Just before sunset, Kawa Café begins to fill with quiet chatter and the scent of fresh brews and buttered pastry. Located along Real Street in the town center, across from the Peñaranda Birthing Center, the café has quietly become a go-to spot for residents and travelers alike.

Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the modest coffee shop has earned a reputation for its espresso-based drinks and flaky croissants — a pairing not always expected in a small eastern Visayas municipality. But its appeal goes beyond the menu.

“The café’s name, ‘kawa,’ means coffee in Polish,” said the owner, who preferred not to be named. “But the idea was simple: to create a place where people can slow down.”

And many do. On most afternoons, students meet for group work while office workers stop by to decompress. Others arrive later in the day, hoping to catch the sky turning orange from the open-air patio. The pace is unhurried, the mood restorative.

Local Travel, Local Impact

Spots like Kawa Café illustrate the growing relevance of domestic tourism — not just in terms of movement, but in fostering a culture of appreciation for the local. As Filipinos seek out nearby destinations to unwind, towns like Kananga are seeing quiet but steady foot traffic from surrounding municipalities and even returnees from the cities.

For those living in Ormoc, Tacloban or even Baybay, the trip to Kananga is manageable — just over an hour by van or private vehicle. The nearest airport, Daniel Z. Romualdez in Tacloban, is serviced daily by flights from Manila and Cebu. From there, land travel connects visitors to Leyte’s smaller towns, many of which offer food, views, and experiences without the crowds.

“I used to spend weekends in the city,” said Donna L., a freelance writer from Ormoc. “But lately I’ve preferred places like Kawa. It’s quieter, more personal. I feel like I can breathe.”

Mental Wellness in Familiar Places

The World Health Organization has long noted the link between environment and mental health. Even short breaks in calming settings can reduce stress and promote mental clarity — benefits that don’t require crossing oceans or booking extended vacations.

“People often underestimate how healing it can be to just sit with a good drink, in good light, with no agenda,” said a local therapist who visits Kawa weekly.

The café’s calm environment, complemented by soft music and minimalist interiors, offers just that. While some visitors come for takeaway, many choose to stay — a quiet sign of how spaces can function as community anchors.

Sustaining Small Enterprises

Kawa Café also reflects how local tourism can contribute to small-scale economic development. It sources some ingredients from nearby markets and suppliers, and has helped create jobs for local youth.

“It’s not just about business,” the café’s baker said. “We’re part of the town. Every cup we serve supports someone here — the farmers, the delivery guys, even the tricycle drivers bringing people in.”

This kind of local economic loop is becoming more common in regional tourism. As travelers seek out authentic, community-based experiences, small businesses are filling in the gaps — not only catering to outsiders, but helping retain spending within the town.

Building with Intention

While Kananga is not a major tourism hub, the rise of places like Kawa Café demonstrates how local initiatives can drive thoughtful growth. The café maintains a limited waste footprint by discouraging single-use plastics and offering discounts to customers who bring reusable cups. Though modest in scale, these efforts reflect a broader interest in sustainable practices — ones that prioritize people and place.

For now, the café remains what it set out to be: a space to pause. But in doing so, it has also become a quiet destination — where coffee, croissants, and conversation meet, and where staying close to home doesn’t feel like settling.

By Jaja Agpalo