Aklan Piña and Fiber Festival kicks off
Ninety-one exhibitors composed of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) from the province of Aklan participated in the 9th Aklan Piña and Fiber Festival, which kicked off Wednesday at the provincial capitol grounds, Capitol Site, Kalibo, Aklan.
The festival is one of the major events in the week-long celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the province.
The Fiber Fest will showcase Aklan's best products of blended loomwoven fabrics, fashion accessories and furnishings from piña, abaca, raffia and other fibers.
Mixed-media-based gifts, houseware, furniture and furnishings are of the latest designs and concepts. Deboned bangus, meat-based processed foods, and bakery products are also available as well as cutflowers and ornamental plants.
The participants include 24 local government units/agencies and non-government organizations; 18 groups that are into garden/cutflower business; 15 from the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo concessionaires; 10 each from loomweaving and gifts and housewares; eight who are into processing/bakery; four from furniture and furnishings and two others.
Special features of the Fiber Fest are the Aninag Fashion Show at 6:30 tonight and Raw Material Showcase that will be set-up side by side with the One Town One Product (OTOP) Corner and the contemporary lifestyle setting of living spaces by the world-renowned lifestyle designer, Mr. PJ Arañador.
Aside from the assisted SMEs, the 17 municipalities of the province and several community-based organizations/agencies will exhibit their OTOP and agri-industrial products.
The Fiber Fest is a joint project of the Provincial Government of Aklan, the Congressional District Office and the Department of Trade and Industry – Aklan Provincial Office in coordination with the Aklan Piña Manufacturers and Traders Association, Inc. and the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc.
Alongside the Fiber Fest is the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo, a nightly dinner event at the Godofredo P. Ramos Park, Provincial Capitol Grounds. Local restaurateurs will showcase their various native gourmets' amidst music from live bands. This is a special project of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. - Aklan Chapter (PCCII-AC) and the Provincial Government of Aklan.
Both the Fiber Fest and the Tsibugan sa Kapitolyo will run until April 29. (PNA)