By ROBERT WOMACK FROM HOLLYWOOD TO ASIA Before getting into the Lorie Condrillion family’s story. It is advantages to understand some of the Philippine’s coffee producing history. Coffee was introduced to the Philippines in the early 18th century, with the first recorded planting in 1730 by a Franciscan friar in Lipa, Batangas. The region’s climate proved ideal, and by the late 1800s, the Philippines had become the fourth largest coffee exporter in the world, briefly serving as the globe’s sole supplier during a coffee plant disease in other locations. The Philippines cultivates all four major coffee varieties, Arabica, Robusta, Liberica (Barako), and Excelsa. (1) The Philippines is experiencing of a revival of specialty coffee and community-led cooperatives. T HE FAMILY’S STORY AND INTERVIEW: With the Philippine Coffee Culture beginning to take off in Negros Oriental, stimulated to some degree by the local Philippine Government. A team of intrepid Filipinos are trying to get ahead of the game. Therefore, Lorie Condrillon, a mother of three children, who lost her job selling big trucks and parts in Olongapo City due to COVID-19, decided to relocate. Lorie settled on Dumaguete City on the island of Negros Oriental. This proud mother was hoping for a new beginning, and a good location near universities for her children and more job prospects for herself. Consequently, she gathered up her mother along with three daughters and flew to Dumaguete City. With three daughters in grade school, one 11, 16, and an 18 year old in college, it was not an easy task. Imagine, packing up and moving all to a different location. Unfortunately, jobs still in Dumaguete were hard to come by. Lorie, exasperated by the lack of employment, and a longlasting love for coffee, found an investor who was willing to put...... Read more on Full Issue!