Key figures weigh in on how 'Barako Fest 2025' celebrates the Batangueño spirit

Growing up in Batangas City until I was twelve years old and still going back to our home in Rosario every year, the province is very dear to me. In particular, I have seen the growth of Lipa through the years. The ongoing Barako Fest 2025 in the city of Lipa, Batangas is more than just a celebration of the province’s diverse culture and rich tradition. It is also a way to draw tourism into the land of the kapeng barako and promote micro and macro entrepreneurship of the province.

Event-goers can still catch the 2025 edition, now happening at the Manila-Batangas Bypass Road, Marawoy, Lipa City until today, February 15.

As Luis “Lucky” Manzano, running for Vice-Governor of Batangas, put it, “Barako Fest, isang napakagandang selebrasyon po ito ng anything and everything Batangueño. Isang bagay po ito na ating pinagmamalaki na nagsimula lang po ito ay 3 years ago kung hindi ako nagkamali.”

The Barako Fest 2025 was organized by Mentorque Productions headed by John Bryan Diamante, in partnership with San Miguel Corporation and Angkas and supported by various local businesses and stakeholders. Juan Karlos, Arthur Nery, Al James, Nik Makino and will perform at the music fest while Boss Toyo, Von Ordoña, Dane Grospe, Cherry White, Whamos, Pio Balbuena, Toni Fowler, Ava Mendez, Sachzna Laparan, Ato and friends, Jayzar Recinto and Bisaya Squad will be part of the content creator fest.

“The Star for All Seasons” and former Batangas governor and congresswoman Vilma Santos-Recto, together with her sons Luis Manzano and Ryan Christian Santos-Recto, led the opening of the festival along with Luis’ wife, Jessy Mendiola, Lipa mayor Eric Africa, Lipa councilor Mikee Morada, Batangas city local officials, event sponsors and partners.

Bryan Diamante, head of Mentorque Productions and Team Talino at Puso behind Barako Fest, said, “It is with great pride and excitement that we welcome you all to Barako Fest, a celebration that goes beyond coffee.”

Diamante added, “While we take immense pride in our world-renowned kapeng Barako, this festival is also about something greater, the spirit, resilience, and values of Batangueños.”

“BarakoFest is a tribute to the strength, courage, and unity that define us as people. Just like our bold and strong coffee, Batangueños stand firm, face challenges head-on, and embrace progress while staying true to our roots. This festival is a testament of our shared vision, uplifting our culture, supporting our local industries, and ensuring a bright future for our province. None of this will be possible without the unwavering support of many individuals and institutions,” Diamante emphasized.

He paid tribute to Batangas leaders. “Their leadership and commitment to progress of Lipa have been instrumental to ensuring, of course, the success of Barako Fest.”

Diamante expressed his gratitude to the people who made the festival possible. “And lastly, sa lahat po ng aming partners, sa lahat po ng aming sponsors, the local farmers, the artisan, the business owners, and the proud and every proud Batangueño. Maraming maraming salamat po.”

“The festival is for all of us, a celebration of our roots, our values, and our future. Let us enjoy the festivity, honor our heritage, and continue building a legacy worth remembering. Mabuhay po ang Barako Fest. Mabuhay po ang lahat ng Batangueño. Mabuhay po ang Batangas. Maraming maraming salamat po!” Diamante concluded.

CEO and co-founder, Angkas and 107 Angkasangga Partylist Representative George Royeca shared his observation about the festival. “Nakita ko po yung Barako Fest mula sa maliit pa, ngayon lumaki na po. And this is really the true testament of the talent of the Batangueños. At talagang every time po nandito po ko sa Barako Fest, talagang tuwang-tuwa po lahat ng mga tao. Hindi lang po mga Lipeño but lahat ng mga tao po sa buong Batangas. Kaya dito po every year palaki nang palaki and we will always support Barako Fest. Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng nagtaguyod ng Barako Fest.”

Royeca also talked about the impact of Barako Fest on Batangas. “The job of our officials is to create more opportunities dun sa kanilang nasasakupan. And Barako Festiival, ang kanyang testingan, is gano nagpo-flourish yung ating mga negosyo. Kasi at the end of the day, maganda kalusugan mo, tapos ka ng eskwela, ending walang trabaho, walang oportunidad, nganga. So that’s the idea. To really bring more people, and we see it, and that’s actually challenging everyone.”

“Kaya lagi nilang sinasabi, ang tagal na ng mga politiko dun, hindi pa rin tapos. Actually po, iba-ibang challenge every year. Ngayon talaga po nakikita niyo, we’re focused also on creating more opportunities. Yung pagbubukas ng mga roads, itong Manila-Batangas bypass road is opening more economic opportunity para po sa lalawigan ng Batangas. And that’s the idea of Barako Fest. Thank you.”

Ryan Christian Recto, running for the 6th congressional district of Batangas, shared what he thinks is special about Barako Fest. “’Yung Barako Fest po unang-una, sadya pong ipinagmamalaki namin itong festival na ito kasi first and foremost, dito nagtitipon-tipon po yung iba’t-ibang bayan. Pumupunta po dito sila sa Barako Fest para i-showcase ang kanilang mga produkto na opinagmamalaki nila sa mga iba’t-ibang bayan nila.”

“And of course, pati na rin sa mga entrepreneurs, mga negosyate dine sa Lipa, nagsho-showcasing sila ng mga produkto sa trade fest and sa food fest. At sana naman po sila po ay ating tangkilikin ho,” Recto added.

“At pangalawa naman po, of course, marami rin pong mga ganap dine sa Barako Fest for all the festival goers. May mga sports fest, basketball games, may billiards, at may drift fest and motocross also. And may mga contests and games rin as well. Maraming salamat Cong. George for the Angkeys donating and Cong. EG, salamat po for donating all the cars. Thank you for that.”

“And lastly po yung paborito ko about the whole festival is the music fest. Today nga may Battle of the Bands and then bukas may Rave Fest and on the 15th you have the big concert with all the celebrity guests. And I’m very looking forward to that.”

“Sa totoo lang po, the whole Barako Fest team worked very hard for this. You have Bryan and the whole company. At ang gusto lang po namin ay makatunong at magpasaya ng mga tao. At kaya maraming maraming salamat po sa pagdalo and hope to see you guys around the festival.”

“Kita-kita ho tayo dine sa festival grounds,” Recto ended.

Vilma Santos-Recto, running for Governor of Batangas, acknowledged the people behind the festival. “Sa atin naman pong Barako Fest, palakpakan naman po natin ang team ng ating Barako Fest, kasama na rin ng mga national agencies, pinangungunahan ng team natin si Bryan Diamante. Bryan, sa inyong hard work with all your staff, and then yung kapareha nating mga private sectors, and at the same time mga ating DPWH kanina, kasama natin sila, palagpakan naman po natin silang lahat.”

Santos-Recto emphasized the value of teamwork. “Teamwork, that is the magic word, teamwork. Kahit anong galing mo, Bryan, pag hindi ka nasamahan ng iba na magagaling din, hindi tayo magiging matagumpay. And I think that is the magic word, teamwork.”

“We will continue to work as a team and we will continue to work as a family here in the province of Batangas.”

“Barako Fest, this is our third year. We’re very proud of this Barako Fest kasi ito ngayon ang inilalatag namin dito sa Lipa, kasama na po ang iba’t ibang bayan ng ating lalawigan. Marami po kaming puwedeng ipagmalaki sa Baracofest. Lahat po ng mga kaya namin ipagmalaki sa Batangas ay lalabas at lalabas habang nag-go-grow, habang tumatagal pa ang aming Barako Fest. Ngayon po ay nakafocus tayo dito sa Lipa. There will come a time, iikot na natin dito sa buong lalawigan ng Batangas,” Santos-Recto shared.

Manzano shared his vision for the festival. “Sa nakikita po natin sa support na binibigay, hindi lamang ng Lipa, kundi ng bawat Batangueño, pati buong Pilipinas nagdadagsaan dito sa Barako Fest. Ito na po yung simula na pag pinag-usapan natin ang lalawigan ng Batangas, hindi lang pag-uusapan ang kape, hindi lang pag-uusapan ang balisong. ‘Pag sinabing Batangas, may magsasabi na, ‘Teka, d’yan yung Barako Fest ‘di ba? Ay gusto ko magpuntahan ‘yan!’ At lahat yan ay dahil sa inyong lahat. Kaya maraming maraming salamat.”

With the support of the Batangueños and the hard work of the organizers, Barako Fest is sure to grow bigger and better in the years to come.