Tourismo On the Go!: The Francisco Gainza Trade Fair 2012

Every Year, The Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair has been celebrated to feature the different Bicolano small and big businesses. Those participants in this fair have opputunity to display, introduce, and promote their product to the public. The said Trade fair is not exclusively for Naguenos. Even products from Daet, Sorsogon, Masbate and Legaspi are also found there. There are some schools who participate in the said Trade fair, like the Ateneo de Naga University, Universidad de Sta. Isabel, CBSUA. Even the Department of Agriculture(Bicol Region) has also participate in this event. The Event starts last Sept 7 until September 16. In the morning the Trade fair invites a speaker to conducts talk or open forum about How to Start a business. While in the evening, the Trade fair offers a musical program.

The Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair was organized by the Archdiocese of Caceres through the Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI). It’s origin traces back from Bishop Francisco Gainza who pioneered the First Agro-Industrial Fair in Bicol in 1875. The fair is geared towards alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship and solidarity that promotes integral development. (Cbanga360.net) The event was held along Elias Angeles Street, in front of Veterans Bank. The said event collects entrance fee that cost 5.00 for ticket and 10.00 for the raffle ticket. The amount that has been collects in the event is used for the maintenance of the location and other expenses like snacks for the volunteer, rentals of portables CR, and tents. Volunteer come from different places. Some our students from Naga and some are from Rinconadas. Volunteers have also their 2 pairs of shifting duty. The 9-3pm and the 3-10pm. The Volunteer can choose any of these schedule, depends of their availability. Volunteers are assigned either in ticketing or in the information desk. Volunteers include free snack and dinner and a shirt for free.

Most businesses who participate in the Trade fair is commonly Naga Based businesses. One of them is the Souvenir Shirt Shop, which also have a branch inside the SM City Naga. They sell different kinds of printed shirts,mugs, customized products others. The second one is the shirt factory, which also has a branch at CBD Terminal .There business is purely selling printed and embroided shirt.

The third one is the Nit’s Furniture who also has a branch at Penafrancia Avenue. They sell different kinds of made to order furniture and also other instruments like piano.

The Fourth one is the Bidibidi Enterprises which is owned by Ms. Bernadette Delos Santos a social entrepreneur. She is also the owner of La Huerta Farm in Baao. The Bidibidi shop are primarily located at Baao, Camarines Sur. They sell Bags, earrings, bracelets, cellphone chains and other. They are all made from recycle materials.

The Fifth is the Dairy Farm which is primarily located at Pili, Camarines Sur. They sell dairy products like fresh milk and Organic products.

Other products introduce in the trade fair are native bags, shoes, and sandals.

There are several business who participate in the trade fair. Even their products are not Bicol Based. Still these businessman came from Manila participate the said trade fair, to introduce their unique and customize products like bracelets, necklaces and etc.

The Trade fair aims to provide an opportunity to aspiring small and medium entrepreneurs to introduce and market their products in the Bicol region.