The bazaar sought to teach kids how to earn, save and donate to their charity of choice.
It was a success!
There was a booth called Juantrepreneur. The “Juan” kids won the best service award for being so eager and willing to please and serve. They were equally enthusiastic, whether someone was buying something for a thousand or for just a peso.
Aside from selling piggy banks that had divisions on it—“earn,” “save,” “donate,” etc.—the Juans would crack you a joke for P1. And for P5, they’d sing you a chorus!
Could there be anything cuter than that?
I came across Cookie in a Bottle. All you have to do is invert the contents into a bowl, add butter, eggs and water, mix shape and bake.
The cake was prepared by Tyler (6), Lucas Manuel (4), Martina (3) and Lucia Oben (3), with their grandmother, Mely Abaya, the baker and the cook of the family.
Trixie Manuel, Tyler’s mom, is in charge of quality control. “The measuring, sifting, bottling, packaging was done all by the family,” she said.
I had a bite of the oatmeal raisin and I loved it—chewy and quite addicting.
The bottles make spectacular gifts. The chocolate cookie mix with M&M’s is P300 a bottle, and the Oatmeal Raisin, P250. Bottle has two dozen cookies. Call 0917-5248944.
Another booth, Cookies for a Cause, won the highest sales award. The kids sold over P100,000 in an afternoon!
‘Small Hands’
SHBH (Small Hands Big Hearts) is a group of young boys (ages 5-8—Alec and Kyler See; Vince and Dylan Tiu; Marco Siy; Rabi and Karan Bahukhandi; Joaquin Kho; Paco Borromeo; 
The founder of the group is Almay Gaw-See. “This year, we decided to raise P50,000 (a target the kids have already exceeded) to support CRIBS foundation, an organization helping abandoned and homeless children.”
“The project stemmed from my inspiration to teach children the importance of hard work, to learn the value of money, and lastly, the significance they can make in someone else’s life,” Gaw-See said.
“The Cookies are home-baked under my mother in law, Merly See’s supervision. She only charges for the ingredients and doesn’t factor in utilities and manpower to support our cause. She’s the best!”
Unfortunately, they do not accept orders.
But as Santa goes tiptoeing unnoticed, so do these kids, who are possibly just a day or two away from knocking on your door. If they do, please spare them a P100 not only to treat your family to a box of cookies but to help the children of CRIBS as well.
Sunday was a fun afternoon. Like my Diego, all the kids had good time.
Adults
The adults are another story.
I overheard a group of grandfathers comparing notes about how much they had spent for their purchases.
For how could one say no to a child, who tugs on to your shirt, looks at you sheepishly and says, please buy?
The kids left Rockwell Club in good spirits while the adults left heavy-handed with all their stash, cash-strapped but feeling quite happy.
It is indeed beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas!
Orocan jugs
According to Orocan’s Ramon Go: “It helps regain our dignity as a nation by not depending on imports. It also helps keep jobs.” If you need gifts or prizes for your Christmas raffle, items that look big but priced small, call Christopher Tan/Elaine Nua, tel. 2418636.
On Dec. 13, 9 a.m., St. Luke’s at Global City and I are inviting you to a seminar on Healthy Holiday Cooking and Eating. We also invite you to shop for goodies at our Wellness Bazaar. Free of charge, but reservations required. Call 7897700 loc. 5057.
My book “Kitchen Rescue 3, The Directory—My Lifeline to Eating, Cooking and Living,” is now available at all leading bookstores; call 6474744.
For my Holiday 2011-2012 Cooking Class Schedule, call 0917-5543700 / 0908-2372346/ 4008496/ 9289296.
E-mail raspiras@inquirer.com.ph.