4th Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair to highlight 1st Bicol Aqua Fair

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, June 18 (PIA) -- This year’s Bicol Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) will highlight the 1st Bicol Aqua Fair on September at the downtown area of Naga City, near the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.

As it embarks on its 4th year of bringing together the best entrepreneurs not just in the region but also other business partakers from several parts of the country, this year’s BFGTF endeavors to attract more participants as it partners with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) with the launching of the First Bicol Aqua Fair featuring various marine products.

The BFGTF through the Caceres Social Action Foundation (CASAFI), the social action of the Archdiocese of Caceres will also showcase various Bicol products like handicrafts, souvenir items, furniture, food products and various agricultural produce. Local entrepreneurs are also encouraged to partake of this annual event in line with the organizer’s campaign to promote Bicolano originality and ingenuity.

The BFGTF had its Press launch last June 12 at the Archbishop's Residence and was grace by Archbishop Rolando Octavus J. Tria Tirona. Tirona called on its partners to continue supporting the organizers in the conduct of the BFGTF.

Aside from BFAR, the annual BFGTF is being actively supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Camarines Sur through its Provincial Head, Director Edna Tejada and ABS-CBN through its Bicol Area Manager Amy Villafuerte.

“DTI and ABS-CBN are long time partners of BFGTF since its inception in September 2010 during the Tercentenary celebration of our devotion to our Lady of Peñafrancia, “ Rev. Fr. Jeffry John B. Briones, BFGTF Chairman said in a press statement.

A clear embodiment of the PPP or public-private partnership, the holding of the BFGTF was inspired by Bishop Francisco Gainza who pioneered the First Agro-Industrial Fair in Bicol Region in 1875. Gainza believed that such economic activity will alleviate poverty and will promote integral development of the community and its members.

Current Fair organizers, tracing its root from a religious origin, decided to hold the annual event on September 12, a day before the Traslacion. It will culminate on September 22, the feast day of our Lady of Peñafrancia. The activity was also perfectly timed during the time when the city is celebrating its Peñafrancia break, giving ample time for Nagueños and residents from neighboring towns to shop and visit the Fair.

For interested participants, BFGTF organizers can be reached at (054) 473-9550 or they can email them at bishopgainza_tradefair@yahoo.com. They can also be reached through their Facebook account at facebook.com, bishopgainza_tradefairtwitter.com/Gainza TradeFair. (MAL/LSM/PIA5-Camarines Sur)