Colmenares, however, believes the indomitable spirit of Negrenses will help them face these challenges just as they rose up from the reversals of fortune during the crippling sugar crisis in the ‘80s. and In fact, the ANP was born out of those trying times. Here is where the New Entrepreneur program of ANP, also called Expo 2008, comes in. "New, young entrepreneurs will be the young blood that will replenish and rekindle the spirit of entrepreneurship in Negros," says Colmenares.

Expo 2008 was launched recently with 20 entrepreneurs signing up for the program. They are mentored by veteran ANP members on how to improve the quality and design of their products, develop their markets, and on servicing, networking, and strengthening their collection efforts.

The new entrepreneurs are a good mix of the furniture and furnishings, gifts and houseware, fashion accessories and food sectors of the ANP.

As a member of the Arts Association of Bacolod, Noel Alob was doing sculptural pieces mainly for art’s sake, but when he joined the House of Negros in Manila (the precursor of the ANP) and exhibited his works – terracotta figurines of rural folks and masks of papier mache – among the arts and crafts of the other exhibitors he was inspired to reconstruct his sculptures as gifts and houseware items. His company, Katsang Sculptural, thus gained a new market, and a more profitable one too.

"More people are noticing my works now," Alob aka Katsang says, "because I am now displayed prominently at the ANP showroom in Bacolod. My products are selling well." He continues to participate in group exhibits showing his works in Manila, Bohol, Davao and Cebu through the Peace in Equity Foundation, an NGO that supports the works of young Filipino artists.

Another sculptor, Jecky Alano, of Jecky Art & Sculptures, known among art collectors for his "Inday" series (clay figurines of Botero-like women), has joined ANP’s Expo Program for "greater exposure in media, wider marketing, and networking with fellow members." Jecky, who also does painting and metal engraving, plans to reinvent his Inday as gifts and decor and tabletop accessories. To do this, he admits, he will need "more capital and more technical support."

Queenelene Faith Lim took over the squid product business her mother, Carmen Lim started it in 1995. Queenelene improved the product and made innovations in the preparation (crunchy, mixed with wheat and shaped like sticks) and taste (sweet and sour, sweet and spicy), using no MSG and no preservatives. She gets her dried squid from Cadiz, and fresh squid, which she makes into fried rings, from Aguisan.

"Our production is still small but we get a lot of people buying from us to give as pasalubong or to bring to the US to give to relatives and friends." She hopes that through the ANP her products would have a wider market. "Of course I will need more capitalization and a good marketing program," she adds.

Her immediate concern is to come out with new packaging to attract more buyers. "Stores in Cebu want to sell my products but they say I need to improve my packaging. They say I could even penetrate the high-end market." When her domestic market is in place, she dreams of exporting her squid products to the US.

It was while cleaning his family’s well preserved ancestral house in Talisay to turn it into a museum that Adrian Lizares had the idea of putting up a workshop where he could do work with old wood. When he found a good carpenter to work with, he immediately went into small-scale production of furniture accessories like small chests, trays, pedestals, coffeetables, using railroad ties and old narra, mahogany and balayong, usually salvaged from torn-down old houses. He also does restoration work and special finishes.

"I am working on achieving that finish on old Filipino hardwoods," says Lizares. "Otherwise, with a lot of experimentation, we have achieved something very near what clients expect in fine furniture. We just keep trying to improve our craft."

Recently Atelier A.L. found a place in a showroom and gallery in Manila. And by joining ANP’s Expo 2008, he says "things are looking up. We can benefit from the experience and contacts at the ANP," he adds.