Kalinga entrepreneurs bring Indigenous Craft and Innovation to National Trade Fair in Mandaluyong City

Tabuk City, Kalinga – Authentic Kalinga local products are being showcased and sold to the public by local businesses at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City through this year’s National Trade Fair organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Running until February 22, the 2026 National Trade Fair aims to promote Filipino products and expand market access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The fair offers a curated selection of eco-friendly, design-driven, and high-value Filipino products for buyers, entrepreneurs, and conscious consumers.

According to the DTI, the event brings together hundreds of exhibitors from across the country who are ready to supply a wide range of product requirements for retailers, distributors, resellers, exporters, and the general public.

The participation of Kalinga MSMEs in the exhibition is an opportunity for them to showcase the province’s rich cultural heritage to a wider audience through their collections of authentic handwoven textiles, native fashion items, handicrafts, and other innovative creations.

The Provincial DTI Office reported that a total of 10 Kalinga MSMEs are participating in the event, along with enterprises from other provinces in the Cordillera region.

These Kalinga MSMEs include Nessaj’s Handicrafts and Pasalubong Products; Kinwa Etnika Handicrafts; Kadangyan Handloom Woven Products; Garcia’s Food Products; Kristine Jhada’s Fashion Accessories Trading; Yba-ay Kalinga Native Products Manufacturing; Cultura De Kalinga Fashion Boutique; Ifka’s Weaving and Handicraft; Jajie’s Native Fashion; and Kalif Apparel.

In past years, the national trade fair has proven effective in helping local businesses grow by increasing their income while promoting the rich cultural heritage of their communities.

In 2025 alone, the DTI reported that a series of national trade fairs organized that year generated a combined ₱621.2 million in cash sales, confirmed orders, and ongoing negotiations, directly benefiting nearly 1,500 MSMEs nationwide.

The agency said the sales figures are proof of the “high and growing demand for high-quality, locally made products.”