Bútlak: Negros Trade Fair’s 40-Year Tale of Art, Crafts, and Survival

From September 22 to 27, the Negros Trade Fair showcases the wonders of the island region, spotlighting local arts, crafts, and cuisine that served as hope for their people.

 Words Marc Nathaniel Servo
Photo Courtesy of Negros Trade Fair
September 22, 2026

An unshakeable faith in the promise of a new dawn. 40 years since the Negros Trade Fair began, and indeed, hope shone for the workers of Negros Region again. 

Bútlak is a Hiligaynon word that refers to the rising of the sun, or the blooming of a flower. 

Aptly themed for their four decades of survival, the people of Negros Trade Fair carries on with the resolve of turning over a new page—and beyond that, to evolve, to transform, to bloom beyond the limits set on their heritage. 

The story of Negrosanos is a valiant tale of revival and adaptation. For its President, Christina Gaston, the commitment to continue what their predecessors began is still as strong, but now, they’re looking forward to new horizons.

“Fourty years ago, the Negros Trade Fair began with a simple idea: Give Negrosanos an opportunity to raise the money. 40 years later, this idea remains just as powerful. May this 40th Negros Trade Fair be a celebration of how far we have come and an invitation to imagine how much farther we can go,” she adds. 

Featuring a total of 178 brands, Chairperson Mary Ann Colmenares proudly shared that the fair has brought everything the Negros Island Region and Siquijor has to offer: from silk weavers from Aklan, artisans of Kanlaon, and homegrown hospitality brands. 

“Bútlak is the perfect theme for our 40th year. Butlak speaks of the first light, that glow of a new day. It is the light that touches at dawn, revealing its colors, its continuous, and its quiet abundance. But Butlak also evokes the act of blooming, the grand unfolding of something that has been carefully rooted, nurtured, and patiently waiting,” she said.

Open from September 22 to 27, 2026 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura, the 40th Negros Trade Fair carries in itself the hope of the island region, and the future promised in the name of transformation, transition, and tradition.

A New Dawn

Negros Trade Fair began following the collapse of the region’s sugar industry, forcing sugar workers to work on other crafts to earn money. The fair is one way for Negros to be recognized outside its staple product. 

Colmenares recalls how their fair began, “During one of the early Negros Trade Fairs, the theme was Hope Shines in Negros. This is the mindset that has consistently guided us throughout the 40 years of the trade fair. The Negrenses have held on to the promise of a new day, and that God’s mercies are new every morning.”

The key lies in adaptation. That is why for their 40th year, Colmenares highlighted the importance of transformation amid a changing market. Customers seek authenticity, sustainability, and craftsmanship—facets that can only come from supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Steven Tan, the President of SM Supermalls shares how he found connection from the artisanal products brought by Negrosanos, explaining how every product has a story, a family tradition, carried forward.

For food writer and culinary personality Chef JJ Yulo, the recipe of success lies in one key ingredient: its people, and how they adapted by enriching their culture, “Bútlak means new beginnings—so, evolution. Such is life, right? I kind of approach life and craft, which is cooking, the same way. You don’t stick to the old.”

Beyond Sugarlandia

For Colmenares, Bútlak, beyond the first light of dawn, is a form of transformation, “We are in bloom as we celebrate our 40th. We are not limiting ourselves moving forward. We endeavor to embrace the other SMEs from other parts of the Negros Island Region.”

In widening the variety of the fair’s 40th edition, it is important that they integrate the Negros Island. As such, the team dedicated themselves to bringing brands that are from the region, or have roots in the area, or are helping communities in Negros—which now also includes province, towns, and cities in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Among the boasted culture of the island region outside sugar is weaving, as the area is rich in resources for local fabric, tropical fibers, and natural dyes. The trade fair now includes brands and names like Camille Villanueva, StyleLoft, Pinas Sadya, Reveri by Ria Bolivar, and Hacienda Mar, among many others. 

With an established design DNA anchored on local produce like abaca, bamboo, rattan, and hablon, this year’s fair is proudly joined by eco-friendly brands for furniture, decor, and homeware like Hacienda Crafts, Art Energy, ARTISANA, Noah Madera Handicrafts, and NVC. 

In terms of flavor, the Negros Trade Fair is expected to present a wider variety of the region’s beloved flavors. From iconic brands like Bob’s Cafe, 21, Chicken House, El Ideal, and Virgie’s Homemade Products, among others, guests can expect a culinary experience worthy of the name of slow food capital.