Top Products Showcased in Oro Best Expo 2011

ORO’s BEST. MinDA chair Luwalhati Antonino (4th from left) leads the opening of the 5th Oro Best Expo featuring top food and agri-industrial products from northern Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro City.  Joining
here are (l-r)  Ralph Paguio, Oro Chamber Past President; Jeffrey Ang, Oro Best Expo Chair;  Antonio Uy, Oro Chamber President;  Dr. Fe Juarez, EVP of Capitol University; and Rep. Rachel Arenas, House EAGA Affairs Committee Chair.

Cagayan de Oro City News Online —Leading food and agri-industrial products from Cagayan de Oro and northern Mindanao areas take center stage as the 5th Oro Best Expo opens here at SM Mall Atrium Wednesday with international dignitaries among the pack of expo visitors.

Officials and delegates from the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) took a noontime break at the start of their 3-day high-level meet to grace the opening of this year’s Oro Best Expo.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chair Luwalhati Antonino led BIMP-EAGA officials at the 5th Oro Best Expo opening and cited the potential revenues and investment opportunities that could be generated from the event.

Antonino said it is “both timely and strategic” that the expo is held in conjunction with the BIMP-EAGA 20th Senior Officials and 16th Ministerial Meeting, which had drew in over 200 delegates from within the four-country sub-regional grouping.

“To date, the BIMP-EAGA side events such as the trade fairs have become strategic venues to enhance trade links, promote small and medium enterprises products and services and assist local producers in the expansion of market reach,” added Antonino, who is also the Philippines Signing Minister for the BIMP-EAGA.

After the opening program, the BIMP-EAGA delegates were toured around the various Expo booths that featured the local products of Northern Mindanao that include Coco sugar, stoneware products, abaca cloth from Bukidnon, seaweed snacks, herb products, dried and processed fruits, purees and jams.

Apart from the booth exhibits, this year’s Oro Best Expo also slated a Dairy Forum that features information on market value of dairy products, training demonstration on milk processing, and product marketing. The forum is part of a livelihood program series lodged under the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro Chamber) as a program known as the “Ice on Milk” project.

Antonio further stressed that with the current trends on food, lifestyle products, and services directed towards health-related consciousness, many micro and small enterprises are given the opportunity to re-align their marketing reach towards the mainstream.

She added that “with the increased trade and communication activities that go beyond borders, there is greater opportunity for SMEs to tap a wider range of investments and contribute to the dynamism of Mindanao’s local economy.”

She also cited the role of BIMP-EAGA in increasing investments with the adoption of agreements that facilitate easier movement of goods, people and services through transport links and harmonized rules, regulations and procedures in customs, immigration, quarantine and security or CIQS.

The Oro Best Expo is jointly organized by the Oro Chamber and Promote CDO Foundation. The Expo runs until October 22 (Saturday). 

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Coffeeworks opens in SM North Skygarden

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Finally, Cagayan de Oro’s very own Coffeeworks begins brewing at the newlyopened, much talked about SM North Skygarden. Starting as a cozy 60sqm coffeeshop at the corner of Rosario Arcade, Limketkai Center in 2005, Coffeeworks has proven it has won the hearts of many Cagayanons and visitors alike, with its expansion to

over a 100sqm hang out in December 2007. Roselle Paras, Coffeeworks’ owner and founder, was always a fixture in coffeeshops while working as a reporter and segment producer in Manila. This inspired her to open a hip coffeeshop in her very own hometown, Cagayan de Oro.

Aside from serving freshly roasted coffee, Coffeeworks was the first in the city to offer free wi-fi. This proved to be a great formula as different mixes of students, office workers, families, and friends bonded over hot coffee, free internet, and temptingly delicious cakes. After four years, a lot of luck, and sheer determination to penetrate the fickle Manila market, Coffeeworks formally opened last May 25, with celebrities Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez as one its first guests. With a stark gray and white industrial design, Coffeeworks Skygarden stands out among a sea of the usual brown themed coffeeshops. And although the new branch has a more updated look, bestsellers in the CDO branch continue to be a favorite among the Manilenos: Macadamia Coffee Jelly Frappe, Hazelnut Frappe, Mochamint Cappuccino, Grilled Paninis on Whole Wheat bread, and of course, the popular Cashew

Sansrival. New additions include the Chocolate Concorde Cake, Bailey’s Caramel Frappe, and the Sugar

Free oatmeal cookies for the health conscious. What’s more, the prices are still very affordable, around P10-20 cheaper than other coffeeshops in the metro. You also won’t need to rush since Coffeeworks Skygarden is open

well after mall hours: 10am-2am daily. Amid lush greenery and cooling waterfalls overlooking bustling EDSA,

a trip to the Skygarden is a must visit. Owner Roselle Paras considers having one of the few homegrown businesses from CDO to open in Manila a big achievement. Coffeeworks was even featured on MYX Music Channel’s show “WER U AT?” in one of its July episodes. And now that Coffeeworks is open for franchising, Roselle hopes more Coffeeworks branches will be brewing soon all over the country. For franchising

inquiries, Email coffeeworkscdo@yahoo.com. Also in the works is a third branch opening soon in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City.

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