Paintings, cheese boards, pet accessories and plant baskets will be available at this year’s FilipinaZ Bazaar. The annual bazaar gets a digital makeover in its sixth year as the items up for sale will be available on a shopping app. The fair will run from Dec. 18 to Jan. 31, 2021.
“The FilipinaZ Bazaar in Zalora is truly an online marketplace by women, for women. It has been curated by members of the Zonta Club of Makati and Environs who are mavens in the fields of lifestyle and design,” said Joanna Zapanta-Andrada.
Zonta, FilipinaZ and Zalora sound perfect together. We asked if the shopping platform was chosen because of its first letter.
FilipinaZ project manager Marcy Kohchet-Chua sent us a smiley face before answering. “Just a great coincidence,” she said. “We like Zalora because we share the market. Discerning, genteel buyers looking for quality.”
FilipinaZ project head Maritess Pineda said that the pandemic has left them with no choice but to go digital. She said that they learned to navigate the new world digital selling presented, but she hopes that it is something that the younger generation would see as something they can continue in the future. It is also their hope that through the digitalization of this project, they would be able to reach an area of society that they could not penetrate before.
Life after abuse
“There is the culture of shame and dependency for economic needs. We have to teach our women to protect their rights, and that being a victim of abuse is not something that tarnishes them. There is life after abuse,” Pineda said.
The items that they will be selling are not only pretty; they’re timely, too. There are basket planters to delight plantitos and plantitas. There are also handmade placemats and crockery perfect for a celebration.
Andrada said that the theme this year is home lifestyle, arts and fashion, and creative work. “When shoppers purchase in our bazaar, they will not only be acquiring quality merchandise, they will also be helping fight gender-based violence in a meaningful way, as well as providing financial and livelihood opportunities for women,” she said.
Profits will be used to fund the club’s existing programs. They aim to give emotional care, education and psychological healing to thousands of sexually abused girls.
“The project aims to provide livelihood opportunities for women and mothers who are financially disadvantaged, and fund food sharing programs that allow impoverished communities to independently grow their food through urban gardening,” said Andrada.
Zonta Club of Makati and Environs president Vivian Uy names Marillac Center for Abused Children and Women as one of the beneficiaries of the FilipinaZ. Zonta has been a partner of that association for over 20 years. They provide scholarship programs for engineering students at Polytechnic University of the Philippines. They chose this to empower women in a male-dominated field.
“FilipinaZ also serves as a platform for social entrepreneurs in the field of fashion and design especially those who are just starting and have no marketing outlets,” Uy said.
Funds will also be used to “advocate women empowerment and prevent violence against women.”
The holiday bazaar will not be the last time they will be in Zalora. Andrada said they are looking into a long-term relationship with the online shop.
