25th Negros Trade Fair

The Negros Trade Fair will celebrate its 25th year at the Rockwell Tent on Sept 8-12 this year. Born when its home province of Negros Occidental faced an economic crisis in the 80’s, the Negros Trade Fair has become an engine of growth for its fledgling entrepreneurs.

Negros Trade Fair on its 25th Year

“A quarter of a century ago, 2,000 workers from livelihood communities produced 200,000 collapsible parols called the Stars of Hope. At that time, Negrenses peddled these with a line that said – Isang Parol, Isang Buhay. With a sense of urgency and deep commitment, Negrense volunteers became merchants with a heart to help fuel economic change in our beleaguered province. Today, with a force of workers that multiplies the original number, and after infusing millions of dollars and pesos into the Negrense economy, we will celebrate the Negros Story of Hope in this year’s Negros Trade Fair’” said Millie Kilayko, Chairperson of the Silver Edition Negros Trade Fair. Kilayko also coordinated the efforts of Negrense volunteers in overseeing the manufacturing process in eight production centers.

The first Negros Trade Fair was born in answer to a call for diversification. Coming full circle, the Negros Trade Fair has emerged as the longest-running, provincially organized trade show, providing alternative marketing opportunities for Negrense entrepreneurs. It has also become a model for many provinces which followed suit.

The Silver Edition Negros Trade Fair will showcase the latest innovative designs in furniture, lighting, and home furnishings, garments, bags, jewelry, and fashion accessories, testaments to the Negrense’s craftsmanship and ingenuity to transform rustic and indigenous materials to export quality products. Traditional Negrense favorites like inasal, fresh ubod lumpia, piaya, mango tarts, napoleones, and puto will also be on sale.

The five-day activity will also be the venue for special events. Among these events is the launching of the Silver Tiangge, coffee-table book portraying the evolution of Negrense design and taste in fashion, furniture and food. The USLS Institute of Culinary Arts chefs will conduct a Negros Kitchen Symphony, delighting audiences with their Fil-fusion creations.

The Silver Edition Negros Trade Fair is presented in part by The Province of Negros Occidental and the City of Bacolod, Pepsi Cola, San Miguel Corporation, Edades by Rockwell, Centrex, PLDT SME Nation, Negros Navigation, PhilExport, JRS Express Corporation, Orange Magazine.tv, The Lifestyle Network, Philippine Daily Inquirer, University of St. La Salle and the USLS Institute for Culinary Arts.

The Silver Edition Negros Trade Fair will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, please contact Kathleen Trebol at 0915-320-2031.

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