A Taste of Heritage: Cordillera Cacao Shines at John Hay Hotels

Amidst the cool mountain breeze and towering pine trees of the Cordilleras, a unique experience unfolds at John Hay Hotels, one that blends heritage, artistry, and conscious craftsmanship into a celebration of cacao’s rich legacy.

Through an exclusive partnership with Angeleah Montilde, Baguio-based founder and chocolatier of Kokomo Chocolate, John Hay Hotels presents artisan chocolate-making workshops that immerse guests in purposeful luxury, featuring the ancestral rhythms of Cordillera cacao, from its origins in the highland soil to the delicately crafted bars that tell stories of community and culture.

“This partnership with Kokomo Chocolate isn’t just about making good chocolate, it’s about giving our guests a genuine connection to the land, its people, and their stories,” says Erickson Y. Manzano, President and CEO of Landco Pacific Corporation and Landco Lifestyle Ventures. “At John Hay Hotels, purposeful luxury means every experience must have soul. Sustainability, heritage, and storytelling, these aren’t marketing words for us. They’re what make these chocolate workshops special. Guests don’t just taste chocolate here; they taste the Cordilleras.”

“The artisanal chocolate workshop is more than an indulgence,” adds Montilde. “It’s a living tradition, a bridge connecting generations of farmers, artisans, and lovers of craft. Every bean holds a narrative of resilience, place, and care.”

“The act of making chocolate is an act of reverence,” Montilde reflects. “It honors the hands that nurture the trees, the earth that feeds them, and the stories that shape our identity. Sharing this process at John Hay Hotels brings that reverence to light for everyone who joins us.”

“Chocolate, for me, is ancestral. It’s a story of heirloom cacao, the rituals that surround it, and the communities who nurture it,” Montilde further shares. “When guests temper chocolate with their own hands, they feel its rhythm. They understand its roots, giving voice to the quiet history and heritage of the Cordilleras. It becomes a kind of remembering.”

This artisan chocolate workshop is part of John Hay Hotels’ purposeful luxury initiative, reflecting a brand signature of Landco Lifestyle Ventures: meaningful storytelling through immersive experiences. From cultural encounters with Baguio Mountain Man to sustainable practices rooted in the Cordilleras, each activity invites guests to connect deeply with the region’s rich heritage and sense of place.

The workshop series is held in the serene settings of John Hay Hotels, inviting visitors to experience cacao’s transformative journey hands-on. Beyond the technique, the workshops celebrate sensory storytelling: the subtle snap of tempered chocolate, the scent of roasted beans mingling with pine, the whisper of stories passed down through farming families. Guests are guided through tasting rituals, bean-to-bar processes, tempering rich single-origin chocolate, and crafting their own handcrafted bars, each a personal homage to the terroir and spirit of the Cordilleras.

Kokomo’s commitment goes beyond flavor; it’s a movement that uplifts local livelihoods, promotes zero-waste production, and honors the cultural heritage of cacao farming. This vision aligns seamlessly with John Hay Hotels’ philosophy of purposeful luxury, where experiences enrich the soul as much as they delight the senses.

Sourcing beans exclusively from smallholder farms in Benguet, Mt. Province, and surrounding Cordillera communities, Kokomo champions sustainable farming practices and supports farmers who have tended heirloom cacao trees for decades. This dedication preserves rare cacao varieties, some believed to trace back to the original Criollo beans brought by the Spanish in the 17th century. These cacao varieties, prized for their distinct flavor profiles, are fermented and roasted with care, honoring both environmental sustainability and cultural continuity.

Guests interested in experiencing the artisanal chocolate workshops may call (074) 637 4720 | (074) 637 472 | (+63) 939 986 4120; email: [email protected]; or visit Landco Lifestyle Ventures website www.landcolifestyleventures.com.