A Living Tapestry

Inside the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair

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The air inside the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall hums with the sound of weaving looms, soft laughter, and lively conversation. The scent of freshly polished wood mingles with the faint aroma of local coffee from one of the nearby booths. In every direction, color and texture fill the space — from hand-dyed fabrics and finely carved wooden furniture to delicate beadwork and handwoven baskets that carry the mark of both tradition and modern design.

This is the 2025 National Arts and Crafts Fair (NACF), a celebration of Filipino creativity that brings together more than 300 exhibitors from across the country. Organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through its Bureau of Market Development, Promotions, and OTOP (BMDPO) in partnership with the Office of Senator Loren Legarda, the NACF has once again transformed the Megatrade Halls into a living museum of Philippine artistry.

The Country's Creative Heartbeat

From opening day, visitors—families, students, collectors, and buyers—have come to experience how Filipino artisans are redefining tradition. In one corner, weavers from Kalinga demonstrate backstrap weaving as vivid geometric patterns come to life on the loom. Nearby, the T'boli of South Cotabato display their distinctive t'nalak cloth dyed with natural pigments.

The Maranaw artisans present their brassware and torogan-inspired designs, while exhibitors from Antique proudly showcase patadyong weaves that carry the legacy of their province's women's cooperatives.

Every booth tells a story. Each artisan represents a community, a heritage, and a continuing dialogue between the past and the future.

Honoring the Masters