ASSOCIATION OF NEGROS PRODUCERS and the NEGROS SHOWROOM

When I was younger, I had vivid recollections of going to the Negros Showroom along Lacson St., Bacolod City, which is being run by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP).

It was a rather expansive store with lots of colorful products from house ware, to clothes, to accessories, to furniture, and even lighting fixtures. When I am there, it is like time passes by as I scour the aisles from top to bottom, appreciating the craftsmanship of the merchandise. I feel so proud of the export-quality items that our Negrense workers were able to turn out. And of course, I love the fact that these products were providing for marginalized workers here in the province of Negros. I have brought many guest to the Negros Showroom for Bacolod pasalubong over the years because I love their products and what they stand for.

Read:

What to Buy: Bring Home Bacolod Pasalubong

The ANP History

The Association was started by 14 housewives and a gentleman from Negros who were trying to find other means of income especially for their farm workers since the sugar industry was at a crisis. They decided to manufacture products locally, using local materials and utilizing the labor of their farm hands, and to sell them to the larger market in Metro Manila. They held their very first trade fair 30 years ago and it was a huge success.

A couple of years later, the Negros Showroom was set up and the Negros Trade Fair had since been held annually. The members are encouraged to develop new products by the holding of the annual Bulawan Awards, where new innovations from different categories are entered and judged accordingly. The winners then have the rights to claim that the new product they are launching is a Bulawan awardee.

Fast forward to the present, I hadn’t realized that the Negros Showroom is already on its 27th year. And the NEGROS TRADE FAIR is the longest running provincial trade fair in the country, which is now on its 30th Year. For 2015, it will be held at the Glorietta Mall in Makati City, from September 16 to 20,2015.

ANP Background Information
The Association of Negros Products has become a successful social enterprise and business management organization because of their core values, explains President Jojie Locsin, owner of Tumandok Crafts. ANP is the leading micro-small enterprise business service organization providing relevant and excellent products and services to their stakeholders as well as the global marketplace.

The ANP is backed by a board of directors elected annually who ensure that the core values of the association are always followed. At present, ANP has close t0 100 member companies and sustains thousands of Negrense families.

To ensure the continuing success of the ANP and their individual members, the ANP continues the empowerment of member-producers through assisting, equipping, and inspiring them to utilize their “innate sense of creativity, hard work, and passion in developing sustainable entrepreneurial endeavors that uplift lives and contribute towards economic development,” a press release from the association said.

Here are some members of the ANP and samples of their products.

Tumandok Crafts Industries
Tumandok, which literally means “native inhabitant” in Hiligaynon, is a dynamic handicraft company based in Negros Occidental, Philippines that specializes in the making of resin-laminated, indigenous materials-based home products for the local and export market. Showroom Address: G/F Cybergate Robinsons,Singcang, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Tel. Nos.: (6334) 707.7174

Azatri
Azati specializes in Bacolod souvenir t-shirts using silk-screen printing of bold graphics rendered in embossed print. They have adult, female, kids, toddler, and infant sizes–so there’s a shirt practically for everyone. They also have fiberglass masks in hand-painted ethnic embossed graphics, resin novelties, key chains, ref magnets, fashion accessories, and beaded accessories. Factory is located at Montelibano Bldg., B.S. Aquino Drive-Makiling St., Villamonte, Bacolod City, Neg. Occ., Philippines. Tel / Fax:+6334 435-1192; +6334 708-8752

Chievs Stones and Crystals
Chievs sells timeless, unique, handcrafted jewelry with the spirit, positive energies, and natural healing qualities of the earth. Their fashion accessories are made of semi-precious stones, swarovski crystals, and other natural items or a combination of several items.

Mamabels Home Garden
Mamabels sells organic plants, herbs, and herb-based products. Their garden is located at Purok Inday Oya, Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City. Their herb-based products are available at the Negros Showroom. Tel. No. +63-34-476-0299/+63918-924-6751.

ELG Gourmet Foods
ELG Gourmet Foods specializes in bringing gourmet taste to your table. They have catering services but perhaps they are most famous for their avocado mousse as well as nine other popular mousse flavors. For orders, call Tel. No. 034.433.3968

Sugarlandia Barquillos
Sugarlandia is the pioneer in piaya and barquillos in Negros. Started by Tya Dami, their product line has sustained through the ups and downs of the Negros economy. All their products in pasalubong boxes are readily available at the Negros Showroom.

Silay Export Inc.
Silay Export specializes in handmade paper produced from cogon grass, which they have used as base to their creative and colorful home accessories using mixed media, including fossilised natural leaves and other materials. They have a beautiful showroom behind their restaurant called the Barefoot Bistro, located at Dr. Jose Locsin St., Silay City, Negros Occidental. Mobile: 09228534420.

NVC Foundation
NVC partners with artists and volunteers who train women in rural communities, out-of-school youth, the differently abled, and the urban poor to create marketable products, providing them with livelihood opportunities. Their products include mosaic art, crocheted crafts, fiber and fabric art, and beadwork, among other handcrafted products. Their showroom is at 54 Lizares St., Bacolod City. But their products are also available at the Negros Showroom.

Jojo Vito Designs Gallery
Avid blogger Jojo Vito is the indefatigable man behind the world-famous masks, designer lighting fixtures, fabulous decor, and unique furniture of the Jojo Vito Designs Gallery. He is also an ardent user of indigenous materials and supporter of local livelihood projects.You may visit his gallery at Kapitana Dicang-Alunan Avenue Sts. (behind Metrodome Bldg. at Araneta St.) or you can find displays of his creations at the Negros Showroom. For appointments, please call (034) 704-2378, Mobile: 0943-547-3609. If you don’t want to carry big items, they also have small masks as table decors and key chains.

Hacienda Crafts
Hacienda Crafts specializes and exports quality handcrafted furniture and home accessories. They aim to weave the rustic “hacienda” charm into every furniture design, creating high quality, handcrafted pieces that soften contemporary living spaces with aesthetic excitement and practical sense. Located at Hacienda Santa Rosalia, Manapla, Negros Occidental. Tel. No. +63 34 454 0093 / +63 34 213 0062.