Forty years after Negrense women banded together during a devastating sugar crisis to sell homemade goods in Manila, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the landmark 40th Negros Trade Fair at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura that opened on Tuesday, Sept. 22, has proven that the province is “more than just sugar”.
Lacson and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. lauded the Negros producers and the Association of Negros Producers for the quality of their goods and their creativity that has spanned 40 years.
Negros Oriental Gov. Manuel “Chaco “ Sagarbarria and Lacson led the ringing of the bell to signal the fair’s opening, while Ilonggo singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan brought early holiday cheer by singing his iconic “Christmas in Our Hearts” as the audience sang along during the “Arima” opening program Tuesday afternoon.
Running through September 27 under the theme “Bútlak”—a Hiligaynon word for dawn and bloom—this year’s fair features 178 vendors showcasing the region’s food, fashion, handicrafts, and organic products.
Lacson in his speech reflected on the fair’s humble origins in 1985. What started as an emergency response to help families survive the collapse of the sugar industry has evolved into Metro Manila’s longest-running provincial trade fair.
“What started with a few producers and a few products has grown into a tradition that has lasted for forty years,” Lacson said. “What began as a response to a difficult period did not end when that period passed. The Trade Fair continued because the people behind it believed that our products, our skills, and our creativity deserved a place in the market.”
Lacson paid tribute to late stalwarts like Mr. Joey Gaston and early pioneers of the annual trade fair, promising that the provincial government would continue supporting the next generation of Negrense producers.
“Sugar remains an important part of our province and our history. But the Negros Trade Fair has shown us that there is so much more that our people can produce,” Lacson noted, citing growth across furniture, fashion, housewares, and tourism offerings.
To sustain this growth, Lacson said that the Provincial Technology and Livelihood Development Center currently provides direct support to 203 individual MSMEs, 15 young entrepreneurs, and 22 local associations representing over 500 members in Negros Occidental.
Acknowledging shifts in technology and global commerce over the past four decades, Lacson commended local producers for keeping the trade fair relevant through continuous adaptation while preserving its distinct cultural identity.
“I am a believer of the Negrense talent and products, and I know that with proper opportunities and innovation, our products can compete both in the local and global markets,” he said.
Echoing the governor’s sentiments, NTF chairperson Mary Ann Colmenares cited the fair’s historical role in empowering local communities—particularly wives of displaced sugar workers who turned home recipes and artisanal crafts like crochet, wood, clay, and bamboo items into sustainable businesses.
“We are proud that we have empowered thousands of women and men to diversify their livelihoods and build opportunities beyond the sugar industry that has long defined our island,” Colmenares said.
Colmenares stressed that the event is more than a commercial venture; it is a service to Negros built on a collaborative ecosystem of local governments, business support organizations, and private sector partners like SM.
To highlight the multigenerational impact of the movement, Colmenares pointed out two distinct participants at this year’s event: 97-year-old Mommy Emma Demerre from Dumaguete, who continues to create flowers out of sinamay, and 21-year-old Sabina, who launched her new brand at the fair.
“BUTLAK cuts across all ages and that should inspire us,” Colmenares said. “Let us make BUTLAK not just a celebration of 40 years of heritage, but a powerful commitment to ensure that the creativity, dreams, and hard work of the next generation of Negrense creatives have the opportunity to flourish.”*
[sibwp_form id=1]