The Bulawan Awards Trophy Designed and executed by Jojo Vito Designs Gallery
Typhoon Yolanda was one of the strongest and deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, killing more than 6,000 people in the Philippines alone and left multitude of people homeless. Many people lost their livelihood … Many organizations and individuals extends immediate help. But after a while ,it was seen that the victims of these calamities need more than the relief goods which they consume to survive. They need livelihood to rise above from the impact caused by the disaster. Responding to the needs of time, the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) in its own little way got out of its comfort zone to reached out to various communities heavily hit by the super typhoon. Many thoughts come to mind to be of help within the little capacity of individual members….tapping these people as subcontractors, suppliers or even teaching them basic skills to start their own livelihood business. This desire to be of help will be the soul of the theme of the upcoming 2014 Negros Trade Fair and Bulawan Awards Competition of ANP: “ Smile Beyond Boarders”. 
Butch Gersamo, Bacolod City Tourism Officer, Hon. Em Ang, First Lady Patching Puentebella, ANP Pres. Joji Locsin
BULAWAN AWARDS The Bulawan Awards is an annual product design competition of the Association of Negros Producers, which recognizes outstanding products by ANP members, and is designed to encourage ingenuity, creativity and commitment in terms of product innovation, packaging and the development of new market-driven products that are competitive in both domestic and international markets. For many years now Bulawan Awards competition has produced numerous products Bulawan Winners will be picked for each of the following categories: FASHION AND JEWELRY (Bags & Footwear, Garments, Jewelry & Accessories, Novelty, Travel & Luggage Gear); GIFTS AND HOUSEWARES (Table Top/Gifts, Home Furnishings) ; FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS (Furniture, Luminary); FOOD (Pastries, cookies, baked goods and flour-based products, Confectionaries, fruit preserves and other sugar-based products, Deli products and other non-sugar based preserves, Health and Wellness preparations) Aside from the Bulawan Major Winners, special awards will also be given as follows: Best in Design Excellence; Best in Craftsmanship, Best in Visual Impact and, for this year a special Award is added, Best in the Use of Indigenous Material from Yolanda Stricken Area. Through the years, Bulawan Awards produced numerous products which became very successful not only in the local market but even for export. Bulawan Awards is a vehicle for many members to develop products for any national and international exhibitions. This is also in preparation for the upcoming Annual Negros Trade Fair of ANP. All 2014 Bulawan entries will be exhibited and best entries will be judged at Robinsons Place Bacolod City on July 22-27, 2014. The same product will also be made available for selling on the upcoming Negros Trade Fair on September 23-28, 2014 at Glorietta Mall, Makati City.
PHOTOS DURING THE OPENING OF BULAWAN AWARDS LAST JULY 23, 2014 ROBINSONS PLACE BACOLOD CITY
The author giving the welcome remarks being the Chair for Bulawan Awards
First Lady Patching Puentebella giving her inspirational address
ANP Executive Director Jess Nemenso, Julie Ann Villamor of Provl Tourism, Sunstar’s Danny Dangcalan, Provincial Tourism Officer Tin Mansinares and the author
With the First lady and ANP Marketing Manager Jida Hautea
With Butch Gerasmo, Hon Em Ang, and Jomarie Sy
With Negros Bloggers, Runel Reyes, Maricar Davao, Glady Reyes (also of DOST) and Jess Nemenzo
Mrs Puentebella and Rhoderick Samonte checking the entries
The crowd was entertained by this group of artists
