Responding to popular public demand, the Department of Trade and Industry through the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) and the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices, with support from Senator Loren Legarda, is mounting the 2nd Edition of the 2018 Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair from October 25 to 28, at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. More than 30,000 visitors attended the 1st Edition of the Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair last June 2018, giving massive exposure to exhibitors.
Here are some things you can look forward to at this four-day celebration of our traditional crafts, cultural heritage, and creative talent:
Special Settings
Hand-woven Textile Showcase and Applications. A special setting to promote and popularize the different hand-woven textiles from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with fashion lines applications.
Slow Fashion themed set-up by the Design Center of the Philippines. Slow fashion is a movement that advocates principles of good quality, clean environment, and fairness for both consumers and producers. Developing a garment with a cultural and emotional connection is also pertinent to the purpose behind slow fashion, a principle that can be directly linked to local and indigenous Philippine textiles.
School of Living Traditions (SLTs). A flagship project of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), an SLT is a community-managed and non-formal learning center where cultural masters transmit their knowledge of arts, crafts, and practices to the next generation. Twelve Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs) and Escuela Taller de Filipinas Foundation Inc. bring you local products, co-created with Design Center of the Philippines, to appeal to your sense and style, deepening your pride of place and people. Find value in the work-of-hands through cultural community stories that take you back to the origins of art and its makers.
Hibla’t Habi. Philippine Fiber Display, Processing and Abaca Hand-weaving Demonstration by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and Loom Weaving Demonstration by the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI).
Balat Kayo! A DIY Leathercrafts Workshop by HHS Leather Goods Enterprises. Make your own leather products with the help of differently-abled workers from Handcrafted by Harl’s. Founded by Harley Dave Beltran, this social enterprise provides gainful employment to persons with disabilities.
Kapetirya (Philippine Coffee Pavilion). A coffee pavilion will offer choice coffee and local blends from all over the country to acquaint you with the distinct taste and flavor of coffee beans from the regions.
Free Daily Program
To promote Filipino arts and crafts as well as encourage creative entrepreneurship, the 2018 Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair – 2nd Edition will have a daily program of free lectures, workshops and demonstrations.
On Friday, October 26, the focus will be on MSME Development with presentations from various government agencies, such as: the DTI Shred Services Facility, DTI SB Corporation’s Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PHILFIDA), Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), Department of Social Welfare – Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Design Center Philippines (DCP), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) on licensing and copyright. Professor Eric Zerrudo will also give a talk on Fair Trade, while Luna Trip will close the day with a performance.
For Saturday, October 27, the program will consist of Business Lectures from renowned experts. Professor Felipe De Leon, Jr. will discuss Marketing the Filipino Way, Professor Edwin Suson will talk about Entrepreneurship 101, while Ideaspace will share their Business Development and Acceleration Program. Capping off the day will be a Balagtasan or Spoken Word Marathan featuring Talentadong Pinoy Grand Champion and Pilipinas Got Talent Grand Finalist Prinsipe Makata and his group of makata-tawanan talents.
The Performing Arts will be the centerpiece of the program for Sunday, October 28, with a talk and film showing from the Film Development Council of the Philippines, a cultural dance presentation from a School of Living Tradition in Bulacan, and a mini-concert by popular artists Kitchie Nadal, Poppert Bernadas, and Frenchie Dy.
These activities are open to the public and are free of charge.
Products from All 17 Regions
The 2018 Sikat Pinoy National Arts and Crafts Fair – 2nd Edition is once again national in scope, with exhibitors coming from all 17 regions including ARMM. These include 250 micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) manufacturers of heritage products such as hand-woven textiles, fashion accessories, home furnishings, and heirloom food.
The four-day retail and order-taking event is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (DTI-BDTP) and the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices, with support from Senator Loren Legarda. Many of the 250 featured MSMEs are beneficiaries of Senator Legarda’s various developmental projects aimed at preserving Philippine culture and traditions. Fair hours are from 10:00AM to 9:00PM daily. Admission is free.
For more information, please contact the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion by addressing your email to [email protected] or call phone numbers +632 751.3223 and 751.3228. Please follow SikatPinoyFairs on Facebook and other social media for regular updates.