BFGTF moves Peñafrancia trade fair to new location

By Jam Madrid NAGA CITY --- “Trade fair is not all about selling or generating income. Trade fair is about the entrepreneurial giftedness and ingenuity of the Filipinos. It is about creating outburst of the Filipino imagination, introducing products that satisfy both the mind and the stomach.” These were the words of the Archbishop of Caceres Rolando Octavus Tria-Tirona, OCD, D.D which he delivered during the press conference held August 22 at the Robinsons Place Atrium for the staging of the Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) this September. Bishop Francisco Gainza pioneered the First Agro-Industrial Fair in Bicol in 1875. The fair was revived and named after the good Bishop on September 2010 during the Tercentenary Celebration of “Ina,” Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Now on its 9th year, BFGTF as one of the features of the Peῆafrancia festivity, aims to provide as an avenue for poverty alleviation by promoting entrepreneurship in the region, as well as income for participaating stakeholders by showcasing the best of Bicol and other Philippine products. “It is about the entrepreneurial courage of the Filipino business sectors, be it big or small, to launch business and products in spite of difficult situations,” Tirona added. According to Rev. Fr. Marcel Emmanuel DP. Real of Caritas-Caceres, chair of the BFGTF, more than 90 exhibitors, greater than last year’s 70, have confirmed to participate in this year’s trade fair. This year, the trade fair will be held at Robinsons Place Naga-Atrium from September 6-16. “This is the ‘what’s new’ for the BFGTF this year. We are in a new location – the Robinsons Place Naga Atrium. This is more spacious, very accessible, very close to public utility vehicle terminals, sufficient parking space, there is comfort and security. Yes, the new location will be very favorable for all of us,” Real announced. Aside from the exhibits, the BFGTF will also conduct trainings on Visual Merchandising (Sept. 10), Mastering Social Media to Grow Your Business (Sept. 11), Simplified Accounting for Tax Purposes (Sept. 12), Marketing Essentials and Sales Strategies for Business (Sept. 13), and Business Continuity Planning (Sept. 14). Featured products in the trade fair are processed foods, handicrafts, fashion accessories, souvenirs, religious items, furniture, home furnishings, organic and natural produce, agricultural products, and marine products. At the press conference, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was sealed between the Archdiocese of Caceres and its partner agencies, namely; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Robinsons Place Naga for the successful staging of the trade fair. This year’s theme of the BFGTF is “Ina, Modelo nin Kapakumbabaan, Tabang-Lingkod sa Kabuhayan.”