Aklan's 7th Piña and Fiber Festival
Aklan’s Best. Jojo’s Christmas Cottage collections:
miniature doll in piña beaded bridal gown with piña
seda pouch bag, miniature angel with piña seda
patchworks, ati-ati miniature doll garbed in
indigenous materials.
Aklan province, the acknowledged piña capital and handloom weaving destination of the country has successfully staged the 7th Piña & Fiber Festival on 24-30 April 2006 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds, Kalibo. Cash sales generated was P 2.0048M from the total sales of P2.2673 million, the second highest in the seven years of staging the festival. Last year was the highest with P2.9 million sales.
Ermelinda P. Pollentes, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director said that 97 exhibitors joined the fair composed of SMEs assisted by DTI, from the LGUs One Town One Product (OTOP) project and other community-based organizations. She added that 111 new prototypes were developed mostly from the sectors of loomweaving like blended woven fabrics, fashion accessories and furnishings from piña, abaca, raffia and other fibers; mixed-media based (abaca, seagrass, nito, lampakanay, agzam, rattan, wood, bamboo, and steel/iron); gifts and housewares; and furniture and furnishings with the latest designs and concepts. Processed food like chorizo, tocino and deboned bangus in various flavors, and other bakery products were a hit. Horticulturist, landscape artists and hobbyists were also delighted by the lush ornamental plants and cutflower exhibits.
Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker was Ma. Theresa Loyola Pelayo, Assistant Secretary, DTI Regional Operations Group. Governor Carlito S. Marquez welcomed the guests while Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores gave the inspirational message. Other guests included: First Lady Elizabeth Marquez; Mrs. Lulu Miraflores; Vice Governor Ronquillo Tolentino; Mayor Denny Refol, President of Aklan Mayors' League; Mayor Charito Navarosa of Libacao; Mr. Vic Roaring and Mr. Rommel Agustin, President and Executive Director, respectively of Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc.; Ms. Erino Ozeki, Osaka University Professor; Regional Directors of DTI 6 Dominic P. Abad, DTI Region 7 Asteria C. Caberte, DOT Edwin Trompeta, DOST Zinnia Teruel, and PCIC Romeo Escalona; Philexport officers Atty. Virgilio Sanchez, Leny Abella & Ms. Susan Tan; Ms. Rhea Matute and Mr. Jaylord Padilla of CITEM; Ms. Tonette T. Torres, Program Manager, eQuality; Ma. Melissa Tan of the Commission on Information and Communication Technology; Aklan State University President Benny Palma; Mayor Roygie Jumamoy, President of Bohol Mayors' League; Billy Apor, Municipal Councilor, LGU-Carmen, Bohol; DTI-Cebu & DTI-Bohol personnel with municipal officials and SMEs from Cebu and Bohol, among others.
The opening of the fair started with the official pronouncement by Governor Carlito S. Marquez and the release of seven doves and 50 golden balloons to represent the seven years of holding the fair at the 50th Anniversary of Aklan. Band garbed in ati-atihan attire welcomed guests and buyers. Stand outs were the lifestyle setting of living spaces by the world-renowned lifestyle designer Mr. PJ Arañador and the natural and synthetic dyed fabrics and furniture pieces. Also on display is the mounted OTOP corner showcasing OTOP of the Local Government Units. Foreign and domestic buyers were impressed by the variety of products at the show. Two of the three Japanese buyers that came were direct result of the 1st participation of the Fiber fest organizers at the October 2005 Manila FAME as a trade service exhibitor promoting the annual Aklan Piña and Fiber Festival.
Alongside the festival were the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo which enlivened the celebration with their nightly live bands and food preparations prepared by different food concessionaires. Another was the staging of the 3rd Aninag Crafts, Culture & Folkways Fashion Show 30 April 2006 at the ABL Sports Complex, Aklan Provincial grounds. It featured the creations of PJ Arañador and seven local designers -- India C. Legaspi, Mel Quimpo, Kitchie Reyes-Marte, Jay Masangya, Ryan Lopez, Edz Autencio, and Peter Rian Casidsid. The creations were paraded at the ramp by Nestea and Bench models, and by local beauties and personalities led by Governor and Mrs. Carlito S. Marquez. The fashion show marked the culmination of the seven-day Fiber Festival.
Fiber fest is a joint project of the provincial government, DTI Provincial Office, Advocate of Philippine Fair Trade, Inc., Hugod Aklanon Producers Association Inc., Piña Manufacturers & Traders Association Inc., and Ati-atihan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
(Ruby M. Melliza with reports from DTI Aklan)