the UAE Coffee Community, and especially my family, coffee friends. A big shoutout to my incredible team: Lyndon, Cathleen Kyle, Dong, Elroy, Mark, Bell, and my fiancée Kiah.
