For 18 years, Yvette Marie Punzalan, founder of a Davao-based bag brand, has been participating in trade shows. Her label, Yvette’s Bags and Beads Collection, produces bags made of locally sourced materials such as nito and rattan, woven together by female persons deprived of liberty. Despite the wide reach of the internet today, she believes in the power of joining trade shows to elevate her business.

“We are from Davao and we want to showcase our products to a larger market,” she tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “I have to bring it here not just for the craft, but also to help the community.”

Yvette’s brand is just one of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) participating in the latest edition of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair. For years, it has been the mission of the DTI to help MSMEs find avenues to sell their products and services—even globally—and the fair is just one of the ways to bring them to the forefront.

For its latest edition, the trade fair embraces the theme of bamboo, reflecting the resilience of Filipino entrepreneurs. “Just like the bamboo, our MSMEs sway with the winds of uncertainty, bend through time, but they don’t break,” said DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, who heads the Competitiveness and Innovation Group. “They endure and bounce back stronger every time.”

Unlike its previous event, which centered on culinary products, the DTI Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair now showcases a wide array of Filipino goods, from heirloom crafts and wellness essentials to upcycled home décor and contemporary fashion. This year’s lineup promises not just variety but excellence, as exhibitors have been chosen for their commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability.

In addition to its over 300 exhibitors, one of the main highlights of the trade fair is the Philippine Sustainability Pavilion. It presents how native materials such as bamboo, abaca, and coconut, among others, are transformed into globally competitive eco-conscious products—proving that sustainability and innovation go hand in hand.

According to DTI Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque, MSMEs make up 99.5 percent of the business establishments and 62 percent of the labor force in the Philippines. She was challenged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to launch initiatives that would bring MSMEs to the next level—and she believes that trade shows are among the most effective ways to achieve this goal.

“This is the only way for us to showcase the products of the MSMEs,” Secretary Cristina said. “It is in these trade shows where we get a lot of income and sales for the MSMEs.”

Examples include Astley Jude Anaviso’s brand Monster Pot, which specializes in carnivorous plants, and Alex Botacion’s Ajee Food Products, a Nueva Ecija-based plant-based food brand. Both entrepreneurs understand the niche sensibilities of their business—something consumers need to see and experience firsthand. Trade fairs allow them to build brand awareness through personal interaction.

Secretary Cristina also highlighted how trade fairs allow MSMEs to generate substantial income. A testament to this was the DTI Wedding Fair 2025 last June. Despite having 80 booths—featuring brands and services from Region I to Region XVII—the bridal fair generated ₱113 million in revenue, as per the secretary.

“We are celebrating what it means to be a Filipino—expressed through the boundless creativity, sustainable practices, and inspiring stories of every MSME,” Secretary Cristina said. “When we support Filipino entrepreneurs, we don’t just support the business—we grow the communities. MSMEs are game changers for the economy.”

The 2025 DTI-Bagong Pilipinas National Trade Fair runs until July 27, 2025, at the Megatrade Hall, 5th level, Mega B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. Admission is free.