Daven Tamayo

This Christmas bazaar showcases the finest in Filipino fashion, food, and home

Article (news)

Karen Flores

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764327385947defaultNEW-compo.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Etniko Pilipino by Ding Perez (left) Mabolo by Antonio and Gema Garcia are some of the products you&#x27;ll find in this year&#x27;s Designers&#x27; Holiday Bazaar. <em>Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You&#x27;re sure to find something at the Designers&#x27; Holiday Bazaar (DHB), where Filipino creativity takes center stage. </p><p>Now on its 12th year, DHB has been known for showcasing the finest in Filipino fashion, food, home, and wellness, as curated by sisters Bea Zobel Jr. and Sofia Zobel Elizalde. </p><p>The daughters of industrialist Jaime Zobel de Ayala said the latest edition, which runs from November 29 to December 7, is their biggest yet. For the first time, DHB will be held simultaneously in two malls in Makati -- Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta -- with a record 110 exhibitors. </p><p>&quot;We actually chose a few designers that are new this year. Like Jo Ann Bitagcol and Monchet (Olives). But we also wanted to pay tribute to designers and individuals that started with us 12 years ago,&quot; Sofia told ABS-CBN News during a recent media preview. &quot;Like Karen Santos with her placemats, Maricris Brias from Davao, and Bea Roxas who only joins our bazaar.&quot;</p><p>&quot;But we welcome everyone with open arms,&quot; she added. &quot;We just want everyone to have a great selection.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176432421902716.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Casa Mercedes by Monchet Olives. Handout</span></span></span></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176432431710220251103_160624.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kassa by Karen Santos. Handout</span></span></span></div><p>This year&#x27;s DHB has something for everyone, the Zobel sisters promised, with the bazaar offering products at different price points.</p><p>Here, you can shop for affordable food gifts such as cakes and pastries from Auro Chocolate Cafe, tea products from Tsaa Laya, and homemade jams and salad dressings from Sonya&#x27;s Secret Garden. There&#x27;s also a selection of handcrafted candles from Lumi, home sprays from Esscentials Manila, and hand and body bars from For Keeps Clean Beauty.</p><p>For something a bit more high-end, DHB has bespoke furniture and home items from brands like T&#x27;nalak, Mabolo Flower Shop, Osmundo Furniture Gallery, E. Murio Manila, and Sarimanok Antiques. Exquisite fashion items and accessories can also be found here courtesy of PIOPIO, Earl Gariando, R. Filart, KitSilver Jewelry, and J. Makitalo, among others. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1764327668765defaultNEW-compo-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">T&#x27;nalak Christmas tree (left) and bitagcol by Jo Ann Bitagcol. <em>Handout </em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;I think what&#x27;s important about this bazaar is we have different price points. Admittedly, some bazaars are getting pretty expensive, so Bea and I find it important that we have things of every price,&quot; Sofia said. &quot;So everybody can come and find a gift, or something to share with their family.&quot;</p><p>Bea, for her part, is happy to see that Filipino designs and products have become &quot;cool&quot; again among the younger generation. And bazaars such as DHB, which give a platform to emerging and established creatives and businesses, have obviously played an important role.</p><p>&quot;We thought it&#x27;s (Filipino design) going to be a dying art... but now the youngsters are now picking it up and saying it&#x27;s cool. So they&#x27;re beginning to make their own designs... It&#x27;s really cool to wear Filipino now, and we&#x27;re proud of it,&quot; she said. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176432609901220251103_161321.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Bea Zobel Jr. and Sofia Zobel Elizalde. Handout</span></span></span></div><p>But beyond showcasing beautiful things and championing local brands, the DHB is a philanthropic initiative, raising funds for scholars of Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and STEPS Foundation.</p><p>To date, 25 students have been able to complete their studies (Grade 7 to College), while young classical dancers under the STEPS scholarship have performed with prestigious companies such as Ballet Manila, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Alberta Ballet, and the American Ballet Theater.</p><p>&quot;We just want to get these kids out of the cycle of poverty and be able to put food on the table for their parents who work so hard for them,&quot; said Bea. &quot;It&#x27;s really wonderful, it really is a lovely feeling that we can do something for our Filipino kababayans.&quot;</p><p>Sofia added: &quot;It&#x27;s a joyful bazaar all around. Our hope is to keep growing and maybe one day be present in more cities.&quot; </p><p>For more details about DHB, visit the event&#x27;s Facebook and Instagram pages.</p>

<p>Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You're sure to find something at the Designers' Holiday Bazaar, where Filipino creativity takes center stage.</p>

Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift? You're sure to find something at the Designers' Holiday Bazaar, where Filipino creativity takes center stage.