Bacolod: The Association of Negros Producers (ANP), organizer of the Negros Trade Fair (NTF), the country's longest-running provincial trade fair in Metro Manila, is partnering anew with the Design Center of the Philippines for its 40th edition this September. The NTF's Ruby theme 'Butlak' was launched on Friday as part of 'Sibol,' an event that brings together the best of Negrense creativity and craftsmanship, which runs at SM City Bacolod Events Center until May 31.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mary Ann Colmenares, chairperson of the 40th Negros Trade Fair, said 'Butlak' was developed in collaboration with the Design Center, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Described as the NTF's biggest year yet, 'Butlak' is set to offer 'the best of Negros in food, fashion, crafts, and more' at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City on Sept. 22-27. ''Butlak' is a term that refers to the 'first light' or the initial glow of a new day, signaling a phase of maturity and abundance for the island's producers,' Colmenares said.
In the visual identity, a layered assembly is used to represent the process of uncovering Negros Island's origins, an approach that focuses on stability and structure, illustrating that the island remains whole. Instead of focusing on recovery, the design highlights a foundation built on persistence. According to the ANP, the Negros Trade Fair's 40th anniversary 'reflects a journey from uncertainty to a clear, established identity.' 'What began as a response to crisis has evolved into a permanent culture of invention and diversification. The fair celebrates the practical courage required to keep building and growing,' it said. 'Four decades of the Negros Trade Fair represent the persistence and evolution of the Negrense spirit.'
During its 39th edition, the ANP worked with the DTI-Design Center for the visual identity of the theme "Himbon," a Hiligaynon term that means "to gather." Held for the first time at SM Aura Premier in September 2025, the Negros Trade Fair drew 41,000 visitors, as 139 exhibitors generated a record PHP54.5 million in spot sales and PHP97 million in business-to-business transaction bookings. Since 1985, the ANP has become a driving force behind the growth of local industries, empowering producers, artisans, manufacturers, farmers, and micro, small and medium enterprises by creating opportunities that connect Negros talent to national and global markets.
