This Iloilo coffee shop doesn't mind people staying around at night for free Wi-Fi: 'We call it community'

By day, the Coffee Studio in Iloilo runs like a usual café—coffee makers firing away to serve steaming cups and regulars typing away at a keyboard as they sip lattes. There's a different story when the sign says closed, as groups of people sit outside in the night for free Wi-Fi.

After working as a barista for other cafés, Russell Luján opened his own in March 2023: Coffee Studio. In the coffee shop he runs with his family, including his dad Nereo Cajilig Luján, guests are treated to not just coffee and pastries but trinkets from the past like vintage cameras, rotary phones, and vinyl records.

In the past week, the owners started to see teenagers, mothers with children, and tricycle drivers on break in Barangay Hipodromo line outside Coffee Studio after closing time at 9 p.m., with their faces lit by phones.

"'Yung password ng Wi-Fi namin, since we opened hanggang ngayon, 'yun pa rin. We never changed it," Nereo told PhilSTAR L!fe. "Customers would come in and ask for the password. Hindi naman kami 'yung tipong kailangan may minimum order para mabigyan ng password. It's open season sa amin: free charging and free Wi-Fi."

He also shared that Coffee Studio leaves the Wi-Fi turned on even after they've closed for the night, as it transmits CCTV footage via the internet.

"What happened is that kahit 'yung mga customer na let's say nag-hiatus sila, mga two weeks bago bumalik, ganun pa rin 'yung password [ng Wi-Fi]. 'Yung mga tao naman diyan sa labas, 'yung mga nag-bo-board sa likod, alam nila 'yung password," Nereo said. Coffee Studio is located in the RBG Building, which is near boarding houses where employees and students stay.

"Alam ko namang may tumatambay doon kasi nagsasabi naman sila samin na, ‘Sir, last night gumamit ako ng WiFi niyo.’"

People staying outside their café at night and using the Wi-Fi is a welcome sight, Nereo said.

"Natutuwa naman ako na nakakatulong kami doon sa mga estudyante, sa mga neighbors namin na nakatira sa likod," he told L!fe, adding that it's somewhat like their corporate social responsiblity.

"Wala naman dagdag na bayad eh, so okay lang sa'min."

Nereo even joked that having people outside their store after hours was like having free security guards.

"In an age when access to information and communication is more necessity than luxury, something as simple as free Wi-Fi can make a real difference," he wrote in his July 18 post. "Some might call it freeloading. We call it community."

His post gained traction online, with several users praising their generosity.

"Private citizens like your son again stepping into the gap and providing services which are the government's responsibility," one Facebook user commented.

"This [is] touching. Using data is expensive in spite [of] many promos," another added.

'Friendly' cafe

The Coffee Studio is a jeepney ride away from schools like the University of San Agustin, St. Paul University Iloilo, and the University of the Philippines Visayas. However, several other cafés in the area are nearer to the students. Nereo admitted that because of this, their humble coffee shop struggles, but it holds its own thanks to students who come back for the coffee and the community.

"For example, mga architecture students, they have subjects na they need records from the government, I assist them," said Nereo, who works as the Chief of the Public Information and Community Affairs Office in Iloilo. "Parang naging pamilya na rin namin 'yung estudyante."

Though there are "disheartening" times when students would only order one drink and stay for the entire day at their lounge, the owners would get close to them. "I entertain [the students] with books, with music, kasi I have a vinyl collection and a turntable. I show them the technology na analog noon."

"For us, parang naging part ng mission namin is to help the students. Although, admittedly, it's affecting sales namin kung 'yung student nag-stay ng mga ilang hours... In the long run kasi, it's the relationship we build, na bumabalik sila," he shared.

In its early days, the family decided to make Wi-Fi and charging accessible for customers because Nereo's daughter, who was working in Manila at the time, shared that the cafés she went to provided such amenities. She wanted this for Coffee Studio, too. 

"There is dignity in shared spaces. There is power in access. And there is hope in small gestures—like a WiFi signal that doesn’t disappear just because the business is closed," Nereo said.

Coffee Studio is located at No. 19 Jalandoni Street, Iloilo City.

Their drinks start at P105 for a hot Americano and go up to P170 for a cold vanilla latte. They also serve non-coffee drinks, iced tea, frappes, rice meals, pastries, cakes, pasta, sandwiches, pancakes, and more.