In celebration of National Coffee Month, this October series of Good and Green episodes features inspiring stories from Filipino coffee advocates and entrepreneurs. In this episode, Chit Juan sits down with Imelda Dagus, founder and CEO of Dennis Coffee Garden, the first heritage coffeehouse brand rooted in the Kahawa Sug tradition of the Sulu Archipelago. Imelda shares how she transformed her family’s 1962 coffee legacy into a thriving business that uplifts farmers, preserves Tausug culture, and empowers communities. From her years as an OFW to becoming a cultural entrepreneur, Imelda reflects on legacy, sustainability, and the power of coming home to build something meaningful.

GUEST BIO:

Imelda A. Dagus is the Founder and CEO of Dennis Coffee Garden, a pioneering heritage coffeehouse from the Sulu Archipelago that celebrates the Kahawa Sug coffee tradition. Under her leadership, the brand has expanded into multiple branches in Zamboanga City, launched bottled coffee products, and established a roastery and nursery to strengthen its local supply chain. Imelda is also President of Suluk Holdings, Inc., integrating multiple business units for scalable growth and sustainability. Her work has earned her national and regional recognition, including the Inspiring Filipina Entrepreneurs Award (2017), Outstanding ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Award (2018), and the Peace Weaver Award for Cultural Preservation through Entrepreneurship (2024). A lifelong advocate for heritage-based enterprise, she is currently enrolled in the Master in Entrepreneurship program at the Asian Institute of Management.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

• How a 1962 family café inspired a modern heritage coffee brand.
• Preserving Tausug culture through Kahawa Sug coffee and traditional pastries.
• From OFW life abroad to building a legacy-driven enterprise at home.
• Empowering farmers and youth through sustainable, inclusive business practices.
• Faith, heritage, and leadership as anchors for lasting community impact.

QUOTES:

• It was more than just opening a cafe for me. It was about continuing my grandmother's legacy. — Imelda Dagus
• Drinking coffee is a way of life for us. — Imelda Dagus
• You can't stop a good thing. — Chit Juan
• I see Dennis Coffee Garden as a platform to earn money, preserve culture, empower out of school youth, and help the farmers. — Imelda Dagus
• My mantra is: if I can do something to help not just my family, but the whole community, why not? — Imelda Dagus
• Good and green means keeping our roots alive, preserving Tausug heritage, honoring our farmers, and caring for the land that sustains us. — Imelda Dagus

LINKS or RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Connect with Imelda Dagus on:

• Dennis Coffee Garden Website - https://denniscoffeegarden.com
• Dennis Coffee Garden on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/denniscoffeegarden/
• Dennis Coffee Garden on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/denniscoffeegarden

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Register for the 1st Philippine Coffee Sustainability Congress at bit.ly/phcoffeecongress. For more information, visit the Philippine Coffee Board website at www.philcoffeeboard.com or email [email protected].

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