The winners of the Bulawan Awards for Product Excellence, an annual initiative of the Association of Negros Producers as a vehicle to spur the creativity of its members and encourage them to innovate new products, were announced yesterday.

There were no awardees in some categories because only products that reached a score level of at least 90 points were qualified to be given the awards, Cris Villacin, chairperson of the Bulawan Awards Committee said.

Only five out of the 10 possible awards were given, she added.

The winners are Home Furnishings – Art Energy of Felix and Cathy Hagad, Bags and Footwear – Crisvil Creations of Cris Villacin, Luminary – Vito of Jojo Vito, Confectionary – Casa Carmela of Millie Kilayko, and Health and Wellness – Casa Carmela of Millie Kilayko.

Certificates of distinction as acknowledgment for distinctive points earned in each criteria item will also be given to:

Gifts and Houseware:

Table tops/Gifts – Best in Visual Impact and Best in Design Excellence – Vito, Best in Craftsmanship – Babylans of Rolando and   Baby Madera, and Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Calados of Nikki Seva, In-Hand, and Mabinuligon.

Home Furnishings: Best in Visual Impact – Art Energy, Best in Design Excellence – Vito and Art Energy, Best in Craftsmanship – Art Energy, Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Art Energy and Anaware of Mary Ann Colmenares.

Fashion and garments:

Garments: Best in Visual Impact, Design Excellence, Craftsmanship and in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Vicmik; Fashion Jewelry – Best in Visual Impact – Crisvil, Best in Design Excellence – CraftMV of Theresa Vallejera, Best in Craftsmanship – Crisvil and Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – CraftMV.

Bags and footwear: Best in Visual Effects, Design Excellence and  Craftsmanship – Crisvil and Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Crisvil and BNJ of Babsie Rodriguez; Novelty, Accessories, Travel and Luggage: Best in Visual Impact – Papel Handicrafts of Sally Ledesma and Golden Needle, Best in Design Excellence, Craftsmanship and Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Papel Handicrafts.

Furniture and furnishings:

Furniture: Best in Visual Impact, Design Excellence and   Craftsmanship – Atelier Adrian of Adrian Lizares and Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – Altarez of Marvin Altarez; Luminary: Best in Visual Impact, Design Excellence and Craftsmanship – Vito, and   Best in Use of Eco-friendly Materials – MAV of Samantha Vidaurrazaga and Hacienda Crafts.

Food Industry:

Pastries: Best in Visual Impact and Most Original – Casa Carmela, and Best in Product Appeal – Pueblo of Agnes Cuenca;  Confectionary: Best in Visual Impact – Casa Carmela and Pueblo, and Most Original and Best in Product Appeal – Casa Carmela; Health and Wellness: Best in Visual Impact and Most Original – Casa Carmela, and Best in Product Appeal – Jarvis of Tata Jarvis.

The judges were for the food industry – Jomi Gaston, Rolando Laudico and  Rico Cajili; fashion and  garments industry – Toni de Ramos, Ria Montelibano and John-john Ditching; gifts and  houseware industry – Bamboo Tonogbanua, Jun Delingon and Mylene Yulo; and for furniture industry – Jun Delingon, Mylene Yulo, and Bernie Sason.

Bulawan judging and tabulation were done in the presence of a Department of Trade and Industry representative and KPMG auditors. Official results were put in a sealed envelope with only KPMG auditors and the DTI representative aware of the results, she said.*CPG (www.visayandailystar.com)