The Ninth World Bazaar Festival

Celebrating the Yuletide means indulging in the spirit of giving – to your family, your friends, and even to those unfortunate people you don’t even know the names of!

Intent on keeping the true meaning of Christmas, Worldbex Services International organized and conducted the Ninth World Bazaar Festival last Dec. 4–16 at the World Trade Center in Metro Manila.

Featured in the event were night markets, fashion shows, musical shows, a Christmas décor center, a play land for kids, the Manila Flair Open, and Bottle for Supremacy, alongside the usual shops and stalls from the different sponsors concessionaires.

The World Bazaar Festival is held for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. Supporting the event were several sponsors and media partners, including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Citre Shine, Tefal, LBC, BDO, Fila, Goody, WRR 101.9, Creative Programs Inc., Business World, Manila Bulletin, Myx, the Philippine Star, Star Records, and NU 107.

For more information about the annual World Bazaar Festival, you may contact telephone numbers (02) 531-6350 or (02) 533-6988 or send via fax messages to (02) 533-2026. You may also visit the Worldbex website at www.worldbex.com.

Christmas Gifts Made Affordable at 2nd Manila Toys and Gifts Show

Hundreds of toys and gift items will be sold in affordable prices at the 2^nd Manila Toys and Gifts Show (MTGS) on December 16 – 22, 2009 at the SM Megatrade Hall 2 and 3 in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Organized by Megatrade Hall and MCT Events Management, The seven-day event will feature toys and collectibles, apparel and shoes, fashion, home, and kids’ accessories, food, and even novelty gift items, just in time for the Christmas Season.

Last year’s event drew over 80,000 guests of all ages. This year, the event expects an even bigger crowd with a wide array of products perfect for the last-minute Christmas shopping.

Within the MTGS flag is the highly-anticipated 4^th Annual Toys and Collectibles Christmas Fair, to be held on December 19 – 21. The event has already been dubbed the ultimate event for collectors and hobbyists with its extensive range of collectibles and rate toys offered both on direct sale and on auction. In addition, new and exciting activities have been lined up for the attendees, such as Holiday Cooing Demos, Meet and Greet Santa, Fashion Shows, Toy Auctions, Cosplay Competitions, Arts and Crafts, and other games and surprises.

More than a selling fair, MTGS also aims to share the Christmas cheer to the children of Bantay Bata 163 by raising funds for the “Light the Tree, Light a Hope” project. A portion of the show proceeds will be donated to Bantay Bata 163. The visitors will not only get to shop for toys and gifts, they will also be given the opportunity to share their blessings with less fortunate children.

For inquiries, contact Megatrade Hall at (632) 633-1697, 634-7617 or MCT Events Management at (632) 799-0230, 747-0529, 701-1759 or email mctevents@gmail.com

Noel Discovery Bazaar and Christmas Shop Expo

The GMA Network’s Noel Discovery Bazaar and Christmas Shopping Expo treates all shopaholics to a unique gallery of exclusive finds at bargain prices on its sixth year at the World Trade Center last November 21 to 25.

Aside from fashion lines, food items, home and Christmas decors and novelty items, the expo also displayed a wide array of special events such as entertainment numbers, fashion shows and cooking demos.

Morever, the event highlighted shows such as a Sweet Life segment with Ms. Lucy Torres-Gomez, QTV’s Moms with Ms. Lani Mercado, Manilyn Reynes and Sherilyn Reyes, a band performance presented by Barangay LS FM, GMA Artist celebrity auction, fashion shows, entertainment numbers and autograph signing with GMA celebrities, the Century Rich Flavors of Health Culinary Tour, Cooking Demos by Kusina Argentina and a once in a lifetime opportunity to catch the international cast of Up With People.

The successful event was supported by GMA Network, Seair, the Philippine Daily Inquire, Pier One, and Centrex Corporation. Also with the help of its media partners: QTV, Sunday Inquirer Magazine, the Foreign Post, Preview Magazine of Summit Media, Radio Partners Barangay LS FM, Max FM, Wave 89.1 and Jam 88.3, and online media partner Inquirer.net. The event will benefit the projects of the GMA Kapuso, Bantayog ng mga Bayani and Associate Missionaries of Assumption Foundations http://www.ama.org.ph/.

Marché stages annual bazaar for a cause

The Marché International Foundation Bazaar with the theme "Great Finds, Great Fun,” held its 5th Annual Bazaar last Nov. 21 and 22, 2009 at the Makati Sports Club in Salcedo Village, Makati City. The said event showcased unique finds worth-boasting a variety of goods from the finest handcrafted pieces to the best food and household giftware.

Marché International Foundation has joined hands with the following organizations in their various civic and community projects: the Rotary Clubs of Makati East and Makati Urdaneta, Fraternal Order of Utopia, Rising Phoenix Foundation, U! Happy Events Foundation and the National Council of Women of the Philippines (NCWP)

Marché president Yu Ming Chin and vice president Myrna N. Alimurung, heads of the event, auctioned surprise items and sold items at discounted prices. This event also gave the chance for sponsors like Banco de Oro, RFM Corp., Tagaytay Highlands-Belle Corporation, PGA Cars, RJ Guitars and Del Monte Philippines. Media partners are Focus Media, XFM 92.3 and The Philippine Star to exhibit and/or promote their products and services.

Marché (which means market in French) International Foundation is a civic, non-profit organization that partners with other associations that share the goal of civic work and social uplift. Marché International Foundation is also involved in other community projects to benefit those who are marginally strapped and those who are rebuilding their lives after surviving the typhoons which in this case was the victims of Ondoy.

The event had over 130 vendors of apparel, accessories, toys, cosmetics, export-quality Christmas decor, imported home decor, branded and local designer bags, footwear, jewelry, novelty items, wellness products, handicrafts, pottery, original VCD's and DVD's and food galore which surely made the buyers satisfied.

For feedbacks, comment and inquiries, call 637-5639, 0917-5096983, 0917-5368413, or log on to www.marchebazaar.com.

Shop for a Cause in the 43rd International Bazaar

The International Bazaar Foundation Inc. (IBF) organized the 43rd International Bazaar last Nov. 15 at the PICC Forum in Pasay City, themed “Shop and Reach Out.” Ms. Lovely Romulo, chair of the IBF, spearheaded the event, together with the Spouses of the Heads of Missions.

Open from 9am to 7pm of the same day, the bazaar is an annual fund-raising event participated in by diplomatic and consular missions in Manila, government agencies, and local entrepreneurs selling choice merchandise at reasonable prices Forty members of the diplomatic corps, ten members of the consular corps, and 112 local participants were part of the year’s participants.

Beneficiaries of the event were charitable institutions and the proceeds of the event will be used to finance projects that are geared toward helping the underprivileged. The year also marked contributions made for the improvement and the acquisition of better equipment for hospitals, training schools and libraries.

Previous recipients included Philippine Christian Foundation; the Philippine General Hospital; Edith Sagip Buhay; Cribs Foundation; Virlanie Foundation; Catarman Public Health Center (Dental Clinic); Paaralang Pag-ibig at Pag-asa; Laura Vicuna Foundation, Inc.; Punlaan School; Community and Family Services International; Gift-A-Teacher; and the Our Lady of Peace Mission.

Entrance tickets cost Php100 and raffle tickets, Php50, all made available from the IBF, bazaar participants, selected outlets, and in the PICC Forum during the bazaar day.

For inquiries, please visit the IBF Secretariat at the Department of Foreign Affairs, 6F, DFA Bldg., 2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, or e-mail ibf.dfa@gmail.com.

Empowering Ilocos’ Culture

The Museo Ilocos Norte staged Ray-Aw: Christmas in Ilocos last December 4, 2009 at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City, and the 8th Annual Governor’s Gala, on the other hand, was held at Ilocos Norte Convention Center last November 14, 2009.

Ray-aw is the Ilocos word for “celebration” and through this festival, the Museo Ilocos Norte shared with the guests various customs and traditions that are uniquely Ilocano.

To bring home the experience, a bazaar featuring Ilocano crafts and delicacies were presented to the public. The bazaar featured the famous Abel Iloco (handwoven fabrics), Intricate Ilocano Baskets and delicacies such as Empanadang Iloko, Sukang Iloco, Cornick and Bagnet. The visitors also experienced Ilocano cuisine presented and prepared by Ms. Glenda Barretto of Via Mare and Claude Tayag.

The proceeds of Ray-Aw and the Bazaar will benefit outreach programs of the Museo Ilocos Norte. The museum was primarily designed to instill a sense of pride for the Ilocanos, Yapayaos, Itnegs and other citizens of the province. It aims to create a feeling of belonging for their ancient homeland.

The 8th Annual Governor's Gala, on the other hand, is one of the most anticipated events in the province. One of the event's highlights was the awarding of the Gameng Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given to three ilocanos who have contributed their exceptional talent, creativity, and skill in the enrichment of the Ilocano culture and tradition.

Carla Diaz de Rivera (0917-9621414, 0922-8891142, rayaw.ilocosnorte@yahoo.com) was in charge of the overall event preparation.