ANP Trade Fair: Sustaining the luster and success after 27 years

IT IS never easy to sustain resounding success after years and years of having an annual trade especially with such a sophisticated and highly exposed clientele like the Manila crowd.

But nonetheless, the officers and members of the Association of Negros Producers met the challenge by calling on all past presidents to review past performances and inject fresh ideas as well to give this year’s trade a new oomph.

OOMPH and more it did.

For starters, a pre-opening salvo titled Governor’s Night was held. ANP always takes pride that from the onset of all trade fairs in Manila, our governors — from Gov. Daniel “Bitay” Lacson to the present — have never missed an opening and are there to welcome visitors and buyers and to share in the beauty and glory of handcrafted products made specially by Negrenses.

This year, Gov. Freddie Marañon hosted a Governor’s Night as an appreciation for the supporters over the 27 years that has kept the ANP afloat as well as to promote our beautiful island.

Between Facebook and text messages on the new venture, panic was definitely in the air as regrets poured in for failure to attend the evening’s event. But when D-NIGHT came, while the presence of local congressmen and board members were visibly felt, (perhaps with elections just around the corner and everyone solidifying their party lines) the place was overflowing with well wishers of people of note making the event most highly successful.

Food was exquisite, as prepared by Tony Boy Escalante of the famous Antonio’s. The ambience was as charming as the hospitality always felt when one visits our shores.

From the political scene who was staunch Negrense on his mother’s side, Senator Serge Osmeña, as well as former Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin who is a Silaynon. Friends, sponsors and many Negrense families who have made Manila home were there to be counted in. Thank you for your never ending trust and support!

Still surviving the euphoria of the past night, the trade fair opened with rocketing sales. Total sales for the first day of the 27th Negros Trade Fair more than doubled the previous year. It was fulfilling to see sales figures of the smaller producers leap upwards were the comments.

According to their personal statistics, two mentioned that this year’s first day sales were equivalent to last year’s total sales for 5 days. Let all the coming days be as bountiful as the first day!

Another revival was the Fashion Show. Awesome was the term used by the delighted crowd of the fashion accessories and clothes done by our ANP producers, as well as supporters like Bayo owned by the Dizon ladies, also from Bacolod.

Big thanks go to Ms. Reena Peña for piecing together the whole show. Lending time and personal appearance were Negrenses and children of Negrenses who served as models.

Congratulations are in order to all exhibitors who went "beyond limits" to show the best of what Negrenses can do. Kudos to all the members of the Organizing Committee and staff whose hard work has paid off.

How has the ANP annual trade fair sustained its luster and success over the 27 years?

ANP is ANP because we stand together and support each other. Congratulations to all of us.

Thank you, Lord, for your endless blessing always!