THE micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) Week celebration of La Trinidad gathered local entrepreneurs to display their masterpieces over the weekend.
Together with the continuous cheering of the rain is the conduct of various activities that highlighted skills workshops and competitions.
Not known to many, while the entrepreneurs are promoting and marketing their products during the week, the Universal Multi-Purpose Cooperative (UMPC) graduated from being medium to large category accumulating a total asset of 105 million pesos. UMPC now belongs to the six large cooperatives existing in Benguet’s capital town.
Aside from the weeklong trade fair, this year’s celebration added diverse competitions for local and student entrepreneurs to demonstrate their skills and knowledge on the business industry.
For the token making contest, Ms. Florida Serrano emerged champion with her ref magnet as the winning piece. Serrano caught the nod of judges on her representation of La Trinidad by sketching flowers, strawberries, kayabang, an igorota and the famous Stobosa Colorful Homes using polymer clay. Ms. Melissa Thea Cordoviz occupied the second spot while Mr. Ariel Rei Layugan landed third. Ms. Marie Joy Tabanda and Ms. Sahrens Albuera grabbed fourth and fifth places, respectively.
Mr. Rey Costina lorded the amateur mobile photography contest. Costina captured the mist of the young morning at the strawberry farm while a farmer is seen attending to his crop. Mr. Joey Latogan placed second while Ms. Alessandra Nahaul settled for third. Nahaul, after winning the competition, posted on Facebook a picture of her together with the subject in her photo having a meal that drew thousands of “wow” and “like” reactions. Her subject is a vendor of rugs along the stretch of the Halsema highway. Mr. Kyle Mendoza and Mr. Jason Rey Rivera, respectively, won fourth and fifth spots.
The La Trinidad National High School representatives clinched the top prize in the first biz quiz bee. Students of Cordillera Regional Science High School were 5-point short of the champions. Kings College of the Philippines settled for third while Nazarene Learning Center and Alternative Learning System-Betag ranked fourth and fifth places, respectively.
The duo of Ms. Dahlia Licuben and Ms. Annalyn Kreis were declared champions in the product promotional video making contest. The siblings Ms. Phoebe, Ms. Judy and Ms. Amy Taynan won second place followed by Ms. Jenny Timbol and Ms. Jonalyn Fernandez. Meanwhile, Ms. Jona Damitan and Ms. Yuhanna Gal-ud came in fourth making the entry of Jordan Dawanis, Sanli Bangles and Mark Agoo placed fifth.
In the essay writing contest, the piece of Ms. Janelle Ann Tero won the top prize. Ms. Sharmaine Rose Lamsis landed second, Ms. Kyla Stephanie Tinda-an grabbed third and Mr. Jydreck Donato placed fourth. On the other hand, Ms. Efrhelyn Bagingao and Ms. Bea Margaret Chewachew tied in fifth place.
Municipal Mayor Romeo Salda and Vice-Mayor Roderick Awingan vowed to continuously support the annual conduct of the event to strengthen the business industry in the locality. More than 90 percent of existing business establishments in La Trinidad are MSMEs as reflected in the latest report of the Business and Licensing Permit Section.