• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos yesterday praised the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) for transforming the province’s economic challenges into opportunities through creativity, innovation, and value-added products.
Speaking at the 40th Negros Trade Fair in Makati, Abalos said he was impressed by the growth of the event, recalling that it began 40 years ago with only about 30 booths at a Makati car park.
Today, the fair features around 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) occupying 178 booths, showcasing products that reflect the creativity, culture, and heritage of Negros.
Among the displays that caught his attention was a woven booth featuring a chandelier made by rebel returnees.
“Very beautiful,” Abalos said, citing it as an example of how creativity can open opportunities for communities. He also highlighted rubber shoes made from pineapple, which he described as “fascinating” for their ingenuity.
A longtime favorite, however, remained the traditional piaya. “Who would forget the piaya, which has been my favorite since I was small,” he added.
Abalos said he has a deep appreciation for culture and heritage, particularly that of Negros, which he noted was strongly represented at the trade fair.
He described the event with the word “Bútlak, meaning rising sun and bloom, symbolizing how communities can emerge from crises and create new opportunities.
“With the history of all these events, it just started after a crisis, a storm. There will always be a sunrise,” he said.
Drawing from his experience with coconut farmers, Abalos emphasized that success should not be measured solely by production volume but by the ability to develop by-products that improve livelihoods.
“The real test for success is not about the number of coconuts. The success is finding by-products of coconuts. It is about the quality of life of farmers,” he said
The same principle, Abalos said, applies in Negros, where the sugar industry and its communities have increasingly explored value-added products and other forms of creativity.
“That’s what you did in sugar of Negros, the by-products and creativity,” Abalos said.
He stressed that the initiatives of the ANP demonstrate how creativity and innovation can significantly help communities, especially when built on local industries, skills, and cultural heritage.
He said the 40th Negros Trade Fair stands as a testament to how Negros has continued to reinvent itself and create opportunities for its people despite the crises it has faced over the years. | GPB
