16th Aklan Piňa and Fiber Festival winners named

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Organizers of the 16^th Aklan Piňa and Fiber Festival bared the winners for the Most Innovative Product, Best Product Collection and Best Booth categories.

The festival from April 22 and 26 is a collaborative undertaking of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Congressional District Office and the provincial government of Aklan to coincide with the 59^th Aklan Day celebration. 

Culdora Piňa Cloth was declared first place winner for Most Innovative Product-Piňa Loomwoven Fabric. Non-Timber Forest Products won second place and HAMPCO settled for third place.

Sutoniel’s Piňa Cloth also went home first place honors for Most Innovative Product-Piňa Loomwoven Shawl with HAMPCO and Non-Timber Forest Products for second and third places, respectively.

For Most Innovative Product-Piňa Loomwoven Bag category, first place winner Button’s N’ Things Crafts and Designs bested Jojo’s Christmas Cottage and Sutoniel’s Piňa Cloth for the award. 

On the other hand, Del’s Native Products won the Best Product Collection-Raffia Bag Collection category while Rentillo Enterprises settled for second place and Uswag Arts and Crafts in third place.

Papierus Arts and Crafts also won the Best Product Collection-Hand Made Paper Box Collection category. Button’s N’ Things Crafts and Designs came in second and Maria AJ Creations settled for third place.

Jojo’s Christmas Cottage placed first in Best Product Collection-Abaca Bag Collection category followed by Uswag Arts and Crafts and Maria AJ Creations.

Button’s N’ Things Crafts and Designs also topped the Best Product Collection-Bariw/Buri Bag Collection category with Rentillo Enterprises coming in second and Uswag Arts and Crafts placed third. 

The first place winners in the Most Innovative Product and Best Product Collection categories received P4,000 each while second placers got P2,500 and the third place winners received P1,500.

Meanwhile, Fruit of Life Enterprises emerged as first place winner in Best Booth (Food) category followed by Rosa Foods, Inc. and Pesing Asim Suka Making.

Uswag Arts and Crafts won the Best Booth (Craft) category. Basura Garden had a runner-up finish and Rentillo Enterprises placed third.

The top winners in Best Booth for Food and Craft categories received P7,000 while second and third placers got P3,500 and P2,000, respectively.

The trade show by some 60 exhibitors is held in partnership with local producers - Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc. and Aklan Piňa and Indigenous Fibers Manufacturers and Traders Association, Inc. and PhilFIDA to showcase the country’s best piňa and fiber products.