The Annual International Bazaar offers an opportunity to shop for unique and authentic products from various places the world over in a one-stop venue.
This is one of the biggest and most diverse holiday bazaars organized by the International Bazaar Foundation Inc. (IBF), Ladies of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Spouses of Heads of Mission (Shom) and members of the diplomatic and consular corps.
Some 35 embassies and six consulates will showcase the best of their local goods.
Over 100 booths will also sell Philippine products.
Proceeds of the one-day event will be donated to the IBF, which will then use them for various projects such as scholarship grants to deserving students from indigent families, financial support for the elderly, abused and abandoned children, as well as victims of calamities.
Apart from the International Bazaar’s array of goods, guests will also get a chance to win a Hyundai Eon car from Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (Hari) Foundation, Inc. through its president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo and IBF Inc.
There will also be airline tickets, kitchen appliances, hotel weekend packages and other prizes when you buy a raffle ticket at P200.
Shoppers and their families can also get a chance to have a “taste of the world” at the food court that will sell authentic dishes from various countries.
IBF is headed by chair Gretchen V. del Rosario, wife of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario, with Sylvia Farolan, president; Bambina Buenaventura, vice president; Rose Villamor, secretary; Alice Guerrero, treasurer; Olivia Romulo, Margarita Tambunting, Marion Coscolluela, consul Fortune Ledesma (members of the board of trustees); Nora Salazar, executive director; Blessie Cabrera, special projects unit coordinator; Department of Foreign Affairs.
Shom officers are Omolara Evelyn Farounbi (Nigeria), president; Isabelle Garachon (France), vice president; Margaret Ledoux (EU), secretary; Marie Won Wha Soon (Korea), treasurer; Dinh Thi Thu Huong (Vietnam), membership officer; Gracita Sieber (Switzerland) and Mano Hirubalan (Singapore), advisers.
Set on Nov. 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forums I-III, the bazaar is open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Entrance tickets are available at P100 and raffle tickets at P200 at Tesoro’s outlets on Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, and Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila; and at the 6/F, Special Projects Unit, 2330 Department of Foreign Affairs Building, Roxas Blvd. Pasay City; tel. 8331320.