Residents of Metro Manila and nearby cities provinces, especially natives of Catanduanes, have a chance to sample and buy products from the island as 29 local enterprises participate in the Orgullo Kan Bicol Regional Trade & Travel Fair at SM Megamall this Oct. 12-16, 2022.
“To those who are craving for food and non-food products proudly made by Catandunganon entrepreneurs, this is your chance to show your love and full support to our local pride,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office urged in its social media post.
Also up at the SM Megatrade Hall 2 on the 5th floor on Oct. 14 is the special performance of Boses Catanduanes by Nonong Icaranom, sponsored by the provincial government of Catanduanes headed by Governoe Joseph Cua and Vice Governor Peter Cua.
The 29 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are: Mamita’s Homemade Food Products, Nelia’s Food Products, Impling’s Special Delicacies, BVQ Enterprises, BVQ Enterprises, Alimer’s Food Products, Nild’s Special Pilinut Candy, Tesorero Food Products, Carol’s Food Products, Apanti Agri-Industrial Products and Development, A. Teves Enterprises, RCT Enterprises, Rene Bermejo’s Furniture, Sanny Barra’s Quality Brooms, JD Brooms Manufacturing, Belen’s Pinahamis na Pili, Nancy Food Products, Lanz Cassava Chips, Babaguan Handicrafts Manufacturing, Bagong Siglo Farmer Producers Association, Burak Integrated Garment Makers Association, Burac Hawan Ilaya Agriculture Cooperative, San Isidro Catanduanes Tree Planters Association Inc., Macutal Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, PARIK CARP Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Batong Paloway Agrarian Reform Cooperative, Jaz Handicraft, Catandungan Handy Crafts, Melfred Furniture Shop and Tiboor Crafts.
Among the products being exhibited and sold are assorted pili pastries and candies, camote chips, taro chips, latik, laing, tilmok, polvoron, narra and rattan furniture, cassava and veggie crackers, rice brew, abaca pinukpok, abaca craft and bags, abaca slippers, lasa brooms and lasa décor, cassava chips, caragumoy bags and baskets, noodles, and coco shell craft.
Eleven of participating MSMEs, mostly from the wearables and handicrafts sector, are introducing 33 new products they have developed.
The 29 exhibitors are from Virac (9), Bato (4), Caramoran (3), Bagamanoc (3), San Andres (2), Baras (2), Pandan (2), Panganiban (1) and Viga (1).
The Catanduanes contingent are occupying 14 booths with five of the exhibitors having their own booths, while the Bicol region delegation has a total of 97 exhibitors’ booths. Together with the institutional booths, the OKB Trade and Travel Fair has a total of 186 exhibitors.