By Rowena T. Cruz Troy Arquiza, Bacardi's Global Master Blender, and Richie Cruz, a prominent Lambanog Advocate, lead a seminar on the g...
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| Troy Arquiza, Bacardi's Global Master Blender, and Richie Cruz, a prominent Lambanog Advocate, lead a seminar on the global future of lambanog during the First-Ever Philippine Lambanog Festival held at Casa Segunda in Lucena City. (The Luzonian) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon —Nestled in the heart of Quezon Province, a unique celebration unfolded as Lucena City hosted the first-ever Philippine Lambanog Festival. The event, which celebrated the iconic Filipino spirit lambanog, was held from August 26-27, 2025, at Casa Segunda, Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, in Barangay Ibabang Dupay, Lucena City, and served as a tribute to the province's rich heritage, history, and the hardworking spirit of its people.
Philippine Lambanog Festival is part of the 39th National Coconut Month celebration spearheaded by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Region IV-A, the festival was organized by the PCA, Pinoytender Management Consultancy, and Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation. The event recognized the significant role of the coconut industry in the region's economic growth and paid homage to the individuals who sustain this vital sector.
A key highlight of the festival was a special seminar on August 26 at Casa Segunda. While the morning session was designated for industry stakeholders, the public was granted access beginning at 1 p.m. Speakers, including Troy Arquiza, Bacardi's Global Master Blender, and Richie Cruz, a prominent Lambanog Advocate, addressed the remarkable transformation of lambanog from a local provincial drink into a premium spirit now served globally.
In addition to the seminar, the festival featured a variety of activities including heritage presentations, forums, craft demonstrations, tastings, and exhibits from local coconut-based enterprises. The event also included guided tours of various distilleries, which offered participants a firsthand look at the craftsmanship involved as they traced the entire production process, from the harvesting of fresh coconut sap to the traditional fermentation and distillation techniques that give lambanog its distinct character.
The festival positioned lambanog, a traditional coconut-based liquor, as a significant cultural and economic product of the province. Known as the "Lambanog Capital," Quezon is home to a century-old tradition of distilling this potent spirit, which is also known to have influenced the development of tequila. The event also celebrated the coconut, often called the "Tree of Life," for its vital role in the livelihood and history of the province.
Serving as a platform to bring together the community in celebration of a product that represents the ingenuity and resilience of the people of Quezon Province, organizers have expressed the intent for this inaugural event to become an annual tradition, aimed at further solidifying the province's position in the global market for its unique coconut spirit.
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