6 May 2026

The Benguet Native Project Team, led by Project Leader Mary Arnel Garcia, named the winners of the  Tradename and Trademark Contest for the Benguet Native Pig after an evaluation of the entries by the contest judges held at the Strawberry Hall.

The judging activity took place after Benguet State University’s call for entries, which invited creative contributions to represent the Benguet native pig in all branding, promotions, and project materials.

This initiative is part of the project “Enhancing the Productivity and Sustainability of Benguet Native Pig Production,” funded by DOST-PCAARRD and implemented by BSU through the Department of Animal Science (DAS) and the Cordillera Center for Animal Research and Development (CCARD). The project aims to improve productivity, sustainability, and market recognition of the Benguet Native Pig.

In her welcome remarks, Cordillera CCARD Director and Project Study Leader Dr. Ana Mendoza emphasized the importance of the trademark, which symbolizes quality, authenticity, and pride. She expressed appreciation for the design and creativity invested by the participants in shaping this identity.

Project Leader Garcia then presented the rationale and criteria for the contest, followed by the introduction of the judges by Study Leader Leo S. Laruan.

The formal selection of entries followed. A total of 18 entries each for the proposed trademark and tradename were evaluated during the judging, with submissions coming from various municipalities of Benguet. The contest started from March 11, 2026 to April 30, 2026.

The panel of judges were from the College of Agriculture-DAS, Culture for Center and the Arts, Office of the VP for Research and Extension, Intellectual Property and Management Office, and the Benguet Provincial Veterinary Office.

The winning trade name and the trademark were the entries submitted by Mariestelle Fong and Gleemoore Makie, respectively. The designs will be uploaded once the intellectual property registration is approved.//