Negros Oriental is bringing its local flavors, craftsmanship, culture, and creative products to Metro Manila as part of the 40th Negros Trade Fair, held from September 22 to 27, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Aura in Taguig City. The milestone edition brings together producers and brands from across the Negros Island Region and Siquijor under the theme “Butlak,” a Hiligaynon term associated with daybreak and blooming.
A Celebration of Negros Oriental’s Local Creativity
The Negros Oriental delegation is showcasing products that reflect the province’s creativity, culture, and local enterprise. The provincial booth gives visitors an opportunity to discover locally made products while learning more about the people and communities behind them.
The Negros Oriental Provincial Tourism Board shared photos from the opening day, highlighting the province’s participation and its delegation led by Governor Manuel “Chaco” Sagarbarria, together with other provincial and city representatives. The wider trade fair features food, fashion, crafts, home products, natural and organic goods, tourism offerings, and other locally produced items. This year’s event brings together 178 exhibitors, making the 40th edition one of the largest celebrations of Negrense products and creativity.
From Local Flavors to Handmade Finds
Food remains one of the major attractions of the Negros Trade Fair, with visitors able to explore regional specialties and products inspired by generations of Negrense culinary traditions. Featured offerings across the fair include chicken inasal, piaya, puto manapla, silvanas, napoleones, and other local favorites. Beyond food, the event also highlights the region’s craftsmanship through fashion, accessories, furniture, home décor, and handmade products. Local materials such as abaca, bamboo, rattan, and other natural resources are represented in various creative pieces, showing how traditional materials continue to inspire contemporary designs. For Negros Oriental, the fair provides another platform to introduce its own local products and creative identity to visitors in Metro Manila while creating opportunities for local producers and entrepreneurs.
Butlak Marks 40 Years of the Negros Trade Fair
The 2026 edition is particularly significant because it marks four decades of the Negros Trade Fair. What began with 30 vendors from Negros Occidental at the Makati Carpark has grown into a major annual showcase of Negrense enterprise and creativity. The theme “Butlak” reflects the idea of a new day and growth, fitting a milestone edition that brings together generations of producers, artisans, food makers, designers, and entrepreneurs. The fair runs until September 27, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., at SMX Convention Center Aura. Admission is free. For visitors looking to experience a taste of Negros without leaving Metro Manila, the Negros Oriental booth offers a glimpse into the province’s flavors, creativity, and local products—all gathered in one celebration of Negrense culture and enterprise.