Some days surprise you. What was supposed to be just a coffee crawl turned into a soulful trip through history, faith, and good food at Wave 2 of the Caloguran Coffee Crawl in Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
Sta. Rita is not just another small town on the map. It is a place where the sacred and the social blend together, and where every stop carries a story worth telling.
Before we fueled up with coffee and carbs, we were brought to the Sta. Rita de Cascia Parish, a 300-year-old Spanish-era church that houses the 1st Class Relic of Santa Rita de Cascia, Patroness of Impossible Causes.
St. Rita’s life is a testament to how faith flips the script on what we think is impossible. As a child, swarms of bees flew in and out of her mouth without harming her, a sign of divine favor. Later in life, she bore the stigmata on her forehead, carrying the visible mark of Christ’s suffering. And when she passed on in the dead of winter, a rose in bloom was on her garden, proof that grace does not follow the rules of the season.
Standing in front of her relic, you cannot help but feel it: the quiet certainty that impossibility has no power here. It was a grounding start, a sacred pause before the caffeine highs ahead.
After that spiritual recharge, it was time to explore the coffee culture that is brewing new life into Sta. Rita. Each café was not just about food, it was about personality, passion, and community.
Aw’s Brew + Salon by Wendy Booc
Nestled in Becuran, this spot is part café, part salon, and all about wellness. Open for just over a year, it is already the favorite hangout of the youth, especially with Becuran High School nearby. The menu reads like comfort food heaven: pasta alfredo, aligue pasta, Charlie Chan, clubhouse, spam and egg, chicken, corndogs, fries, and more. Pair it with their coffee and you are set for a chill hangout or an after-class refuel.
Cafe Athalia by Patricia Pineda
What began as a space for her daughter Athalia’s birthday has blossomed into a minimalist café with heart. Opened in August 2024, it now serves specialty coffee and a wide range of food, but with a twist. They also sell baby and sleepwear merchandise, making it a lifestyle nook as much as a café. There is even a quiet room designed for conferences or meetings, turning it into a versatile spot for both serious sit-downs and cozy catch-ups.
What makes the Caloguran Coffee Crawl special is that it is not just about hopping from one café to another. It is about uncovering the heart of Sta. Rita. From the centuries-old parish that reminds us of the power of the impossible to cafés that show the town’s creativity and warmth, every stop tells a story.
This crawl showed us that Sta. Rita is not just holding on to its past. It is actively brewing its future, one cup of coffee and one plate of sumptous food at a time.
By the end of Wave 2, I realized this was more than a coffee trip. It was a journey that fed the soul and the senses. Sta. Rita gave us history, faith, food, and caffeine all in one afternoon.
If you find yourself in Pampanga, carve out time for this town. Pause at the parish, soak in the silence, then head out to discover the cafés buzzing with life. Sta. Rita is proof that sometimes the best adventures are not about going far. They are about finding the stories and flavors waiting right where you are.
