Tourism and Food Expo reels off in Naga City

BY: ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) --- Tourism and food venture stakeholders from Bicol region. Metro Manila and other areas converged at the Avenue Plaza Hotel  in time for the second Bicol Travel and Food Expo (BITFEX) showcasing respective places of interest, products, services and prospects.

The tourism and food expo which formally opened Wednesday this week featured seventy-four booths showcasing 50 exhibitors displaying various food products, delicacies, souvenirs, business opportunities, places and destinations, agri-livelihood opportunities, including health and wellness products and the latest innovations in technology.

The 5-day BITFEX expo, held in line with the celebration of the Penafrancia festivity here, will also feature daily thematic activities to showcase various fields of business interests.

In the opening day salvo, the city government here featured “Naga X sa BITFEX”, a tourism development initiative that includes the tourism attractions and the best of Naga City, including the best features of its 15 neighboring municipalities.

Culinary experts also showed off their ingenuity and creativeness in coming up with their featured delicacies in the “Bicol Food Festival” wherein contenders coming from various schools and food enthusiasts competed for the best foodstuff that would gain the nod and taste of invited jurors in the Interschool and Open Category.

Cosplayers will also showcase their best costumes during the “Otaku Fiesta Sa BITFEX” dubbed as the grand gathering of all cosplayers.  

Aspiring entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts will surely enjoy the third day as new business ideas and tips will be imparted to the partakers of “ Asenso Bicolano Go Negosyo” Agri-Livelihood and Entrepreneurs’ Day.

Talks will be given by speakers from the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship and the Department of Agriculture (DA).   In the afternoon will be a business-matching initiative with cocktails and 4k Barrel during the Sponsor’s Exhibitor’s Night.

Health and Wellness takes center stage on the 4th day of the expo where various products and services will be offered to the partakers.  This day also coincides with the Fluvial procession where the images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and Divino Rostro will be carried in a pagoda via the historic Naga River going to the Basilica Minore.

People who will also shop and buy “pasalubong” and other products in the event’s venue will have a chance to take the products at discounted prices  and will have the chance of winning major prizes like LED TV, Misibis Bay Day Tours and other gadgets and giveaways from selected participating exhibitors.

Here, thousands of devotees and pilgrims are expected to fill the roads en route to Ina’s home.

On the last day of the expo will be a grand closing of BITFEX featuring “Fiesta Naga, Fiesta Bicolandia”, a song and dance competition that is expected to draw youngsters and dancers in a night of merriment and celebration.

BITFEX now on its second year endeavors to continually stir up the Bicolano’s interest in food, tourism and local economy and raise the awareness that they can be a part of the inclusive growth being pushed under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

PBN station manager Christine Ojeda said that with the growing interest of the exhibitors, there is a great possibility that they will again mount the said activity in the upcoming years.

“We want to be an instrument in pushing our local economy to where it should go and collaborate this effort with private organizations and government agencies for us to reach the economic stability as partners of the government,” Ojeda said in an interviews.

BITFEX is not only supported by private entities but also by TESDA, DA , DTI – a clear picture that Public-Private –Partnership is at work.  (LSMy-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

- See more at: http://r05.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=861379577868#sthash.b1JJxqI4.dpuf