It has always been said that if there are three characteristics that would define us Filipinos it would be: innovation, creativity and resourcefulness. True enough we have exemplified these characteristics time and time again, weather natural and man-made calamities with finesse, bravado and an indomitable spirit that burns every brightly with each passing disaster. But I don’t need to go all deep and philosophical about the Filipino spirit and character, I don’t need to dig through political and social issues to know these problems. If you would like to see these traits in action, a quick visit to bazaars and weekend markets would surely be evidence enough. One such bazaar was Yabang Pinoy’s Global Pinoy Bazaar held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
If the Escolta Future Market brought independent artists to one location every month, the Global Pinoy Bazaar is the exact same thing but multiplied 3 times. A bigger venue, a whole lot of floor space and a wide-range of sellers enough to delight the serious shopaholics and entice the average Juan to find some interesting things to buy.
With the sheer amount of activity happening and the air abuzz with activity, authors and speakers proclaiming the wonders of literature and the slow death of democracy, customers inquiring and browsing through a lot of merchandise; the bazaar was truly alive. As we meandered and wandered through the many sellers, it was pretty clear that there were just too many interesting things to see and not enough money to buy what I (we) really wanted.
In no particular order we went through the entire bazaar twice or thrice; I was captivated with the level of craftsmanship and ingenuity that many of the sellers have gone through to create beautiful and proudly-Pinoy products. More than just the beauty and craftsmanship on display, the bazaar was also the perfect opportunity to snag some great deals and discounts for the early Christmas shopper.
I was particularly drawn to the wonderfully made bags by Gouache, the up-cycled products of Siklo, the cutesy and very unique feel of many of the indie crafters and jewelers; plus the presence of the “Escolta Kids” comprised of Polarities, Crafty Kitty and Krafty Pirate.
Going around the bazaar was really an enjoyable experience, it brought a lot of perspective and maybe some new insights of the current state of Philippine products. I didn’t know how much we have progressed from the traditional banig and its accompanying bag. In fact the bazaar was really a showcase of the talents, resourcefulness, ingenuity and innovation of many enterprising Filipinos. So I say, great job and I am super happy that I was able to snag a raffle prize and a few priceless calling cards for my soon-to-come Christmas shopping.
The 10th Global Pinoy Bazaar runs from August 23 – 24, 2014 (11am to 9pm) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Tickets are priced at Php. 100