BOHOL — Bohol is famous for the Chocolate Hills. This year, it brought actual chocolate to the tables of Southeast Asian leaders. Handcrafted bonbons made from Bohol-grown cacao were served exclusively to ASEAN heads of state during the Gala Night in Cebu. The selection marked a milestone for the province's emerging cacao industry.
First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos personally chose the bonbons created by Rose Amores-Hudson, founder of Victoria Amores Chocolates. The calamansi cheesecake flavor was specifically requested for the leaders' menu. "Every detail was thoughtfully arranged to give our ASEAN guests a warm and meaningful Filipino experience," the first lady said. Hudson's Filipino-inspired varieties include mango float, puto maya, latik, turon, ube, and buko pandan.
From Summer Sikwate to ASEAN Tables
Hudson's connection to cacao began in her younger years, during summers in Bohol, where memories were tied to sikwate made by her father. When she later married and settled in Bohol, her husband asked why a province known for the Chocolate Hills had no actual chocolate farm. That question sparked a journey that would transform the local cacao industry.
A year before the ASEAN summit, Hudson brought her bonbons to Malacañang, where the first lady tasted them. "For some reason, for this ASEAN, she remembered those flavors," Hudson said. Through partner Anzani Restaurant, the caterer for the gala night, her creations reached the leaders' table. She described the recognition as both humbling and affirming.
Rebuilding Farmer Confidence, One Bean at a Time
Hudson discovered that local growers had been discouraged after a supply contract failed. Farmers were left with sacks of cacao and no buyer. She began bringing cacao home, transforming it into bonbons, and sharing them with the same farmers who had lost hope. "Nagpagana pa sila og kaon kay mura kuno og imported," she said. "But I told them, 'No, these are actually your cacao.'"
The effort led to the establishment of Bohol Chocolate Farm in Sagbayan. The farm operates as a full value-chain enterprise, from nursery to processing to chocolate production. It is the only farm in Bohol carrying the entire value chain, with a nursery accredited by the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Department of Agriculture. At least 10 cacao growers now partner with the farm.
A Growing Destination for Chocolate Tourism
The farm now welcomes tourists for hands-on chocolate-making experiences. Visitors can purchase cacao-based products including chocolate bars, cacao tea, snacks, vinegar, and even cacao-based rum and beer. Hudson hopes to expand the Chocolate Hills experience with chocolate-farm tourism. "Nailhan man gyud ang Bohol sa Chocolate Hills, yes, makatilaw na gyud sila sa chocolate," she said.
Looking ahead, Hudson aims for Bohol cacao to gain recognition in Cacao of Excellence, a global competition identifying the world's highest-quality beans. For now, the ASEAN recognition serves as proof that Bohol's soil can produce world-class chocolate. From the Chocolate Hills to the leaders' table, the province's cacao has arrived.
