Our story
Breaking Down Barriers Between Persons with and without Disabilities...
Cafes frequently visited by the main characters in Korean dramas are often filled with warm lighting, the rich aroma of coffee, and sweet desserts.
In Manila, the Philippines, Korean-style cafes inspired by the Korean Wave have also become increasingly popular. Yet HISBEANS Cafe in Quezon City stands apart.
HISBEANS Quezon Branch 1 is a space where persons with disabilities and non-disabled employees work side by side and grow together.
Through coffee, they continue their journey of breaking down social barriers and building an inclusive community where everyone belongs.
A First Step Toward Hope: HISBEANS Quezon Branch
Persons with disabilities may experience physical or mental challenges, yet they possess unique strengths and potential that no one else can replicate. What they lack is not ability, but a social structure that makes it difficult for them to access opportunities.
Unlike Korea, where companies are legally required to hire a certain percentage of persons with disabilities under a mandatory employment quota system, the Philippines lacks an enforceable legal framework for disability employment. As a result, many people with disabilities remain excluded from the labor market.
In response, Miral Welfare Foundation, in partnership with People With Fragrance Inc. and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), began planning the first HISBEANS cafe in 2019 based on a Civil Society Cooperation Program. After navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, HISBEANS Quezon Branch officially opened on July 30, 2021, in Quezon City, Philippines.
By July 2025, HISBEANS Cafe marked its fourth anniversary, establishing itself as a space of hope rooted in and embraced by the local community.
Where Persons With and Without Disabilities Become One Team
At HISBEANS Quezon Branch 1, a team of 11 staff works together each day: three non-disabled staff, four deaf, one with a partial visual impairment, two with developmental disabilities, and one with a physical disability.
Despite their different backgrounds and physical conditions, they come together as colleagues, serving each cup of coffee with care and sincerity to every customer.
Most customers do not initially notice that some staff members are persons with disabilities.
As they learn about HISBEANS’ mission and experience the high-quality service delivered by its passionate staff, they naturally come to understand that this is a truly meaningful and special cafe where people with and without disabilities work together as one team.
Learning the Value of Coexistence Through a One-Day Class
HISBEANS carries out various activities to engage and communicate with the local community.
In particular, the quarterly “Drip Coffee One-Day Class” is a hands-on program offered to general customers and social media followers, where baristas with disabilities participate as assistant instructors, gaining confidence while sharing professional skills.
Participants not only learn how to brew coffee, but also come to see persons with disabilities not as “special others” but as equal members of everyday life.
This experience becomes a meaningful opportunity for them to deepen their understanding of disability and to tangibly feel the value of coexistence.
HISBEANS’ New Challenge: Opening a Second Branch
In the Philippines, the rising popularity of K-dramas has sparked growing interest in Korean food and cafe culture.
Reflecting this local trend, HISBEANS is now preparing to open a second, restaurant-style branch.
The second branch aims to become a welcoming space for everyone, offering generous meals at reasonable prices and a menu designed to appeal to a wide range of customers.
Building on the experience of the first branch, HISBEANS aims to create more employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
HISBEANS is More Than Just a Cafe
HISBEANS is a space that not only helps break down social prejudice against persons with disabilities, but also supports their independence by providing a stable source of income.
The staff members who work here serve as mentors and role models, offering hope to persons with disabilities in the Philippines.
HISBEANS Cafe will continue striving to establish itself as a leading model for the employment of persons with disabilities. As a space where persons with and without disabilities work and dream together, it aspires to contribute to broader social change in the Philippines by expanding employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and creating more diverse pathways for all.