Eastern Visayas’ islands treats showcase at OTOP-Makati

TACLOBAN CITY, July 15 (PNA) –- Food, gifts, fashion, furniture and houseware are among the Eastern Visayas islands’ local treasures that are now on display at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-One Town, One Product (OTOP) Makati Showroom.

The Leyte Treats of Ethnic Foods & Crafts Association (LeyTEFCA), consolidated the region’s best products this year, to come up with the showcase in Makati which runs from July 4 to 29, 2016.

On display are Eastern Visayas’ local delicacies, sweet treats, seafood products, handicrafts, native fashion, housewares, furnishing and other accessories all proudly made by local and small entrepreneurs from the different provinces of the region.

LeyTEFCA had a successful showcase during the Eastern Visayas Bahandi Trade Fair at the SM Mega Trade Mall last year, featuring Leyte’s local delicacies, sweet treats and native crafts. This was immediately followed by a showcase at the Makati Showroom.

However, in this year’s stint, the group consolidated the rest of the region’s “Bahandi,” the local term for treasures.

Among those featured at the Makati Showroom are food arrays such as pastillas de leche, pili pastillas, pili nuts, bukarillo, cornstarch & cinnamon cookies all from Carigara; roscas & butter cookies from Barugo, Leyte; banana, camote, carlang chips from Tanauan, Leyte and Sta Rita, Samar; calamansi concentrate from Guiuan, Eastern Samar; rosquillos, hopia de pili, curioso from Tacloban City and Calbiga, Samar.

Sukang Waray coco sap vinegar from Tacloban City; bangus sardines from Jaro, Leyte; tamban sardines from Matalom, Leyte; tahong crackers & bottled adobong tahong from Jiabong, Samar; pili crunch, piniato from Allen, Northern Samar; vacuum fried jackfriut from Baybay City; mango jam and crispy lechon from Tacloban City; “tuba”, the local red wine from Palo, Leyte; the famed moron from Abuyog, Leyte and binagol from Dagami, Leyte; and wild honey from Maasin, Southern Leyte.

Other products are crafts and souvenirs items such as key chains, refrigerator magnets from Palo,Leyte and Tacloban City; scented candles from Palo; home decors like mats, bags, place mats,

 made of tikog from Basey, Samar; bags and other items made from pandan leaves from Baybay City; coco shell products from Bato, Leyte and nito products from Biliran and Southern Leyte provinces.

Pouches and wallets made of recycled material woven by women inmates of the Tacloban City Jail are also on display.

Sarah Misagal, one of the prime movers for the LeyTEFCA, said they are happy to have been able to launch another Bahandi showcase this year, in order to help small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the region.

She added that small businesses organizations in the region have been trying to bounce back and regain their livelihood after the previous years’ calamities and they have been giving their best in making great progress in recovering their livelihood.

Last year, the Leyte traders alone earned a total of P1.2 million in cash and booked sales at the OTOP-Makati showcase. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/Ahlette C. Reyes/egr