The annual Negros Trade Fair luncheon was launched at the home of proud Negrense Nena Vargas Tantoco at her countryside home Villa Marina in St. Elena Golf and Country Estates. Mrs. Tantoco opened the doors of her home for the private luncheon, where she was able to present and educate the best that Negros has to offer. Food for Thought is the chosen theme for the 32nd annual fair. Bacolod native Chef JP Angelo of SARSA Kitchen and Katrina Legarde of Chicken Sarap were on hand, giving attendees a special culinary demonstration on how to create an authentic Illongo feast. Mouths salivated as the professionals cooked and the home quaffed with good ole’ Filipino food. It was a rush to the buffet when it opened, leaving everybody full and happy.
Spread across Nena’s breezy lanai and first floor was a collection of Negros made products from the Association of Negros Producers (ANP). Guests wandered through the space, discovering new products from small and medium-sized Negros enterprises. Organic food, garments, fashion accessories, furniture, décor, and house wear were in exhibition, surprising guests with their high quality and aesthetic beauty. The trade fair, which has been running since 1985, is the country’s longest-running provincial trade fair in Metro Manila. It is used a platform to showcase the products of Negros artisans to a larger audience for possible export trade. Social enterprises have also been invited to participate in the fair where they will have a chance to showcase their advocacies to provide livelihood for their partner communities.
Pepper Teehankee, Nena Tantoco and Stephanie Zubiri
ssociation of Negros Producers (ANP) Members: (L-R) Mariel San Agustin (Domesticity), Banj Claparols, Reena Gamboa-Pena (Silay Exports), Albert Avellana (32nd NTF curator), Michael Claparols (Creative Definitions) and Josephine Ruiz (Negrense Volunteers For Change)
The 32nd Negros Trade Fair Luncheon was hosted by Mrs. Nena Vargas – Tantoco
Julia Arenas, Patty Laurel, Cat Juan Ledesma, Stephanie Zubiri
Chef JP Anglo uses Negros products to create his dishes
Hala-an Curried Guinamos sa Gata by Chef JP Anglo
Squid Ink Tuyo Batwan Pancit with Crispy Crablets by Chef JP Anglo
Josephine Ruiz, Art Legarde, Imelda Gonzalez, CJ Juntereal, Stephanie Zubiri, Alex Vergara, Daphne Paez, Cathy Yamsuan, Cat Ledesma, Patty Laurel, Bianca Reinoso, Tanya Lara, Pepper Teehankee, Trixie Mendoza, Bea Llagas and Paolo Chua
Josephine Ruiz, Imelda Gonzalez, CJ Juntereal, Stephanie Zubiri, Daphne Paez, Nena Tantoco, Chef JP Anglo, Patty Laurel, Bianca Reinoso, Pepper Teehankee, Cat Ledesma, Tanya Lara, Trixie Mendoza, Bea Llagas and Paolo Chua
Chef JP Anglo
Nena Vargas Tantoco & Chef JP Anglo
32nd NTF Organizers (L-R) Chef JP Anglo, Banj Claparols, Nena Tantoco, Josephine Ruiz, Michael Claparols, Treena Tecson, Mariel San Agustin, Reena Pena, Mari Pena, Kitkat Lobaton, Ynez Reyes and Albert Avellana
Nena Tantoco, Anna Sobrepeña and Chit Lijauco
Josephine Ruiz of Negrense Volunteers For Change (NVC) and Alex Vergara of Manila Bulletin
Bianca Reinoso, Chef JP Anglo, Cat Juan Ledesma and Patty Laurel
32nd Negros Trade Fair Chairwoman KitKat Lobaton and curator Albert Avellana
Anna Sobrepeña, Alex Vergara, Nena Tantoco, Daphne Paez, KitKat Lobaton
