Since it was established in 2015, BPI Foundation’s Sinag ng Pasko has brought together social enterprises all over the country to better promote their food, fashion, and lifestyle products. More than just providing a platform for smaller businesses to sell their products, the bazaar also provides a way for these businesses to help out their partner communities.
In its fifth year, the bazaar will be widening its selection of merchants to include more agriculture-based and lifestyle brands. Here are some of the fashion, crafts, and lifestyle brands that you can look forward to seeing at the one-day bazaar on Dec. 11.
Auro Chocolate
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4w18DdgbRl/
Named after the chemical symbol for gold (“Au”) and the term for gold in Spanish (“Oro”), this company produces chocolate bars that are made with fine, single-origin cacao. Auro Chocolate is an internationally-recognized company that sources their cacao from the local farmers in Davao, partnering with cocoa-producing cooperatives, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
House of Ekolife
Established for and by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), House of Ekolife is a social enterprise that runs a roastery in Iloilo, and a coffee shop in Ifugao: both of which employ and help OFWs adjust to life back in the country. Their relationship with the local coffee industry also enables them to spearhead efforts to help Filipino coffee farmers by purchasing coffee beans at fair trade prices.
Down to Earth
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4eYxzRHbeK/
Located in Dahilayan, Bukidnon, Down to Earth is a family farm that is committed to sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and better treatment for animals—all while upholding traditional and local farming practices. Their animals are raised on pastures that are free of chemical fertilizers or herbicides, and their vegetables and herbs are grown and harvested with rich soil and biodynamic agricultural practices.
The Make Peace Bakery
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3f-g8snkZF/
Located at the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Bulacan, this social enterprise helps disadvantaged and out-of-school youth by teaching them skills related to baking, bakery operations, and business in order to ensure that they can become business partners and social entrepreneurs in the future. The Make Peace Bakery serves bread products that are made with natural ingredients.
Candid Clothing
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3jyx4LHpBh/
Established in 2017, Candid Clothing helps reduce waste by using factory surplus fabric from Taytay. More than just producing clothes and accessories using ethical means, the company also works with communities of garment makers who are unfairly paid and providing them with various training opportunities, while providing them with flexible work schedules and fair pay.
Malingkat Weaves
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1-wK0KnuJ9/
“Malingkat” means beautiful in Tausug, and part of their advocacy hopes to highlight the beauty of Philippine weaving traditions through their products. By supporting and working with weavers and artisans from all over the country, their brand hopes to bring their customers closer to affordable but handmade and curated pieces that are thoughtfully-made and promote our heritage.
Habi Lifestyle
https://www.instagram.com/p/BuEFzmeF_La/
Formerly known as Habi Footwear, Habi Lifestyle produces footwear, bags, pouches, and other accessories that are produced by women from impoverished communities from around Quezon City. Their company hopes to promote homegrown products that feature a wide array of talent, artistry, and diversity while encouraging environmentally-friendly practices by manufacturing products using leftover cloth from woven.
Risqué Designs
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4uIf79nk0q/
With a vision to revive traditional crafts, Risqué Designs hopes to promote homegrown craftsmanship while ensuring that our country remains competitive with global brands through the footwear that they produce. Their company works with communities from Negros Occidental, Laguna, and Marikina City in order to create ready-to-wear and ready-for-runway footwear from locally-sourced materials.
Accents and Petals
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4_ifGIHAtx/
Formed out of a deep appreciation of recycling, Accents and Petals produces floral arrangements made with recycled products such as cardboard tubes, corn husks, wood shavings, sola wood, paper, fabric, and fossilized leaves; which are made to look like orchids, roses, and other kinds of flowers. These floral arrangements are sold as bouquets for weddings or as floral arrangements for offices and hotel lobbies.
Mori Notes
https://www.instagram.com/p/B4WU2z9Hm88/
Mori Notes creates purses, bags, decors, and accessories, which are designed to be distinct and functional by artists from different backgrounds and walks of life. Each piece is handcrafted by a community of mothers from Apolonio Samson, Quezon City: mothers who are unemployed or prefer to work from home in order to take care of their children. By selling their products, Mori Notes also provides a livelihood for these mothers.
Balai Kamay
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByvHnJkHDAS/
Since it was founded in 2016, Balai Kamay has been collaborating with woodworkers from Tondo in order to produce custom wood items such as gift boxes, home cabinets, and bags that maximize available space. Their products are made with wood and responsibly sourced homegrown raw materials, which allow them to design and structure products without the use of plastics
Subida
https://www.instagram.com/p/Btu163AlTX2/
Known as a tourist stop for Philippine crafts, Subida is a social enterprise that helps promote local craftsmanship by showcasing handmade souvenirs from artists, designers, artisans in Negros Island, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Bohol and Cebu, among many others. The curio shop produces basketry, jewelry, and artwork made with bamboo, coco, fibers, wood, and other organic products.
Julyan’s Farm
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc6x2fmB5m0/
Established by Rachel Harrison, this eco-agri farm was initially established as a place for her son, Julyan, who was diagnosed with autism. Since then, Julyan’s Farm has provided people with special needs and disabilities with opportunities to learn barista skills and other abilities. The farm also produces jams, balms, and a variety of home essentials using their own produce.
Squeaky Clean Kids
https://www.instagram.com/p/B13IgeTHtp_/
Squeaky Clean Kids is a soap brand that hopes to provide good hygiene to communities that are vulnerable to infectious and preventable diseases. With every soap or shampoo bar purchased from the social enterprise, one is donated to a child in their partner communities. Aside from these donations, their partner communities also provided with livelihood programs and environmental education.
Happy Helpers
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MC0hMHDPR/
Known as the only professional home cleaning social enterprise in Metro Manila, Happy Helpers is a company established by mothers who are helping other mothers. The social enterprise provides employment for women from Gawad Kalinga villages in Taguig, and provides cleaning and housekeeping services for small homes and condominiums around Metro Manila.
Got Heart
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3wJXOqHVwX/
Established in 2012, Got Heart is a one-stop shop for organic products from indigenous people communities and small business partners from all over the country. By providing social enterprises with a platform to sell their products through their stores, the organization hopes to develop businesses that are sustainable, holistic, independent, and dignified.
