Negros products, talents to be featured in Makati trade fair

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Negros Trade Fair, the longest-running provincial trade fair organized by the Association  of Negros Producers annually in Metro Manila, will open its 28th installation today, September 25, at the Glorietta. Activity Center in Makati City.

The fair will run until September 29.

With the theme, "Evolving Lifestyles," organizers said the 2013 edition of the Negros Trade Fair aims to share the rich diversity of both Bacolod and Negros Occidental by promoting local products and to encourage producers, the government, and the business sector to work together and promote the island to the rest of the country.

Today's activities start with "It's Raining Men!" which will feature local chefs JP Anglo of Mushu, Manny Torrejon of Manolo's, Fernando Aracama of Aracama's along with Gerald Montelibano, Tom Bascon and Richard Ynayan.

The chefs will cook sumptuous dishes using products native to the province with a "Negros food with a twist" flavor. Students of the Institute of Culinary Arts of the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod will help serve the food.

The Arte Negrense Fashion Show, showcasing the latest designs in hand-made smocked children's dresses, ladies bags, and fashion accessories, will be held tomorrow, September 26.

The following day, September 27, Negros-based vase makers will present their products during the Ikebana demonstration. The MassKara Night sponsored by Bacolod City will feature performances by the MassKara dancers, drumbeaters and Bacolod's top DJs.

On September 28, cooking show host Sabrina Artadi of Sabrina's Kitchen will conduct a cooking demonstration starting at 2 p.m. She will use a variety of ingredients from Negros producers along with the olive oil variants of Clara Ole, and a concoction of cocktails and mocktails using the various McCormick flavoring selection.  (FREEMAN)