Press launch of the 1st Bicol Aqua Fair within the grounds of the Archbishop’s palace last June 12, 2013.
NAGA City, June 18, 2013—The social arm of the Archdiocese of Caceres is slated to feature a wide array of marine products in its first Bicol Aqua Fair this coming September during the feast of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
The Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI) on September will put up the 1st Bicol Aqua Fair during the Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair (BFGTF) in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
“We make it a point to bring something new as we hold each year the BFGTF. Come September, we will highlight the 1st Bicol Aqua Fair as we partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) along with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and ABS-CBN, our long time partners since the inception of the BFGTF in September 2010 during the Tercentenary Celebration of our devotion to Our Lady of Penafrancia,” Rev. Fr. Jeffry John B. Briones, BFGTF Chairman, confirmed.
BFGTF maintains its venue in downtown Naga, just a few meters away from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral.
The location’s proximity will allow thousands of Ina’s devotees to get the chance to shop marine products coming from different parts of Bicol along with handicrafts, souvenirs, furniture, food products and agricultural produce.
“We shall hold the activity at the same venue, near the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of [the] busiest streets every September in Naga City. And since we want our clients to keep coming back, we will be providing air-conditioned tent for the comfort of both the buyers and exhibitors,” said Fr. Marc Real, BFGTF Project Director.
“Exciting events to watch out nightly are being lined up courtesy of ABS-CBN, BFAR and the major sponsor, Globe Telecom,” he added.
Entrepreneurial trainings also form part of the fair with focus on engaging in the fishery industry.
This year’s fair will start on September 12, a day before the Traslacion and will culminate on the 22nd, feast day of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. The event will cover two weekends to allow people to have time for shopping and leisure.
Already in its fourth year, the Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair is organized by the Archdiocese of Caceres through the Caceres Social Action Foundation, Inc. (CASAFI). It traces back its roots from Bishop Francisco Gainza who pioneered the First Agro-Industrial Fair in Bicol in 1875. The fair is geared towards alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship and solidarity that promotes integral development.
The Organizers of Bishop Francisco Gainza Trade Fair can be reached at 473-9550 or through e-mail at bishopgainza_tradefair@yahoo.com or facebook.com/bishopgainza_tradefair twitter.com/GainzaTradeFair. (Natalie Hazel Quimlat)
