For Mrs. Mambai Sapalon-Romasanta, 53, the way powdered native coffee is being sold in Cotabato City is just not presentable. In the public market, for example, ground coffee is being displayed in big mounds out in the open air like the way vendors sell rice.
And with the way Cotabateños prepare their coffee—brewing the coffee powder in a pot and letting it boil for a while—the drinker is bound to take in some of the gritty sludge, too.
Thus, Mambai thought of ways to drink a clean cup of coffee without going through the hassles specialty coffee lovers have to go through, like grinding the beans at home and using specialized brewing equipment.
Her solution: coffee in a tea bag! Just dip the bag in the cup, pour 200ml of boiling water, and in two to three minutes, enjoy your clean cup of delicious coffee.
Being a coffee connoisseur, the concept of indulging in coffee sparked a transformative journey in the life of Mambai, Maguindanaoan, a resident of Barangay Tamontaka-1 in Cotabato City. She said, as a family of coffee-lovers, it has been one of her interests to make something out of it and bring it to fruition.
Mambai also shared that as an entrepreneur, conceptualizing from scratch while having a small amount of capital posed a considerable challenge for them to start a business. Nevertheless, the drive to survive and provide support for their son becomes a compelling motivation for them to push forward.
Back in 2016, Mambai, along with her husband Sonny Romasanta, 50, native of Pangasinan, brought forth the idea of putting up a business by selling fermented fish or bagoong, along with native coffee, here in the heart of Cotabato City.
Thus, MSR Enterprises was born, now situated at Lataban Heritage, Purok Ibrahim in Barangay Tamontaka-1. But the couple call their store Ishmael Native Coffee, named after their only son. Ishmael, 20, is currently a college student majoring in mechanical engineering.
“Even before 2016, long before what we have now, my imagination was to elevate coffee powder into tea bags. I observed that the packaging of native coffee powder is not presentable,” she said.
It was in 2018 when they started to really invest in selling native coffee in tea bags. Mambai shared this was the year when they opted to join community exposures in the local market and admitted that their packaging was not that good yet.
“Along the way, while we are selling it, we were working on developing the product based on clients’ feedbacks,” she said.
Blessing from the Ministry
When the couple’s coffee in tea bag product was already in the level of complying with NutriPack requirements, it was timely when the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government was on its peak to support production lines of local Bangsamoro entrepreneurs.
The MOST provided technical support through its project called Technology Transfer and Commercialization Program (TTCP) intended for existing Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
“The MOST praised our product and said it has a potential to sell in the market,” Mambai recalled.
The couple added that they did not expect anything grand from the assistance provided by the Ministry as they merely complied with the requirements sought for as one of qualified project beneficiaries.
The BARMM provided a P500,000 worth of processing equipment, including a grinding machine, roasting machine, sealer machine, digitized weighing scale, vacuum machine, and stainless steel table, all of which are necessary in the production of Ishmael Native Coffee.
Further, the MSR Enterprises’ production area for coffee-making was also reorganized and renovated by the Ministry to ensure that cleanliness and sanitation are observed properly.
Mambai shared that the equipment not only alleviated the burden of doing manual labor but also ushered in a new era of mechanized production with the aid of technology from MOST.
“All those equipment have helped us a lot because we don’t have enough manpower.
We used to do it manually, now these have helped in our operation,” she said.
Paying forward to the Bangsamoro community
“Because of BARMM’s help, we are now able to help financially in the orphanage, madrasah, and the ustadz (Islamic teachers),” Mambai said.
Why Mambai is so keen on helping her fellow Bangsamoro, maybe her past has something to do with it—she is known as the infant survivor of the harrowing Manili Massacre, an event that shook the village in Carmen, North Cotabato, on June 19, 1971.
Born on May 18, 1970, she was merely a year-old toddler when she emerged as a survivor from the tragic incident.
The Manili Massacre was one of the most devastating events in the history of the Bangsamoro where more than 70 Moro civilians, including women and children, were killed inside the mosque of the village.
“I was still young back then. But that’s what they called me, the young survivor of the Manili Massacre,” Mambai said.
Having a soft spot for her fellow Bangsamoro, Mambai mentioned that giving charity aligns with the teachings of Islam. “The help we provide is not that much. You don’t have to wait to get rich to start helping others. We should help as soon as possible,” she said.
“As a Muslim, when you achieve something, you should find a way to share your blessings, especially to our community that is in need. For Ishmael Native Coffee, its ambition is to help the community. Thus, in pricing our products, even if we earn only a little, it’s okay,” she said.
Mambai continues to thank BARMM because “the trust they placed in me and my products was beyond measure.” She noted that BARMM’s ongoing assistance in providing exposure to her products became the bridge that connected her passion to a broader audience, making her dream a reality.
In June 2023, Ishmael Native Coffee had the opportunity to participate in the grandest coffee event in the country. Held in Manila, it was dubbed Philippine Coffee Expo (PCE) 2023, attended by over 100 coffee-producing organizations, companies, and key players in the country’s coffee industry.
When asked how they qualified to participate in the exhibit, she proudly shared that Ishmael Native Coffee is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), certified halal (حلال) by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board Inc., and had its patent registered and protected in accordance with the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
7 years in the making
Seven years after forming MSR Enterprises, Mambai, as the chief operating officer (CEO), confidently declared that their product stands competitively among other players in the local coffee market.
“We can say that our product is competitive with other products. It can keep up, although they say, based on feedback, it needs more development, especially in packaging,” she admitted.
Likewise, exciting additions are on the horizon for MSR Enterprises. Forthcoming are a chili garlic product and a unique non-caffeinated coffee substitute made from rice and corn. She hopes that as they expand their offerings, their customers will enjoy the new products and make every sip worthwhile.
When asked about their best qualities that would encapsulate those notable seven years of experience, Mambai and Sonny agreed that it is vital to embody and practice adaptability, being committed to service, and having strong work ethic.
“One should be always on the go,” Mambai stressed, as this demonstrates adaptability in today’s dynamic business landscape. She added that consistency to serve customers helps. “Even if it’s a small order, the dedication to serve must still be there,” she said.
Moreover, she emphasized that success does not happen overnight, so it is important not only to persevere but also to take time to relax, especially when one is feeling down.
“If we’re still struggling, still difficult to push forward, now that we’re on our seventh year. How much more for BARMM that’s only on its fourth year? People should understand that it is not that easy,” Mambai explained the Bangsamoro Government’s predicament.
“Success is associated with diligence. You cannot guarantee the success of your plan so you must be persistent and hardworking. No matter how good you start, if you don’t push, you will go nowhere. Diligence and perseverance should be in the mindset of those who plan to become entrepreneurs,” she advised.
Benefits and procedures
Moreover, Mambai proudly shared that Ishmael Native Coffee is the first of its kind in Cotabato City—coffee that is pouched in a tea bag, hence, making it convenient for coffee-lovers to enjoy a clean cup without that ugly sludge at the bottom of the cup.
She reminded everyone of the acknowledged health benefits of coffee, like gallstone prevention, anti-depressant, improves memory, less risk of diabetes, decreases risk of cancer, boosts metabolism, lowers risk of Parkinson’s Disease, antioxidant, performance enhancing, and gout prevention.
But she advises that consuming coffee without sugar or milk ensures the attainment of its health benefits. Opting for a plain, unsweetened brew is recommended for maximum health advantages, Mambai pointed out.
She said each bag can be reused for a second brew.
As she acknowledges the struggle of product exposure and utilizing the social media platform to promote their products, Mambai looks forward to achieving that someday Ishmael Native Coffee in a tea bag will be exported outside the country as a pride of the Bangsamoro community.
(Datu Norhamidin Dilangalen Mamasainged works as News Editor II at the Bangsamoro Information Office – BARMM. This article is supported by the Activate Bangsamoro project of The Asia Foundation with grant from the UK Government.)
