THE TREMENDOUS success of the 39th Negros Trade Fair (NTF)—held for the first time at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura in Taguig City from September 23 to 28—was not just about the millions of pesos in revenues it generated.
It was also a piece of an untold story about the powerful mix of greed, grit, and gains.
Recent figures behind this year’s NTF, themed “Himbon” (to gather), are impressive: ₱54.5 million in spot sales and ₱97 million in booked business-to-business transactions, totaling ₱151.5 million in revenue.
According to the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), the country’s longest-running provincial trade fair drew 41,000 visitors.
What a success, indeed!
UNSPOKEN NARRATIVES
But behind the marketing triumph of Negros’ world-class products—food, home décor, fashion accessories, arts and crafts—lies a story that deserves to be told and retold.
Nearly four decades ago, the NTF was born out of crisis. It was the brainchild of Negrense women who suffered the devastating impact of the sugar industry’s near collapse during the Marcos Sr. administration—a downfall fueled by corruption and greed.
Faced with enormous challenges, these women formed the ANP, tested their resilience, and braved the grit of marketing their handmade products. They ventured into the Manila trade fairs—and the rest, as they say, is history.
‘SULONG’
To further highlight this journey of greed, grit, and gains, this year’s NTF at SM Aura featured a giant art piece by renowned Negrense artist Charlie Co.
His 8×10-foot painting, titled “Sulong” (move or push forward), was displayed at the entrance of the SMX Convention Center. It was a striking, well-crafted piece—rich in stories about the NTF’s past and present.
But more than its visual appeal, “Sulong” carried an emotional weight. Its artistry and craftsmanship spoke of adversity, perseverance, and triumph—the same journey that defined the NTF through the years.
Co said the concept came to him in a day, but it took three months to complete.
“Oh, wow!” indeed.
He explained that “Sulong” illustrates how Negrenses—particularly the women behind ANP—faced countless challenges yet remained determined to survive, embodying the spirit of “wala untat nga pagsulong” (never stopping from moving forward).
Symbolized by powerful running horses amid red-hot flames, Co said the artwork reflects both the NTF’s struggle and the resilience of Negros amid new forms of greed—such as today’s corruption controversies involving flood control projects.
Co also told this writer that the “Sulong” narrative serves as a reminder of how the NTF was born in the 1980s, at a time when the sugar industry—once the source of Negros’ “sweetness”—was nearly devoured by greed.
Through the courage and sacrifices of a few pioneering Negrense entrepreneurs, the ANP and the NTF not only survived but thrived—now earning and shining brighter than ever.
COURAGE TO CONTINUE
The story of the NTF is not merely about how it started or how it succeeded.
Rather, it stands as a testament to the power of courage to continue—that unyielding spirit to keep creating, innovating, and believing.
The ANP’s persistence in producing high-quality, artistic products has kept the NTF alive for nearly four decades.
By navigating countless obstacles, the NTF turned an ordinary fate into an extraordinary feat, anchored on faith, resilience, and the will to succeed.
Kudos to the Association of Negros Producers for a job well done!
The NTF will always be “Tatak Negros”—a living symbol of creativity and perseverance.
And the inspiring story behind it—born from greed and grit before the gains—deserves to be passed on to future generations.
Truly, a story worth reading and remembering./PN
