Sorry, I have been busy in the home and work front but I did managed to stop by two trade shows during the Peñafrancia Festival. A happy place for me!

The first one is the 2012 Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF). It includes traditional participants in food processing and handicraft producers as well as consolidators and franchise businesses. The Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair was organized by the Archdiocese of Caceres through the Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI). It’s origin traces back from Bishop Francisco Gainza who pioneered the First Agro-Industrial Fair in Bicol in 1875. The fair is geared towards alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship and solidarity that promotes integral development. (Cbanga360.net)

The second trade fair I attended is the first ever Bicol Travel and Food Expo (BITFEX).The 11th Regional Tourism Congress was held last September 12-16, 2012 at the fully air conditioned exhibit tent of the Avenue Plaza Hotel , the premiere boutique hotel in this city. The event was spearheaded by PBN TV5 and DZOK, in partnership with the City Government of Naga and Avenue Plaza Hotel, and in cooperation with the Department of Tourism V, the Department of Trade & Industry V, Department of Agriculture V, TESDA V, and the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC). (Bicol Mail)

A beautiful Lamp Stand

Bernadette De los Santos of La Huerta Organic Farm (An Agro Tourism in Cam Sur)

Me with Don Ramon of Bignay Wine (Gainza Trade Fair)

Me trying the chilled taho. He is also the one that made the furniture. He already exports furniture in Europe.

I enjoy going to trade shows that promote Filipino Products specifically Bicol Products. Always a passion of mine. I did meet a couple of vendors and traders who are of great talent. One even invited me to go to her organic farm in Baao (The La Huerta Organic & Leisure Farm) and also join her art group. I will do a post on a later date on each of this very talented vendors.

My home is slowly filling up with native handicraft from abaca, capiz, wooden, sweet tropical wines, bags, baskets, bauls and bayong. Even a walis! It is trully addicting for me. Besides a passion, I also like helping small artisans. With me buying their products, I get to help their business in a small way. When I have time, I also check the Naga City market, always hunting for products.  Plus, when I am in traveling within Bicol,  always make sure I check out the markets. It is a huge Cost Plus for me.

Me in Cebu Booth

Love the bag from Daraga!