In joining Cagayan de Oro City’s annual Higalaay Festival for the first time, the Food Processors Association of Northern Mindanao (FopaNormin) said it hopes to secure the loyal support of more local buyers for their products.
In a press briefing sponsored by the City Information Office (CIO) on Monday, FopaNormin President Craig Mari Padla said they are thankful to Cagayan de Oro City Hall for including their event, the Tinagboan Festival, as part of the core events of the city’s Higalaay Festival.
‘The city fiesta is a great opportunity for us to showcase our products (to a wider, bigger audience),’ Padla said.
Though their Tinagboan Festival had been held annually in Cagayan de Oro City since 2000, it’s only this year that their event is included as a core event for the city fiesta.
The Tinagboan Festival will be held at the Limketkai Mall’s Atrium on Aug. 20 to 24, said Padla and Fopa Normin vice president Ana Marie Viscayno, chairperson of the Tinagboan Festival.
‘We the SMEs (small medium enterprises) need this exposure provided by the city government of Cagayan de Oro through the city fiesta to market our products especially since we’re still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions,’ Viscayno said.
About 24 companies will join the event along with sponsors and non-members, Padla said.
With the theme ‘Sama-sama Tulong Tulong Sa Tinagboan Tungo sa Maunlad Na Kinabukasan (Together We Help Each Other Through Gift-Giving Towards A Progressive Future),’ Viscayno said they are inviting the public to attend their festival and patronize their products in order to support their industry which experienced tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘True the local market is slowly recovering though it’s still quiet so we are grateful to City Hall through Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy for their support to us SMEs by allowing our inclusion in the Higalaay Festival,’ Viscayno said.
Aside from offering food samples and displays, FopaNorMin auditor Agnes Emelda Gonzales said the Tinagboan Festival will feature a motorcade and cooking demonstrations among others.
‘We’re also launching our Christmas giveaways and opening of memberships to those starting out in the food business,’ Padla said.
Viscayno said the Tinagboan Festival will also serve as a venue to market their products as souvenirs especially for new members to local governments and government agencies. ‘Through public support, we can hire more people (and help the local economy),’ she said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
Source: City Information Office
