GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Calabarzon hosted its first regional arts and creative festival aimed at strengthening the creative industries and elevating Filipino creativity in the region.
Dubbed “Fiesta Haraya: Likha at Husay ng Calabarzon,” the event featured a trade fair showcasing locally made goods, live performances by artists, hands-on demonstrations, and engaging workshops led by creative industry experts.
“Fiesta Haraya” is a combination of two words representing Filipino traditions. “Fiesta” is a Spanish term for party or festivity, while “haraya” is an old Filipino word meaning imagination or vision.
The program promoted local arts and culture, encouraged collaboration and networking, supported existing and emerging entrepreneurs from different creative clusters, and fostered creative entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and innovation.
Additionally, information and skills campaigns from partner government agencies and private sector organizations provided opportunities and resources for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The DTI emphasized the creativity of Filipino entrepreneurs in contributing to the country’s economic growth and development.
“Filipinos, at heart, are creative. As the President mentioned in his Manila FAME message, the beautiful work of every Filipino can be compared to the world’s best, so we should showcase it across different parts of our country and beyond,” said DTI Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Group Dominic Tolentino.
Each province presented its unique local products. Laguna organized a fashion show featuring handcrafted clothing, accessories, and footwear, along with live demonstrations of fruit carving, woodworking, and embroidery. Cavite highlighted marching band performances, spoken word poetry, and a vibrant painting exhibition.
Batangas showcased calado embroidery demonstrations, captivating folk dance performances, and theater arts presentations. Rizal staged a grand Higantes parade and an engaging bonsai workshop, while Quezon demonstrated kiping-making, cultural dance performances, and the tagayan ritual.
DTI Calabarzon Regional Director Marissa Argente said that the department wants to build a robust creative ecosystem and develop vibrant and sustainable creative industries in the region.
“For a few days we will stay here and offer the Fiesta Haraya Calabarzon’s creations and quality that’s what we want you to take to your homes, talk about being a Calabarzon people, because we have so many creations, very vast this is our creativity in Calabarzon.”
The success of the event opens the possibility of making it an annual tradition, further establishing Calabarzon as a center for creativity and innovation amidst its progress as an economic powerhouse. (AM, CH/PIA-4A)
