Tuesday, August 09, 2005

HUGOD HOME LIFESTYLE SHOPPE OPENS

by: Megs S. Lunn
Governor Carlito S. Marquez of Aklan spearheaded the opening of the Hugod Aklan Producers Association, Inc. with the cooperation of the Department of Trade and Industry – Aklan on July 28, 2005. The shop is a permanent Hugod Home Lifestyle Shoppe located at the Ground and 2nd Floors of Royal Supermart, Kalibo, Aklan.
With the governor were DTI-Aklan head-Ms. Ermelinda Pollentes, Ms. Luz Templonuevo – Trade and Industry Development Specialist and Mr. Bebot Lao – owner of Royal Supermart, producers and representatives from the tri – media who covered the program. The Hugod Home Lifestyle Shoppe is a showcase of different Aklan made products such as fashion accessories, housewares, paper arts, furniture and furnishings, processed food and ornamental plants. It also features the best and wide range of fiber-based products, woven fabrics, hand-painted bags, clay-based products and novelty items.
According to Mrs. Amelia S. Rentillo, president of the Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc., “the difference of our products here in Aklan from the other products and places are that, first, Aklan is known as the “queen of piña fabrics”, second, as producers, we are required to do a yearly product development and a trade exhibition like the fiber festival exhibit for innovations. We have to make three (3) new designed bags, and third, to avoid imitations of our products, the association hires a designer in the person of PJ Aranador who designs for each product of every manufacturers.”
The carefully and beautifully crafted products are for export quality. In fact, some of the suppliers and manufacturers are indirect exporters of these Aklan made products that include small items from coin purse, hand made paper wallet and picture frames, abaca slipper, raffia bags, nito made products, piña cloth barong, bamboo made furniture, and even an amazing magic wallet which is some of the give-aways.
The Hugod Aklanon Producers Association, Inc. is composed of 30 manufacturers. It serves as marketing organization of Aklan made products with outlets in Boracay and in Kalibo. The organization is led by President – Mrs. Amelia S. Rentillo {Rentillo Enterprises}, Vice – President – Mr. Benedict Goboy {Kaledeisfora}, Secretary – Ms. Crispina Lachica {Paperous}, Treasurer – Ms. Rose Sauza {Rosa Foods. The board members are the following: Mr. Ed Constantino {CAN Alternative – Furniture Designs}, Mr. Alan Tumbokon {La Hermania Piña} and Ms. Sumra dela Cruz-Rojo {Prism}. The board meets once a month and have a general assembly quarterly.
Moreover, the Hugod Producers is one of the suppliers of “MARKET, MARKET”. The Aklan’s best native products stall is now serving year round at Home Market Section of Bonifacio Global City {formerly Fort Bonifacio} near C5, Taguig, Metro Manila. The stall has three sections which are the Food Store that sells best tasting pasalubong of Rosa Foods and Aklan’s Boneless Bangus, and even fresh Talaba; Tamago’s and Alcedo. The Hugod Aklan Products which according to Mrs. Rentillo is “banig, the most saleable of all the displayed products.” Market, Market is the Aklan’s dealer of the best native products owned by Mrs. Sandy and Butchie Romero.
The opening of the Hugod outlet in Kalibo shows the ingenuity and the best of fellow Aklanons with the untiring support from the Aklan Provincial Government and the DTI – Aklan. /MP mailto:april_73uk@yahoo.co.uk

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