Proud Lycean Baristas secured top honors at the 1st Fiamma Barista Championship – Final Round, with Grizelle Morezby Awat of BSIHM-CLOHS emerging as the Philippine Champion in the Non-Pro Category and Breanna Louise Oca of BSITTM finishing as 1st Runner-Up.
Awat’s championship finish earned her the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the Fiamma World Barista Championship in Portugal in September 2026, bringing her skills and the training she received at LPU–Batangas to an international competitive stage. Her victory, alongside Oca’s 1st Runner-Up finish, highlights the growing achievements of LPU–Batangas students in competitions that showcase specialized skills and industry-related competencies. Their performance reflects the University’s commitment to SDG 4: Quality Education, particularly in providing students with opportunities to apply classroom learning through hands-on training, skills development, and experiential learning. By allowing learners to test their abilities in professional and competitive settings, LPU–Batangas supports an educational environment that develops both technical competence and practical expertise.
For Awat, the Philippine championship marks the beginning of another chapter in her barista journey. Her qualification for the Fiamma World Barista Championship will give her the opportunity to compete internationally and represent the country alongside competitors from different backgrounds and coffee communities. Meanwhile, Oca’s 1st Runner-Up finish adds another distinction for LPU–Batangas at the competition, placing two Lycean baristas among the event’s top performers. The achievement is particularly significant for students pursuing programs connected to the hospitality and tourism industries, where technical skills, creativity, precision, and service excellence are essential competencies.
These accomplishments contribute to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by supporting the development of industry-ready graduates equipped with relevant skills for employment, professional growth, and participation in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Competitions such as the Fiamma Barista Championship also provide learners with opportunities to engage with current industry practices, strengthen specialized competencies, and explore innovation within their field. In this regard, the accomplishments of Awat and Oca support SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, particularly through the development of technical skills, innovation, and professional competencies that connect academic preparation with industry practice. For LPU–Batangas, the success of Awat and Oca reflects the University’s commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities for industry exposure, experiential learning, and professional development beyond the classroom. Their accomplishments demonstrate how education, skills training, and industry engagement can work together to prepare students for the demands of the workplace and broader professional community.
From the Philippine championship to the world stage, Awat and Oca’s achievements serve as an inspiration to fellow Lyceans to pursue their passions, sharpen their skills, and embrace opportunities that allow them to grow as future industry professionals. Her achievement, together with Oca’s strong finish, serves as a testament to the potential of Lyceans to excel in professional and international platforms while embodying the University’s commitment to Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
