Submitted by Vox Bikol on
NAGA CITY (Sep 20, 2011) - The week-long second Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) at SM Naga City was another huge success.
The annual trade fair goes by the theme, "alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship."
"Have we achieved the purpose/objective for which we organized this event?", Rev. Fr. Marcel Emmanuel Real (Project Director) asked on the closing night of the second Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) last September 18, 2011 (Sunday). Many say it did.
The closing program at the SM Naga City Grounds started a quarter before five o'clock in the afternoon Sunday (Sep 18).
Apart from Rev. Fr. Marcel Emmanuel Real, messages were also heard from Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey Nelson Tria, Chairman of the BFGTF, and Hon. Cong. Luis Villafuerte of District 2, Camarines Sur.
Hosted by Rev. Fr. Louan Jarcia, the closing night of the second Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair was attended by its Organizing Team, Honorable Mayor John Bongat, major partners and sponsors, invited guests, and friends.
Ten trophies were awarded to exhibitors who excelled in various criteria. Two were given to the Province of Masbate for Best Dressed Exhibitor and Best Dressed Booth- Category for Institutions.
Nitz Furniture and Piano Center won two awards as well, Best Dressed Booth- Category for Entrepreneurs and Top Seller Enterprise of Big Products. TABLEA by DTI RUMEPP won the award for the Trendiest Packaging while Bamboo Bench by Vine's Art by La Mode received the award for the Most Innovative Product.
The Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel (USI) got the award for the Best Exhibitor while Maarte Enterprise was awarded the Friendliest Booth. Other Top Sellers include DTI CARP Region 5 for the Category for Institutions and Bicol Shirts City for the Category for Enterprise of Small Products.
Ten lucky winners of the Grand Raffle Draw went home happy. Christine Aquino won the grand prize, a KYMCO 110CC Motorcycle, while Frances Gabon won the second prize, a TLC 32" LCD TV. Melgean delos Reyes got the third prize, a Sharp refrigerator, as Arnel Pacheco got the fourth prize, an American Home Single Tub Washing Machine. Six consolation prizes were also given. Mary Grace Rabora, Albesletch Granavada and Rev. Fr. Felipe Culvera received a Nokia 1280 cellphone. Peachy Maniles and Rosario Tesoro both got a Globe Tattoo Stick, while Mario Almerio received PhP 1,000.
Recognition was also given not only to the Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair Organizing Team but also to the major sponsors of the said event.
Trainings and seminars were also held for three days.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sponsored and organized the Negosyo Patrol last September 12, 2011.
Messages interspersed with cooking demos were given by several speakers. Private consultation was also done at the Tent.
The following day, Mdm. Fabi Arejola, curator of the Holy Rosary Minor Seminary Museum, gave a talk on the 3R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
On the last day of the trainings and seminars, Rev. Fr. Ian Trillanes spent the day teaching Organic Agriculture.
Held for only seven days, entrepreneurs gave positive feedback in terms of sales as buyers increased over the weekend. In addition, budding entrepreneurs saw the Fair as a great opportunity to launch and introduce their products to their own respective markets.
"Have we achieved the purpose/objective for which we organized this event?" Rev. Fr. Marcel Emmanuel Real said in reply, "We may have various opinions in answering this question. But we, the organizers, wish to inform our exhibitors that we are happy to see people coming and buying the goods displayed at your booths. We, too, are glad knowing that you have received orders, closed deals and gained more potential buyers. It is also our joy that the public have come to know you and learned more about your product, thereby expanding your market. Some of you have learned from one another, from labeling to packaging, from product presentations to marketing strategies, and so forth. We wish that you continue to make progress in your business."
With that, Rev. Msgr. Jeffrey Nelson Tria hopes, despite its difficulties and challenges, that the Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI) shall be given the opportunity to organize once again another Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair.