THE Association of Negros Producers (ANP) inaugurated its new Bugana Market Pavilion located just beside their showroom at the South Capitol Road in Bacolod City Thursday, August 18, 2022.
ANP President Arlene Infante led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting along with Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II, Brigadier General Inocencio Pasaporte of the Philippine Army and Provincial Tourism Officer Cherryl Decena.
Now in its 36 years, ANP is still unraveling and rising to be one of the tides that lifted all boats, Infante said.
She said that the pandemic has closed down the ANP Showroom at Robinsons Mall and they also lost their office and training center at Lacson Street which resulted in the loss as well of their staff and some members.
Since we are a private association, we rely on the revenue of our showroom, training and sometimes short-term project management from our external partners.
For all its popularity, the Negros Trade Fair in Glorietta is not a revenue source for ANP but a revenue platform for our individual members. And we don't mind that. Somehow, we were surviving for three and a half decades."
She acknowledged the big help of Provincial Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for funding the establishment of the 35 square meter Negros Showroom worth P5 million with the free use of the 1,000 square meter property for 25 years.
For his part, Diaz, who represented Lacson in the event, congratulated ANP for this new endeavor.
Diaz said he has seen ANP as much stronger than ever, from a homeless association to having its permanent home for 25 years without rentals, free electricity and water, this is how the Governor supports ANP unconditionally.
He said that the governor always reminds him to make sure that ANP will always get support from the provincial government.
“This is the seed that we have planted for ANP that did not only address the economic and social aspect but likewise reached out to communities by transforming the lives of our brothers and sisters in the province,” Diaz also said.
The provincial official also helped maintain peace and order necessary to make sure that progress will trickle down to the least of our brothers and sisters. This gives us a lot of pride to celebrate with you.
Meanwhile, Mary Ann Colmenares, Vice President for Advocacy of ANP also announced the 36th ANP Trade Fair in Glorietta on September 20-25, 2022 with the theme "Hidlaw."
It is considered the country's longest-running provincial Trade Fair held in Metro Manila every year since 1985.
This is the signature activity of the ANP in partnership with the Province of Negros Occidental that showcases the brilliance, authenticity and dynamic partnerships of everything that is Negrense.
It has become a venue for everyone in Metro Manila to reconnect with their Negrense roots, celebrate the artistry and creativity in the homestyle, furniture and gift products that we create, savor the flavors and textures of the delicacies, pastries and traditional recipe of our comfort food, she said.
The ANP Negros Trade returns after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic.
Colmenares said this year’s theme speaks to how much we have missed hosting and celebrating an event that we have been undertaking every year since 1985.