By It’s always nice to be home. That’s exactly what it feels like when you step into the 39th Negros Trade Fair at SM Aura in Taguig. The air hums with Hiligaynon — warm laughter, teasing voices, vendors calling out to friends who just happen to pass by. It’s the sound of Negros transported to Manila. There’s pride here, and a quiet nostalgia that sneaks up on you. For me, the moment that sealed it was seeing the Sagay booth — my hometown, my roots — and being greeted by an old friend with a smile that felt like no time had passed. And then, spotting our former congressman, once my father’s boss, now standing proud among the products — that was personal.
This year’s fair is unapologetically a feast — and not just metaphorically. El Ideal is here with its legendary baked goods, Quan with its kakanin that tastes like childhood, and somewhere in the middle of the crowd, the unmistakable smoke of inasal leads you to the famous inasalan sa dalan. The line is long, as always, but no one complains — that smoky, juicy chicken is a rite of passage. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find piayaya being cooked fresh, its caramelized muscovado filling still warm enough to stick to your fingers.
The theme this year, Himbon, means “to gather,” and that’s exactly what happens here. There are 139 booths — the most in the fair’s history — showcasing food, fashion, handicrafts, home décor, and even local government unit exhibits. For the first time, Negros Oriental joins in, adding its own flavors and creativity to the mix. Walking through the aisles feels like a slow road trip across Negros: handmade weaves on one side, sugarcane-based products on the other, and everywhere you look, proud Negrenses eager to tell you the story behind what they’re selling.
And then there’s the Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) booth — always worth a stop. Their artisans have turned discarded Nespresso capsules, eggshells, and ceramic tiles into jewelry, art, and home décor pieces. “Every piece at NVC Foundation’s booth in The Negros Trade Fair feeds both ways: it has brought food on the table of the artisan who crafted it and if you bring home any of our pieces, you will help us continue providing MingoMeals to stunted and malnourished children,” shares NVC president Millie Kilayko. This is what makes the fair more than just commerce — it’s community in action.
The 39th Negros Trade Fair runs until September 28 at SMX Aura Convention Center. Go hungry. Go curious. Go ready to taste, listen, and linger. Because this isn’t just a marketplace — this is Negros meeting you halfway, reminding you what home feels like, and inviting you to take a piece of it back with you.
