Opening

Padday na Lima opened the trade expo with a colorful display at the Festival Mall Alabang last Friday, September 19, 2025, bringing the colors of the Cagayan Valley to the metro. Rich in customs and culture, Padday na Lima, which translates to “made by hands” in Ybanag, is the ideal location for exhibiting the finest of the best in the area.

Regional Director Ma of DTI Region 2 greeted the visitors. Inviting visitors to experience the vibrant spirit of Cagayan Valley through its hues, tastes, and artistic expressions was Sofia G. Narag, CESO V. Along with LGU representatives and private partners, Assistant Secretary Grace Baluyan of the DTI Regional Operations Group praised the fair as a potent illustration of the region’s rich history and the tenacity of its MSMEs.

Attending Padday na Lima was such a meaningful experience—it wasn’t just a trade fair, but a celebration of Cagayan Valley’s culture, flavors, and artistry. Seeing the passion behind every product and performance made me appreciate how heritage and creativity are kept alive through the hands of local artisans and MSMEs. It felt inspiring to witness how the region’s identity was proudly shared in the metro, reminding me that tradition and resilience truly shine when embraced and celebrated.

Officials

Guests were treated to a splash of colors through the Hibla’t Habing Rehiyon Dos fashion show, alongside an impressive display of the region’s best offerings in the provincial pavilions. Each product tells a story of tradition, ingenuity, and the hardworking communities behind their creations.

Alongside the launch of the 19^th Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair was the unveiling of the fair’s website PaddayNaLima.ph, a digital platform designed to expand the visibility and market reach of Region 2’s MSMEs beyond that of the physical fair.

Pavillion

Experience the vibrant festival of colors up close! Padday na Lima happens from September 19–25, 2025 at the Upper Ground, Carousel Court, and East Hall of Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Celebrate and support local!

Residents of Caloocan are taking action to protect their communities from the health risks that frequently follow prolonged periods of intense rain and widespread flooding that continue to affect many regions of the country. Residents started cleanup efforts to lower the dangers of dengue and leptospirosis, two illnesses that flourish in flood-prone areas, with assistance from Pru Life UK through its SHIELD Project.

The Sustainable Health Interventions for Eradicating Leptospirosis and Dengue (SHIELD) Project, which aims to increase community resilience against two of the most prevalent climate-sensitive diseases in the Philippines that are predicted to worsen as a result of climate change, is being implemented in specific communities in Caloocan and Malabon.

The project is funded with PHP10 million grant from the Climate and Health Resilience Fund by Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc, with CARE Philippines as the project implementing partner.

Over 110 volunteers, including barangay staff and residents from Barangays 178 and 186 in Caloocan, joined a two-day community-led initiative in August to eliminate stagnant water, clear potential mosquito breeding sites, and remove waste that can clog drainage systems. The SHIELD Project provided essential cleaning supplies such as brooms, dustpans, and garbage disposal bags as well as mosquito repellents to support the effort.

To raise awareness, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on dengue and leptospirosis prevention were distributed to residents. These efforts not only helped create cleaner, safer public spaces but also strengthened community knowledge on how to prevent climate-sensitive diseases.

“Through collaborative efforts with the residents and stakeholders from the local government units, we are able to bring the community together and foster a sense of collective responsibility to help build resilience to the health risks of climate change,” said Maricel Estavillo, Pru Life UK’s Sustainability and Takaful Head.

This September, Malabon will host cleanup events to carry on the community-led campaign for resilience and public health.

Visit www.insurance.gov.ph/contact-us/ for the Insurance Commission’s complete contact information.

The Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair is returning to the Metro for its 19th year! The Upper Ground Floor, Carousel Court and East Hall, Festival Mall Alabang, Muntinlupa City, will host this annual display of the finest of the greatest in the Cagayan Valley from September 19–25, 2025. A vast, eye-catching display of goods showcasing the best of tradition, culture, and inventiveness in the center of the city awaits visitors to the trade expo.

The products of over 100 MSMEs from Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya will be on display. These include processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, fisheries and aquatic products, native specialties (kakanin), rice and corn-based products, plants, furniture, and furnishings, as well as creative new products.

Aside from promoting products, the trade fair will also offer unique opportunities and experiences highlighting tourism and investment opportunities in the region. Featuring the Provincial Pavilions of Batanes and Isabela, mall-goers can explore the one-of-a-kind culture of Batanes, and the abundance of agricultural products of Isabela. Buyers from Manila can also look forward to a special pavilion by the City of Ilagan, showcasing the heart and pride of Isabela’s capital city.

Padday na Lima will bring fresh energy this year with their festival passport where buyers can collect stamps after every purchase or booth interaction to unlock access to games, activities, and a chance to win exciting prizes. Fun activities will also include food and wine tasting, a captivating fashion show, and a creative crafts demonstration.

But the fun won’t stop at the fair! Buyers from the Metro can now easily get their hands on the finest products of Cagayan Valley with just a few clicks through PaddayNaLima.ph. In partnership with Shopee and Mayani.ph, these sought-after good are now made accessible to the buyers more than ever!

Products at the Padday na Lima Trade Fair will also be available at the PaddayNaLima.ph and Mayani.ph

The largest market in the area and a venue for showcasing Region 2’s excellent goods is Padday na Lima, which translates to “made by hands” in Ybanag. Through business matching initiatives and engaging partnerships with the public and private sectors, it has served as a fertile environment for expansion and advancement, assisting Region 2’s MSMEs in realizing their full potential for social and economic development.

Enjoy the breathtaking wealth of the Cagayan Valley’s distinctive customs and heritage this September at the Padday na Lima Regional Trade Fair. Padday na Lima is waiting for you, so come and take in everything that is in store!

See you there!

Limited number of copies have been printed in support of SM Prime’s sustainability efforts. A digital copy of the manual will be made available for download.

Manila. Making segregation straightforward, quick, and actionable is the goal of the SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime) campaign for a Waste-Free Future and its Recyclable, Disposable, Compostable, or RDC model.

The SM Waste Free Future Manual, a playbook that helps people and communities to learn about RDC and develop better segregation behaviors, was introduced by SM Prime at the most recent Sustainability Expo (SUSTEX 2025).

Small steps, big impact

In the Philippines, the country generates up to 61,000 tons of waste daily and an annual 2.7 million tons of plastic waste. A figure that will rise with urbanization and poor waste disposal practices.

Inspired by the SM Green Movement’s strong call to action to make sustainability part of everyday life, SM Waste Free Future invites everyone to become part of the solution.

The three categories, RDC, make sorting waste an empowering exercise by focusing on the word “able” meaning having the power, skill, or the opportunity “to do”.  The manual’s easy, practical, and inspiring read hopes to encourage readers to do just that –championing segregation systems and proper waste disposal.

It also features innovative reuse programs of SM Prime’s business units that keep materials in circulation and out of landfills. When done at scale, each contribution can inspire others to follow, creating a ripple effect.

Learn, practice, champion

Done with great reflection during its incubation stages, SM Waste Free Future presented a rethink of waste segregation habits and systems built over time.

“We have to be open to new ways of doing things and of putting into action every little step that’s crucial for advancing waste management solutions,” said SM Engineering Design and Development President Hans “Chico” Sy, during the 2024 World Environment Day program launch.

Today, the campaign is deeply encouraged by institutions and agencies that strongly advocate developmental goals.

In his message of support, Dr. Selva Ramachandran, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), lauded the RDC bin labeling system. “Proper waste segregation is an entry point toward a circular economy – one that goes beyond waste management to design out waste, keep materials in circulation, and regenerate natural systems.”

Together for a waste-free future, SM Prime sustainability champions at the Ignite Stage during SUSTEX 2025.

All together now

Together, we are stronger than we realize. “This project is not specific to one organization, but one that belongs to an entire society. We welcome everyone to practice this in their everyday lives,” Sy said.

In order to overcome a mounting problem, everyone must work together. SM Prime is adamant that we can build a waste-free, sustainable future by working together.

“A waste-free future requires shared action from government, business, and communities. May this manual be a catalyst for deeper collaboration, innovation, and circular solutions that support national priorities and the global Sustainable Development Agenda – building systems across sectors that prevent waste, recover valuable resources, and protect our environment for generations to come,” said Dr. Ramachandran.