MANILA - Filipino handicrafts are featured in the Christmas bazaar conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry at various malls in Manila.
This is the “Bagsakan Bazaar” that runs through Quezon City and San Juan, which will last in the same city until Thursday, December 3rd.
It will move to Alabang in Muntinlupa from December 4 to December 6.
A variety of Filipino snacks can be found at Ayala Fairview Terraces in Quezon City, which is one of the malls participating in the bazaar.
These include Araro cookies (P150 to P250) and cashew nuts (P125 to P330) from Bataan. There is also cashew butter (P230 to P260) and cashew cookies (P160).
There are also sweet and spicy fried anchovies (P100 to P180), sweet and spicy fried squid (P120 to P180) and anchovies (P80 to P110); and cassava chips (P80) and polvoron (P100)
There are also soaps (P80) and bags (P150) and various bag designs for P160 to P799.
There are slippers and sandals that do not exceed P550 and shoes that cost P60 to P1,800.
Belts, throw pillows, and handmade Christmas balls that can be given away are also on sale.
At “Bagsakan” at Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, there are pouches and accessories for only P100, and home designers for P50 to P6,000.
One of the businessmen, Claro Ludan, explained that they were invited to give a price that was “really failed” to be more attractive.
For some consumers, this may be helpful for local businesses affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Even though the effects of the pandemic are slowly rising, some businessmen admit that they are still far from the previous income before the pandemic in the country.
“We deliver strongly to the meeting store. It’s 10 o’clock. Now there are only 3 who are opening, ”said businesswoman Gloria Pantaleon.
DTI Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman, on the other hand, called for the promotion of locally-produced goods.
“Let’s prioritize locally produced… Our MSMEs are now at 99.5%. Their contribution is huge, it really provides a job opportunity. So we want them not to disappear, ”said Macatoman.
Those interested in participating can contact the DTI regional offices.
The DTI also reminds consumers and establishments to follow the physical distancing and minimum health standards set by the government.
- Report by Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News