From Rejection to Distinction: How Rey Sumania Built Mindanao’s Premier Youth Coffee Training Center

 

Before becoming one of the pioneers of Mindanao’s specialty coffee scene, Renato "Rey" Sumania was once publicly dismissed in front of a crowded lecture hall as a speaker of little worth.

In 2003, while delivering a coffee seminar for hotel and restaurant management students, a college professor openly criticized his credentials. Rather than walking away from the industry, Sumania turned the humiliation into the catalyst for a decadeslong movement that has reshaped technical education and youth empowerment in Northern Mindanao.

Later that year, he established the Jamaican F&B Training Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

"I was challenged," Sumania said. "It motivated me to learn more, refine my communication, and build a program that truly mattered."

Sumania’s background in the food and beverage sector began in 1993, working in regional hotels and bars. In 1998, he moved to Manila to work as a barista and bartender at a Japanese specialty coffee shop. Working with specialty beans priced at 450 pesos a cup deepened his technical expertise and ignited a commitment to professionalizing local coffee culture.

When Sumania returned to Cagayan de Oro, regional establishments initially dismissed his proposals to introduce modern coffee preparation techniques. Undeterred, he offered free instruction to local hotels, charging fees only after demonstrating measurable results. As demand grew, he identified a critical gap in standardized technical training across the region.

In 2006, the Jamaican F&B Training Center earned official accreditation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, becoming the first accredited facility for barista and bartending instruction in Cagayan de Oro.

Despite gaining industry stature, including a tenure as branch manager for Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. and serving as an industry expert for the Cagayan de Oro Hotel and Restaurant Association, Sumania pivoted his focus toward social advocacy, specifically targeting out-of-school youth and the children of local coffee farmers.

Through specialized scholarship programs, Sumania provided free vocational instruction to underprivileged youth. The transition was not without setbacks; approximately 20% of early enrollees lacked commitment, participating primarily for the daily allowance.

However, the majority capitalized on the opportunity. Graduates went on to secure employment, compete in regional trade competitions, and launch independent enterprises, including multi-branch coffee shops like D.A.K.S. Cafe and The Brew Box.

The program's community impact eventually drew the attention of the U.S. Agency for International Development through its Opportunity 2.0 program, implemented alongside the Philippine Business for Education and the Education Development Center. After three application cycles, the center secured USAID support in 2023. Federal evaluators conducted field verifications and confirmed that 50 out-of-school youth had completed training and entered the workforce.

Two of those graduates, Ryan Nicole Corod and Jhon Cayman Dungog, later represented the institution as youth ambassadors at the USAID Private Sector Summit in Makati, demonstrating how technical-vocational tracks and the “Be Your Own Boss” entrepreneurship skills workshop foster sustainable entrepreneurship.

"They were amazed by the results," Sumania said. "Don’t hesitate to help less fortunate individuals. My pride comes from seeing a student complete the program and succeed. Giving back to the community is deeply fulfilling."

The institutional recognition expanded globally when the Specialty Coffee Association named the Jamaican F&B Training Center a global finalist for the SCA Sustainability Awards in the non-profit category, making it the sole Philippine institution selected for the honor.

Today, Sumania manages the center alongside his wife and son, maintaining strategic partnerships with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, and TESDA. He is also expanding his advocacy into sustainable coffee farming in the hinterlands of Cagayan de Oro.

"This recognition belongs to every farmer who has embraced new techniques and every student who has pursued their passion," Sumania said. "Together, we are writing a new chapter for Philippine coffee."