Bahandi at IFEX 2026: Axel Farm Closes Australia Deal at the DTI Region 8 Pavilion
The Gem of Eastern Visayas at IFEX
Bahandi. In Waray, the word means "gem." At IFEX Philippines 2026, the Bahandi Pavilion of DTI Region 8 lived up to its name — a showcase of Eastern Visayas' finest food products, gathered under one roof at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
From May 21 to 23, the pavilion brought together food producers from across the region — from the chocolate makers of Tanauan, Leyte to the calamansi processors of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Among them was Axel Integrated Farm of Talalora, Samar, with its booth displaying everything from Sukang Waray to Sapura Botanicals, Coconut Aminos, and Pure Ube Powder.
For three days, visitors from around the world walked through the Bahandi Pavilion. But one visitor, in particular, would change the course of Axel Farm's year.
A Meeting at the Booth
Yasmin Newman walked up to the Axel Farm booth not as a casual browser, but as someone who already understood what she was looking at. A Filipino-Australian food writer, photographer, and author of two acclaimed cookbooks — Under Coconut Skies and 7000 Islands — Newman has spent her career championing Filipino cuisine to international audiences. Her recipes have been featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, Broadsheet, and The West Australian. She knows vinegar. She knows coconut. And she knows when a product belongs in Australian kitchens.
At the booth, Newman tasted through the lineup. Sukang Waray — the sharp, clean traditional coconut vinegar that has been the backbone of Waray sawsawan for generations. Sinamak — spiced with native chilies and ginger. Cocestra — the sweet-tangy coconut balsamic that has become Axel Farm's flagship product. Coconut Aminos — a natural, low-sodium soy sauce alternative made from fermented coconut sap.
She asked about the production process. About the farmers. About the Halal certification the farm had recently earned. The conversation moved from sampling to business terms. By the end of IFEX, a deal was closed.
What the Deal Means
Newman will bring Axel Farm's coconut vinegar products into the Australian market through her network. Australia's appetite for Filipino food has grown significantly in recent years — driven in part by Newman's own cookbooks, which have introduced Filipino flavors to a new generation of Australian home cooks. Axel Farm's Halal-certified, traditionally crafted vinegars are a natural fit for this market.
"When Yasmin walked up to our booth, I knew she understood what we were trying to do," said Jayson Pascual, farm manager of Axel Integrated Farm. "She has spent her career telling the story of Filipino food to the world. When she tasted our Sukang Waray and started talking about how it would fit in Australian kitchens, I knew we had found the right partner."
The People Behind the Pavilion
None of this would have been possible without the support system that made Axel Farm's IFEX participation happen. DTI Samar and DTI Region 8 organized and funded Axel Farm's place in the Bahandi Pavilion — providing the booth, logistics, and market preparation that allowed a small farm from Samar to present its products on an international stage.
CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions), the organizer of IFEX Philippines, created the platform where these connections could happen. The Bahandi Pavilion itself — now a recognized brand in Philippine trade fairs — is the result of years of work by DTI Region 8 to elevate Eastern Visayas products to export-ready status.
The results of that work were visible throughout IFEX 2026. Across the nine MSMEs from Region 8 that participated, tentative retail sales reached P1.58 million, export sales hit $23,500, and a total of 18 business leads were generated. The deal with Newman was one of those leads — and it may prove to be one of the most significant.
Secret Kitchens of Samar
Beyond the booth, IFEX 2026 also featured the "Secret Kitchens of Samar: Heritage Flavors Reimagined" event at the IFEX Kitchen Gastronomy Exchange — where chefs reinterpreted traditional Samar dishes for a contemporary audience, using Axel Farm products as key ingredients. The event was a reminder that Samar's culinary heritage is not just surviving, but evolving — and that the products coming out of Talalora are ready for the world.
From Talalora to Australia
For Axel Integrated Farm, the Bahandi Pavilion experience at IFEX 2026 was proof of a simple truth: that a farm from a small coastal town in Samar can stand on the same floor as international buyers and walk away with a deal. The journey from Talalora to a signed partnership in Australia did not happen overnight — it was built through years of product development, Halal certification, trade fair participation, and the steady support of DTI and CITEM.
Behind every bottle is a farmer. And now, that bottle is crossing oceans.
Behind Every Bottle Is a Farmer. — Axel Integrated Farm, Talalora, Samar