Nearing its first anniversary, Saint Louis University (SLU) Talged Center hosted the first run of its Matchstick Sessions dubbed “A Cup of Hope”. The name, “Matchstick Sessions”, is rooted from the program’s purpose which is for members of the SLU community to gather and learn about their passions and interests.
To officially begin the workshop, the host lit a matchstick to signify the spark in everyone and to begin the session. “Lighting the matchstick is a symbol of starting the session, lighting the flame in each one. By that light, you can discover opportunities to learn with people,” Ms. Geraldine B. Sanil, Talged Center’s head, stated.
Matchstick Sessions’ first run was held on 13-14 February 2025 and facilitated by Mr. Al Cyber F. Lomitao, a Mechatronics Engineering student who is passionate about coffee. As a coffee enthusiast, he got into coffee-making through Youtube then further enhanced his skills through various training sessions. Mr. Lomitao called the workshop “A Cup of Hope” to express their hard work as students. “Every cup that you make is a cup of hope to your sacrifices,” he said.
Mr. Lomitao started by discussing the fundamentals: the knowledge about coffee, its history, types, and processes. He even introduced the Bumakil coffee beans, which he called “Benguet’s Pride”, by letting the participants have a taste of its rich flavor and a whiff of its strong aroma.
After giving an insightful background on coffee, Mr. Lomitao taught the participants the basics of how to do latte art. Even without an espresso machine, the students learned how to do it themselves through a tool invented by the speaker himself which he called “Malasutla”. In his version, the process starts with swirling, integrating the ingredients, and then the pouring of frothed milk into the espresso to make the latte art. He showed the specifics of his hand movements and advised the participants to rely on muscle memory through repeated practice. “Just get with the feel of it,” he added.
The students’ first attempt at making latte art was done with effort and careful steps. Some had perfected the shape of hearts in their cups, while others decided to create something else. Their results may have varied, but the smiles on their faces and the laughter on their lips show that the shared experience was fun for them.
This session left a lasting impact on the students’ lives not only by teaching them how to make coffee and latte art in the comfort of their own homes, but also by providing them with a space where they can connect and engage with the community.
Just like in coffee-making, it is okay to make mistakes. As Mr. Lomitao expressed in his workshop, “Spilling is part of the process.”
In sum, the session represents Louisians’ perseverance towards achieving their dreams. The process of reaching dreams is like the process of coffee-making– who would have thought then that a bitter taste would turn into something tasteful and sweet. From bean to dream, indeed.
This immersive experience attests to SLU’s efforts to attain and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 4 (Quality Education), and 17 (Partnership for the Goals).(Article by Ydelvess Faith Morales, UIO Intern | Photos by Faithe Janerie Dugay, UIO Intern)
