When women help fellow women, you can be sure that everything will be a success. In the case of Zonta Club, not only do its efforts yield positive results, but excitement, as well.

This year, Zonta Club of Makati and Environs Foundation is once again staging “FilipinaZ Fair”—where fine jewelry, timeless fashion and precious art help to advance the welfare of Filipino women—on July 28-30, at the Penthouse of 8 Rockwell in Makati.

Now on its fourth year, “FilipinaZ,” the only fundraiser by women and specifically for women, will have a balance of well-known artists and designers together with fresh talents offering one-of-a-kind items. Visitors to the fair will surely enjoy their shopping, which will have a direct impact on the lives of other women, as the fair’s proceeds will be supporting worthy endeavors of Zonta.

“All our programs, from women’s health services to livelihood generation and more, are centered on uplifting women’s lives—and the proceeds from ‘FilipinaZ’ will go directly to those programs,” says Zonta Club of Makati and Environs president Armita Rufino.

Zonta Makati and Environs shares the core mission of Zonta International—to “empower women through service and advocacy” through local projects and efforts. The Zonta Club calendar is full of medical missions and checks on their numerous academic scholars.

There is also the Center for Women Empowerment at the Centennial Village in Taguig City, which serves as headquarters. Through livelihood skills and training, disadvantaged women learn to make bags and jewelry. They are also taught reflexology skills and food preservation. Once properly trained, they are given start-up capital to engage in microbusiness.

Legal rights

Apart from livelihood skills and training, the women are also educated on their legal rights. In many small villages nationwide, women are still unaware of laws that protect them, especially those concerning violence against women and children.

Free breast screening and pap smears are also given for early cancer detection and possible treatment. Through the improvement of women’s economic, legal and health status, Zonta Makati hopes to give Filipino women a better future.

Zonta also supports the rehabilitation of sexually abused women in a separate center, where women get professional help and therapy.

Here are some of the beautiful items to watch out for in the coming fair.

1) Kababaihan—A product of the Kababaihan project by the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs, these colorful bags were crafted in the spirit of advancing the status of women.

2) Kuwintas—A homegrown jewelry label, Kuwintas offers intricately designed gems that showcases the best of breathtaking craftsmanship and exquisite refinement.

3) Kathy & Kathy Bespoke—Run by Kathy Sarabia-Babst and Kathy Gregorio-Añover, both from Iloilo, the Kathy & Kathy label is defined by its deeply-rooted expertise in handcrafted keepsakes and heritage jewelry.

4) D’Oro Barandino—Doro Barandino’s eponymous clutch and jewelry label is set to exhibit the designer’s signature geometric and architectural-shaped minaudières, as well as soft-leather clutches and gold-plated brass jewelry.

5) Mario Panis—The works of multiawarded realist painter Mario Panis will be on exhibit for people to see up close his originality and talent. The breadth of his works extend to portraits, landscapes, still life and nudes in oil, watercolor and pastel.

6) Ronna Manansala—Her artworks not only show bold colors and confident brushstrokes, but her take on female themes evokes a unique depiction of grace that is distinctly rural and honest.

7) Boysie Villavicencio—This painter and writer will be showcasing a body of work that illustrates scenes of spirited underwater ecosystems bursting with colorful life.

Collaboration

8) Kyooreo—Zonta’s very own Charming Baldemor will exhibit custom-made wooden minaudières as well as fashion accessories, collectible figurines, lamps and furniture pieces.
Kyooreo, a carving and sculpting company from Paete, carving capital of the Philippines, captures the essence of Filipino artistry through decorative and functional handicrafts and high-end sculpture art pieces. Baldemor will also showcase her collaboration with Alchemista’s Georgina Ong, hand-carved minaudières embellished with metals and semiprecious stones.

9) Alchemista— Stylish, modular day-to-night jewelry brand Alchemista is by Frederick and Georgina Ong, the couple behind the brand.

10) Bruno Art—Featured are artworks from the Bruno Gallery of The Bruno Art Group, a global art house with galleries and offices in Israel, Singapore, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States. For the fundraiser, Bruno Art will exhibit multidimensional works by Slava Ilyayev, David Gerstein, as well as by local artists Katrina Pallon, Jay Ragma, Jeff Dahilan, Michael Pastorizo.

This year’s fair promises to be a fun-filled weekend that will celebrate the unique talents of Filipino artists and offer an exciting raffle with amazing prizes, through the support of Security Bank, Rockwell Land, Rockwell Club and AB Leisure.

Zonta’s 2017 “FilipinaZ Fair” will be on July 28-30 at the enthouse, 8 Rockwell, Makati City. Call 0905-5244353; e-mail [email protected]; visit www.facebook.com/ShopFilipinaZ; follow @filipinaz_fair on Instagram.com.