7 Reasons You Can’t Miss BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair

Forty years. Generations of makers. One landmark celebration of everything Negros—back at SM

Forty years of Negrense creativity, craftsmanship, and enterprise—all coming together under one roof. Food, fashion, home, and craftsmanship at BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair, in partnership with SM for MSMEs, brings homegrown businesses closer to more customers and opportunities at SMX Convention Center Aura, September 22–27.

Some fairs are worth visiting for the shopping. Others for the food. BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair gives you 40 years of reasons to come. From September 22 to 27, 2026, the country’s longest-running provincial trade fair returns to SMX Convention Center Aura, bringing the best of Negros closer to Metro Manila shoppers for its milestone 40th anniversary.


Through SM for MSMEs, SM Supermalls continues its collaboration with the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), helping provide Negrense entrepreneurs a highly visible marketplace where their products, stories and craftsmanship can connect with more customers and potential markets.

Crafted in Negros, made to be discovered. Negrense artisans give traditional craftsmanship a fresh, contemporary spin.

This year’s theme, BÚTLAK, celebrates a legacy moving forward with fresh energy: honoring the flavors, craftsmanship and stories that made the fair an institution while giving Negrense creativity a distinctly contemporary spin. Whether you come to eat, shop, discover something new—or all three—here are 7 reasons this milestone edition deserves a spot on your calendar.

1. Because the Big 4-0 is going BIG!

Forty years doesn't happen every day. More than 115 Negrense entrepreneurs are preparing to fill 178 booths with the best of the island—from beloved food and fashion to handcrafted furniture, home accents, art and more. For longtime NTF fans, it's a homecoming. For first-timers, this may be the best year to finally discover why generations of shoppers keep coming back. Six days. 178 booths. One island's creativity under one roof.

Hot off the griddle—and always worth the wait! One of the most sought-after experiences at the Negros Trade Fair is watching the iconic piaya freshly heated and served warm on-site. Crisp on the outside with its sweet, gooey filling inside, this beloved Negrense delicacy proves that some favorites are simply best enjoyed fresh, warm, and straight from the fair.

2. Come hungry. Very hungry.

Ask an NTF regular what they're looking forward to and chances are, food is somewhere near the top of the list.

• 21 Restaurant is bringing Bacolod favorites including its Signature Batchoy, Spanish-style Boquerones and Lola Nitang's Bibingka.

• Quan Delicacies brings the ultimate Negrense comfort-food haul: classic kakanin, napoleones, chicken pie and Frozen Sud-an—including Cansi—alongside newer creations such as Puto Sorbetes and Batuan Focaccia.

• Then there's Sir and Ma'am Restaurant's heirloom Morcon, a family tradition dating back to 1962.

• Casa Carmela's small-batch Negrense dishes and culinary staples made for stocking the pantry.

Come hungry. Leave with enough pasalubong to make everyone at home very happy.

Discover old favorites and new finds from Quan Delicacies, Casa Carmela, 21 Restaurant, Sir and Ma’am Restaurant, and more—proof that at the Negros Trade Fair, there’s always something worth coming back for seconds.

3. Wear Negros differently.

This isn't heritage that stays behind glass. At BÚTLAK, traditional craftsmanship finds its way into pieces made for today's wardrobe.

Behind every contemporary Negrense fashion piece are skilled hands transforming fabric, texture, and tradition into something made for today. 

Negrense makers transform craftsmanship and tradition into fashion designed for today.

• Tia Lacson The Label's Medina Collection brings effortless resort dressing in natural linen, lace, fine piña and recycled materials, with selected pieces supporting mother-embroiderers in Silay and local seamstresses across Bacolod and Talisay.

• Ellege Handcrafted Fashion keeps Negros Occidental's intricate hand-smocking tradition alive, translating a painstaking heritage technique into elegant contemporary clothing.

• And Arête brings handcrafted island-style accessories made with indigenous Philippine materials and created in partnership with local Local fashion, but make it unmistakably Negrense.

Negrense style, reimagined. From contemporary fashion to handcrafted accessories, local makers bring heritage, artistry, and modern design together—unmistakably Negros.

Hacienda Crafts: Woven with purpose. Local materials become beautiful home pieces while creating livelihoods for Negrense artisan communities.

4. Bring a little bit of Negros home.

Consider this fair dangerous territory for anyone who says, “I'm just looking.”

• Hacienda Crafts transforms abaca, rattan, bamboo and coconut twigs into export-grade lighting and home décor while providing livelihoods to sugarcane communities during tiempo muerto. Around 90% of its artisans are local mothers who weave from home.
• Tumandok Crafts Industries turns carefully treated capiz shells into premium houseware and statement décor, preserving a craft it has developed since 1988.
• Meanwhile, Artisana Island Crafts combines ceramics with wild pandan harvested from the foothills of Mt. Kanlaon to create eco-luxury table décor while supporting livelihoods for wives of local sugarcane farmers.

Crafted by nature, shaped by Negros. Capiz, ceramics, and wild pandan are transformed into distinctive pieces that bring Negrense artistry home.

These aren't simply beautiful objects. They're pieces of Negros—and the communities behind them—that you can bring home.

5. Be among the first to discover what's new.

Here's where the 40th gets particularly exciting. Five product specialists from the Design Center of the Philippines went directly into Negros workshops to collaborate with ANP makers, exploring local raw materials and combining time-honored skills with contemporary design perspectives. The result? Fresh, market-ready collections debuting at the 40th Negros Trade Fair, alongside the 2026 Bulawan Awards pieces.

After four decades, Negros isn't simply looking back. It's designing what comes next.

6. Find something you never expected to buy.

One of the best things about NTF has always been discovery.

Come for your favorites, leave with a new discovery. From Sarisa chips and mosaic art to clay sculptures, NTF is full of unexpected finds shaped by creativity, resourcefulness, and purpose.

• A typhoon once stripped Chef Mae Selene Puentespina-Resultay's Sarisa trees of their fruit. Instead of looking at what was lost, she looked at what remained—the leaves—and eventually transformed them into Rensel's crispy Sarisa Chips.

• Artist Ramon De los Santos makes his official NTF debut with Lutak Art Sculptures, combining clay and raw earth in textured works inspired by the nostalgia of Larong Pinoy.

• And NVC Foundation transforms discarded materials such as broken tiles and used Nespresso capsules into intricate mosaic art, with every purchase helping fund nutrition, education and livelihood initiatives in Negros Occidental.

Made in Negros, designed to stand out. Natural and repurposed materials are handcrafted into one-of-a-kind décor and art pieces—showcasing the ingenuity behind Negrense craftsmanship.

Come looking for your favorites. Leave having discovered a new one

7. Because when the right partners open doors, local businesses can go further.

The Negros Trade Fair has always been more than a place to shop. For four decades, it has helped give Negrense entrepreneurs a marketplace for their creativity, craftsmanship and products. This milestone edition builds on that legacy by bringing together ANP, the Provincial Government, SM Supermalls through the SM for MSMEs program and SMX Aura around a shared opportunity: helping more Filipino enterprises reach more people.

Through SM for MSMEs, SM helps bring platforms such as the Negros Trade Fair closer to a ready, high-traffic market—providing entrepreneurs with greater market access, business visibility and opportunities to connect with customers.

It's an idea at the heart of SM for MSMEs: when Filipino entrepreneurs are given the right marketplace and the right opportunities, small businesses have more room to grow.

After 40 years, NTF offers plenty of proof of what can happen when communities, entrepreneurs and partners grow together. 40 years brought them here. Come see where they go next. BÚTLAK is more than an anniversary. It's a chance to taste recipes passed through generations, wear craftsmanship reimagined for today, bring home extraordinary Filipino design, meet the people behind the products—and support businesses helping keep Negrense culture and enterprise thriving. So come hungry. Come curious. And perhaps come with an extra shopping bag!

• BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair

• September 22–27, 2026

• SMX Convention Center Aura

Taste it. Wear it. Bring it home. And be part of the next 40 years of Negros.

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About SM Supermalls – SM for MSMEs

SM Supermalls is one of Southeast Asia's largest mall developers and operators. For generations, SM has grown alongside Filipino communities by creating destinations where people, businesses and opportunities come together. Through SM for MSMEs, SM continues to evolve with the needs of Filipino entrepreneurs by creating opportunities that help businesses start, grow and thrive. From market access and business visibility to strategic partnerships and entrepreneurship platforms, SM empowers MSMEs across different stages and sectors—connecting homegrown brands with more customers and communities nationwide. My SM. Your Most Loved Supermall.

SM and PMAP Mega Job Fair, Creating an Employment Ecosystem

Neither rain nor disrupted schedules could stop jobseekers from pursuing their next opportunity.

FROM JOBSEEKER TO HIRED! Successful applicants proudly mark their new beginnings after being hired on the spot at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, where SM Job Fair and PMAP brought employment opportunities closer to Filipino communities. After being rescheduled to August 17–18 due to inclement weather in Metro Manila, the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, held in collaboration with SM Job Fair, pushed through at the SM City North EDSA Skydome—connecting jobseekers with employers, career coaches, upskilling opportunities, and employment support services under one roof. The two-day event brought together around 30 employers and hundreds of jobseekers, with several applicants hired on the spot (HOTS).

A jobseeker meets directly with a recruiter at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, bringing meaningful career opportunities closer to the community.

SM Supermalls’ Royston Cabunag, 1st District Councilor Hon. Charm Ferrer, PMAP President Gilbert Camasura, PMAP Past President Obet Policarpio, PMAP’s Ghie Lara and Jemai Duque-Gomez, and DOLE QC Director Rowella Grande, officially open the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, reaffirming their shared commitment to creating more employment opportunities and building a future-ready Filipino workforce.

Held in celebration of the People Management Association of the Philippines' (PMAP) 70th Anniversary, the career fair carried the theme “HumanITy Forward 2026: Empowering Talent in a Digital World,” putting the spotlight not only on getting Filipinos hired, but also on helping them become better prepared for the changing world of work.

HIRED ON THE SPOT! Newly hired applicants celebrate their career milestone with Ghie Lara, Chairperson of PMAP’s Employability Committee, at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026. Their success reflects what the event’s employability ecosystem is all about—connecting Filipino talent with employers, career support, and opportunities that can lead to meaningful employment.

More than getting hired

For Ghie Lara, Chairperson of PMAP's Employability Committee, the event represented a broader approach to helping Filipinos build sustainable careers. “What we have here is not just a job fair but an employability ecosystem which includes our employer partners. This year, we also have the upskilling zone and the career-coaching zone where volunteers can give guidance to our jobseekers. We are here not only to employ but also to upskill.”

That approach complements the continuing evolution of SM Job Fair—bringing employment opportunities closer to communities while creating pathways for jobseekers to develop the skills and confidence they need to compete in today's workplace.

Hired-on-the-spot applicant Richmond Carl Bello celebrates his new opportunity with SM Supermalls executives Royston Cabunag, Asst. Vice President and Head of SM Communities; Pats Lim-Dy, Senior Asst. Vice President for SM Communities

Showing up for opportunity

For the jobseekers who came despite the weather, the experience was far more personal.  Richmond Carl Bello arrived determined to find work and left hired on the spot as Administrative Staff at Readyman. 

“Pumunta po ako ngayon kasi kailangan po talaga ng work. Umulan man o bumagyo, kailangan ng trabaho.”

Marketing; and Cedrik Forbes, Lead for SM Job Fairs, at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026. 

For Sweet Ehricka Toledo, who was hired on the spot as a Cashier at SM Hypermarket, having the job fair inside the mall made pursuing an opportunity easier despite the conditions outside. 

“Hindi ako mapipigilan ng ulan sa paghahanap ng trabaho. Buti po dito sa SM ang job fair, secured po mula sa panahon at maayos ang lugar.”

Their stories underscore why bringing job fairs into accessible community spaces matters: when opportunities are closer and easier to reach, more Filipinos have the chance to pursue them.

HIRED ON THE SPOT! A successful applicant proudly celebrates landing a new job at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026—turning a day of job hunting into a fresh career start.

 

Connecting employers with community talent

The benefits extend to employers looking for skilled people. Jhane Unciano, Administrative Manager of Dewan Architects and Engineers, said the event helped the company build its talent pool as it expands its presence in the Philippines. “We are also trying to promote our company's needs for Architects and Engineers... and we think this partnership with PMAP and SM is helping us tremendously with this.” 

Joaquin Feliciano, University Relations Partner and Talent Sourcer at Meralco, likewise noted the turnout despite the weather, citing the collaboration among Quezon City LGU, PMAP and SM as a strength of the event. By bringing employers and jobseekers into the same accessible venue, SM Job Fair helps shorten the distance between available talent and available opportunities. 

Making the employment journey easier Jobseekers were also able to access digital government assistance through eGovPH, helping facilitate requirements such as TIN, Pag-IBIG, and SSS.

Pauline Faye Agtarap, Project Development Officer II of DICT, said the service helps reduce the steps jobseekers need to take as they prepare for employment. “Happy po ako kasi natutulungan natin ang mga naghahanap ng trabaho, bawas po sa pag-asikaso nila. It's a great opportunity to have SM as a partner in promoting the programs of DICT in helping Filipino jobseekers.”

OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REACH. Jobseekers connect directly with recruiters at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, exploring career opportunities from multiple employers—all under one roof.

This reflects the broader direction of SM Job Fair: making the journey to employment more convenient—not only by bringing jobs closer, but by connecting Filipinos with skills development and essential support services along the way.

Opportunities closer to home

The PMAP Mega Job Fair is part of SM Supermalls' continuing nationwide employment advocacy, bringing together employers, government and industry partners to make career opportunities more accessible to different communities. From a jobseeker braving bad weather for an interview to an applicant walking out with a new job, the impact ultimately comes down to individual lives moving forward.

ONE HANDSHAKE CLOSER TO A NEW CAREER. A jobseeker connects with a recruiter at the PMAP Mega Job Fair 2026, where face-to-face conversations open doors to new career possibilities.

Because sometimes, the distance between looking for an opportunity and finding one can be as simple as having the right people, support, and opportunities within reach.

More SM Job Fairs ahead

Following the successful PMAP Mega Job Fair, SM Job Fair continues to bring employment opportunities closer to communities through a nationwide lineup of hiring events:

• August 25 – SM City Davao I SM City Tuguegarao 

• August 26 – SM City Fairview I SM City Cabanatuan

• August 27 – SM City Pampanga  I SM City Bacoor I  SM City Trece Martires I SM Center Muntinlupa

• August 29 – SM City Baguio

• August 31 - SM Center San Pedro

• September 1 – SM City Sto. Tomas

• September 3 – SM City Manila 

• September 4 – SM City Sta. Mesa

• September 7–8 – SM City Butuan 

• September 8–9 – SM City Iloilo I SM City Davao 

• September 9 – SM City Baguio 

• September 9–10 – SM City Cebu I SM CDO Downtown Premier 

• September 10 – SM City Trece Martires I SM City Tuguegarao I SM City North EDSA I SM City Zamboanga

• September 12 – SM City La Union I SM City San Pablo 

• September 14 – SM CDO Downtown Premier

• September 16–17 – SM Seaside City Cebu 

• September 24 – SM City Trece Martires I SM City Calamba 

• September 29 – SM City Bacoor                 

Schedules and participating malls may change without prior notice. 

Each event provides jobseekers with direct access to employers from various industries, allowing them to explore career opportunities, submit applications, and participate in on-the-spot interviews—all in one convenient and accessible location.

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About SM Supermalls – Job Fairs

SM Supermalls is one of Southeast Asia's largest mall developers and operators, with 90 malls in the Philippines and 9 in China. For generations, SM has grown alongside Filipino communities by creating destinations where people, businesses, and opportunities come together. Through SM Job Fairs, SM continues to evolve with the aspirations of Filipino job seekers by making employment opportunities more accessible across its malls nationwide. Designed for diverse job seeker communities—from fresh graduates and career shifters to experienced professionals—SM connects talent with employers through meaningful partnerships that support workforce development and inclusive economic growth.

My SM. Your Most Loved Supermall.

Your EDSA Commute is Getting An Upgrade at My SM

 

SM Supermalls’ twin initiatives make the everyday journey more accessible

SM malls are evolving to support access to key transportation points. (In photo: The SM Megamall EDSA Busway Concourse and Pedestrian Bridge enhances pedestrian circulation and seamless access within one of Metro Manila’s busiest commercial and transport hubs.) 

For millions of Filipinos navigating EDSA, the daily commute could soon become safe, more seamless, and more convenient. As SM continues its transformation journey beyond its retail and shared spaces, its malls are also evolving to make getting to and from key transport hubs easier for commuters. 

In the coming months, mallgoers can look forward to improved connections through the SM Megamall EDSA Busway Concourse and Pedestrian Bridge and SM North EDSA MRT-7 link. The projects aim to shorten long walks to transportation hubs while giving commuters familiar, well-lit, and ventilated access and departure points.

The completion of the SM Megamall EDSA Busway link, which connects SM Megamall to the Ortigas station of the EDSA Bus Carousel, provides an accessible entrance and exit point for commuters. 

Prior to the completion of the elevated walkway, commuters had to pass through the congested MRT-3 footbridge to reach the EDSA Carousel. The new pedestrian bridge significantly shortens the long, inconvenient walk, allowing easier access and smoother commuter flow in the busy transportation hub.

The SM Megamall Busway Link features an elevated enclosed pedestrian bridge and concourse spanning EDSA.

The elevated walkway is fully covered, protecting commuters from rough weather conditions. The vast space has ramps and an elevator to ensure easy access for commuters, including persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women.

The SM Megamall EDSA Busway Link provides commuters with easier access to the bus carousel platform, which offers northbound trips to Monumento and southbound trips to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

Meanwhile, the ongoing construction of the SM North EDSA–MRT 7 Link will provide commuters with seamless access to the Common Station linking MRT-3, LRT-1, the soon-to-be-operational MRT-7, and nearby establishments. Pedestrians can safely walk from hub to hub as the walkway will be fully covered to protect them from harsh weather conditions. 

These pedestrian walkways, done in coordination with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, are part of SM Supermalls’ broader initiative to create commuter-friendly facilities around their most-loved SM Supermalls. 

Under the MY SM Transportation e, the mall operator is reimagining the daily commute—not simply by improving access to transportation, but by creating safer, more comfortable, and more convenient journeys for everyone. By putting everyday commuter needs at the heart of these improvements, SM aims to make getting from one place to another a more seamless part of everyday life. 

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About SM Supermalls

SM Supermalls is evolving—shaping how people live, connect, and experience life today. More than a place to shop, it is the country’s most loved mall and an everyday destination designed around the lifestyles, passions, and needs of Filipino communities, delivering new finds, fresh concepts, and meaningful experiences, All For You.

As one of Southeast Asia’s largest mall developers and operators, with 90 malls in the Philippines and 9 in China, SM Supermalls continues to evolve its spaces, experiences, and partnerships, building destinations that grow with communities and remain trusted, relevant, and loved for generations. Your Most Loved Supermall, SM — All For You.