This year, the three-decade showcase, which claims to be the country’s longest running products fair, attempted to incorporate local resources and made creativity arts as the new highlight.
From mouth-watering delicacies processed into locally-grown and nurtured raw ingredients to fashionable wearables and souvenir items, and to furniture and crafts woven and handcrafted by local Boholano artisans, Mugnang Bol-anon is a testament of resilience of the crafts and the Boholano will to adapt and survive, said Vierna Teresa Ligan of DTI here.
Mugnang Bol-anon is the local DTI’s adoption of the national level direction set by the creative council.
In Bohol, the inclusion of the creative industries opened up new showcases in music, visual arts, sculptures, and folk arts, said former
DTI Regional Director and retired Assistant Secretary Aster Caberte, who was the event’s guest speaker.
During the six-day event, DTI recorded P4,423,085.67 in cash and another P3,188,432 in booked sales.
The exhibit’s top sellers include the prototype designs introduced by DTI’s resident designers.
Earlier, DTI announced that considering the situation where only local manufacturers are in the exhibit, their cash and booked sales target would be P3 million.
A few days later, they increased the target to P5 million.
But at the end of the showcase, the local authorities noted when the selling breached the P7-million mark.
As to innovations, the innovative product was the “Soledad bag” by Mara and Aram Bag Lines of Inabanga, while the most promising prototype was the spine chair by Cuarteros Abstract and Fine Furniture of Jagna.
For the food exhibits, the top seller was Bucarez Food Processing Corp for their peanut kisses, which is fast becoming a must-buy pasalubong among visitors.
The top seller for non-food items is Panglao Home Furnishings for their furniture and home-style products. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)
