From Samar to the World: Axel Farm Joins 9 Eastern Visayas MSMEs at IFEX Philippines 2026

From Samar to the World: Axel Farm Joins 9 Eastern Visayas MSMEs at IFEX Philippines 2026

More Than a Booth at a Trade Fair

When nine small enterprises from Eastern Visayas flew to Manila for IFEX Philippines 2026, they carried more than product samples. They carried the reputation of an entire region — and the hope that local flavors could compete on a global stage.

The numbers, now being finalized by the Department of Trade and Industry Region 8, tell the story: tentative retail sales of P1,583,652, export sales of $23,500, and a total of 18 business leads — 11 domestic, 3 institutional buyers, and 4 foreign buyer leads. These are not just statistics. They are conversations that turned into contracts, samples that turned into orders, and handshakes that turned into trade bridges.

Axel Integrated Farm of Talalora, Samar was one of those nine enterprises. For farm manager Jayson Pascual, who had already attended IFEX months earlier to scout opportunities and build relationships, the 2026 edition was a different experience — one where Axel Farm arrived not as a newcomer, but as a growing enterprise with a story to tell.

The Nine MSMEs That Represented Region 8

Eastern Visayas sent a diverse lineup of food producers to IFEX 2026, each bringing a unique piece of the region's culinary heritage:

  • Buhay Chocolates (Tanauan, Leyte) — handcrafted chocolate bars, bonbons, and tablea
  • Mary's Abuyog Tsokoleyt Moron Atbp. (Tacloban City) — moron and sagmani in modern packaging
  • Alboco Food Industry — organic peanut-based products
  • Island's Best Foods (Guiuan, Eastern Samar) — calamansi concentrate and coconut-infused beverages
  • Axel Integrated Farm (Talalora, Samar) — coco amino seasonings, coconut sap beverages, and traditional vinegars
  • Herbal processors from Baybay City
  • Coconut vinegar innovators from Samar
  • Other producers from Ormoc City, Libagon, and Southern Leyte

The Numbers Behind the Mission

Anthea Aivi Ancheta, DTI-8 information officer, framed the results in context: "These numbers reflect growing confidence in Eastern Visayas MSMEs as competitive players in both domestic and export markets."

For Axel Farm, IFEX 2026 was particularly significant. It came just weeks before the farm's Halal certification from Prime Certification — meaning the products being sampled and negotiated at IFEX would soon carry Halal certification, making them eligible for Middle East and ASEAN Muslim markets.

The P1.58 million in tentative retail sales across the nine MSMEs may seem modest compared to large food conglomerates. But for enterprises operating out of Talalora, Tanauan, and Guiuan — towns where a single processing facility can transform an entire community's economy — these numbers represent real progress.

Secret Kitchens of Samar: Heritage on a Plate

A highlight of IFEX 2026 was the "Secret Kitchens of Samar: Heritage Flavors Reimagined" event at the IFEX Kitchen Gastronomy Exchange. Chefs and food advocates reinterpreted traditional Samar dishes into contemporary cuisine — proof that the region's culinary heritage is not just surviving but evolving.

For Axel Farm, this was more than a cooking demonstration. The products featured in the Secret Kitchens segment — Sukang Waray, Cocestra, Sinamak, Coconut Aminos — are the same ones being sampled by international buyers. The heritage that defines Samar's food culture is the same heritage being packaged for export.

Building Trade Bridges, One Lead at a Time

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his greetings to IFEX 2026, commended the event for advancing economic growth and global competitiveness in the food sector. For the nine MSMEs from Eastern Visayas, those words carried weight.

The four foreign buyer leads generated at IFEX 2026 represent potential entry points into markets that Eastern Visayas enterprises have historically struggled to reach. Combined with the 11 domestic leads and 3 institutional buyer connections, these 18 leads form the foundation of a growing export pipeline for the region.

DTI-8 views the participation as part of a national push to turn global linkages into tangible economic gains for local producers. The agency's support — from trade fair logistics to capacity building — has been instrumental in getting Region 8 products onto international tables.

The Road Ahead

For Axel Integrated Farm, IFEX 2026 was another step in a journey that began in the coconut groves of Talalora. From hosting 32 farmers for CFIDP training in July 2024, to being featured at the ACEBA circular economy forum in October 2025, to earning Halal certification in May 2026 — each milestone connects back to the same mission: proving that a farm from Samar can compete on the global stage.

As the PIA feature concluded: "Small enterprises from the region found themselves at the intersection of tradition and opportunity — where local flavors are no longer just shared at home, but increasingly sought after around the world."

Behind Every Bottle Is a Farmer. — Axel Integrated Farm, Talalora, Samar

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