Published August 12, 2025 by Jenerwin M. Columna| Campus Information Officer
Cagayan State University’s (CSU) vision of becoming the province’s coffee tourism hub got a boost from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson and CSU Board of Regents Chair Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, who visited the campus on August 9 to sample its signature blends and unveil a brew named in her honor.
Part of her two-day tour of CSU campuses, Dr. Agrupis’ stop at Lal-lo placed the spotlight on the Php5-million Coffee Hub Program, an innovation-driven initiative integrating research, production, and tourism promoting coffee as niche program of CSU Lal-lo.
She sampled three of the university’s flagship roasts namely: Urdujah Premium, King Arthur Dark Roast, and Oliviante Robusta developed under the Coffeehub program.
Highlighting her visit was the launching the “Agrupis Blend,” a tribute to her Ilocana roots and leadership style "marked by beauty, brilliance, resilience, and innovation" as described by Dr. Ana Marie C. Cauilan, CSU Vice President for Internationalization and Resource Mobilization, and project leader of the Coffee Hub Program.
“Like its namesake, every brew is purposeful — bold, refined, and unapologetically excellent,” VP Cauilan said.
Dr. Agrupis also toured the coffee processing center, personally grinding beans for the first batch of her namesake blend.
During a short program at the CoffeeHub Café, the CHED Chairperson expressed optimism that CSU Lal-lo could grow beyond being a coffee hub to becoming the coffee tourism hub of Cagayan, encouraging the university community to submit well-crafted proposals that could secure funding and position the university to excel in the coffee industry.
Dr. Agrupis was joined by OIC University President Dr. Arthur G. Ibañez, former CSU President Dr. Urdujah G. Alvarado, CHED Regional Office II Regional Director Dr. Julieta M. Paras, university officials, and was welcomed by the campus officials at the newly opened CoffeeHub Café.
Photo| Emman Pascual via The CSU Lal-lo Innovator