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The 40th Negros Trade Fair Brings the Best of Negros to SM Aura
There are events you attend, walk through, and leave. Then there are events where you keep stopping every few minutes because you’ve found something you want to try, buy, eat, or talk about.
For me, the Negros Trade Fair has always been the latter.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit the fair for several years now, and because my boyfriend Elijah’s family is from Bacolod, it has also become a little more personal over time. So when BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair opened at SMX Convention Center Aura, we knew we had to go.
And despite the traffic, the moment we entered, I was immediately reminded why I always enjoy it: the atmosphere was simply happy.
One of our first stops was Chives Stones & Crystals, owned by Elijah’s cousin, Manang Eva. It was the booth directly in front of the door.
Naturally, I tried on several pieces. The jewelry was beautiful, easy to wear, and exactly the type of thing that makes you start thinking about what outfit you could pair it with before you have even left the booth.
It also did not take long before we started seeing relatives and friends around the fair. A number of Elijah’s cousins from different parts of the Philippines were there, along with titas and family friends.
Beyond the jewelry, one of my favorite discoveries was Vivo Handmade.
I especially loved the quality of their fabrics. The pieces felt well-made and thoughtful, and they were a good reminder that Filipino-made products can easily stand beside bigger international brands when it comes to quality and design.
And of course, there was the food.
The ube, lumpiang sariwa, and empanadas served during the event were among my favorites, and we continued eating our way through the fair after that. Elijah also bought me a very strong cup of coffee, which gave me exactly the energy I needed to continue walking around, talking to exhibitors, and looking through more booths.
That is one of the best things about the Negros Trade Fair: there is always something else to discover. This year, more than 178 brands from across the Negros Island Region gathered under one roof, bringing food, fashion, art, crafts, home pieces, and other local products to Manila.
What makes the fair especially interesting is that every booth comes with a story.
For National Artist for Design Patis Tesoro, the fair helps preserve the region’s strong tradition of handicrafts and natural materials. “Negros is very into handicrafts, into natural things, and I think this fair supports that, and also continues our traditions,” she shared.
Some brands have been part of Negrense culture for generations.
Maritess Sanchez of El Ideal, which has been around for nearly a century, shared that its longevity comes from never sacrificing quality. She also credited the Negros Trade Fair with helping the brand reach more customers in Manila.
Others use the fair to create opportunities beyond business.
Domesticity brings products made by its beneficiaries to a wider market, while The Little Vintage Shop gives donated clothing another life through upcycling while supporting women and children. Even local government exhibitors have seen their presence grow.
Jerick Lacson of Sipalay City shared that when they first joined the fair four years ago, they had to carefully choose which products to showcase. Today, their challenge is finding enough space for everything they want to bring.
That growth says a lot about what the Negros Trade Fair has accomplished over four decades.
More than anything, the fair reminded me that many of the things we look for from international brands are already available locally. We have the quality. We have the design. We have the craftsmanship. And we have incredibly good stories behind the products.
Personally, I’ve been making more of an effort to support local brands. Even when I’m looking for something as simple as a new bag, I now try to see what Filipino businesses have to offer before automatically going to an international name.
And it no longer feels like choosing local simply for the sake of supporting local.
The products are genuinely good. ANP President Christina B. Gaston summed up the purpose behind the fair by describing MSME development as giving people the opportunity “to discover what they can create, what they can become, and where their creativity can take them.”
Forty years later, the results are easy to see.
Small businesses have grown. Heritage brands continue to find new customers. Traditional crafts are being reinterpreted by new generations. And more people are discovering just how much Negros has to offer.
For me, this year’s fair meant beautiful jewelry, good food, strong coffee, beautiful fabrics, plenty of conversations, and an afternoon spent running into people we knew along the way.
And after several years of visiting, I still find something new every time.
BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair runs until September 27, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM at SMX Convention Center Aura. Admission is ₱50. Come hungry, stay curious, and leave some room in your bag.
