The Next Negros Trade Fair Goes Beyond Piaya, Sneakers & Coconut. It's About Culture & Heritage

The best bite of piaya — a ubiquitous street food in Negros Occidental — is the first one 30 seconds after it's taken off the pan. Warm, caramelized muscovado sugar filling mixes with the nutty flavor of sesame seeds on a bed of warm, flaky flatbread.

- By CECILE J. BALTASAR

One bite is not enough to fully appreciate the muted sweetness of the muscovado so you take another bite. This time, you chew slowly to give yourself time to savor how the gooey filling turns the crust into a delectable masterpiece.

Humble, flat, and round, the piaya has inspired many variations for its filling: ube halaya, nutty chocolate, mango jam, calamansi custard, turmeric, oregano, basil pesto, even chorizo.

Find some of these flavors, plus a whole world of Negrense cuisine, crafts, fashion, wellness products, and artisan home pieces at Himbon: The 39th Negros Trade Fair.

From Sept. 23 to 28, SMX Aura Convention Center at SM Aura Premier will be filled with 140 booths bearing offerings created by 139 vendors and partners from the province of Negros.

Each of the participating artisans is rooted in the Negrense values of innovation and resilience.

A FAIR OF MILESTONES

"This is our largest fair to date, featuring many exciting firsts," said Christina Gaston, president of the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) at the recently held media preview of the fair. ANP is the moving force behind NTP, which is the country's longest-running provincial trade fair.