The Philippine Online Chronicles

The bazaar season is the best time to shop ‘til you drop and for entrepreneurs to showcase their wares to the discerning public. Bazaars have been popular within the last decade because the unique finds you can score in them. Small entrepreneurs who bring back their wares from trips abroads and artisans who want to expose their works to a bigger market flock to bazaars, so there's definitely something special there just waiting to be found!

Here’s a short list of popular bazaars worth checking out this holiday season.

Global Pinoy Bazaar

November 5-6, 2011 at Rockwell Tent, Makati City

As the name implies, the yearly Global Pinoy bazaars are a great venue for Filipino entrepreneurs to showcase their homegrown talents and products. The Yabang Pinoy group is a major supporter of Filipino ingenuity so expect to witness Filipino artistry at its finest. Check out organic handmade accessories, authentic Filipino food, creative footwear and beautiful clothes from all your favorite Filipino designers.

If you are seeking something more meaningful than the usual store-bought gift while paying homage to our Filipino entrepreneurs, then this bazaar is highly recommended. Be forewarned though, that you may have to shell out a pretty penny for some items, as these don’t come cheap unlike en masse products from China.

The World Bazaar Festival

Decemer 2-18, 2011 at the World Trade Center, Metro Manila

Touted as the “grandest” bazaar in the metro, it houses a diverse selection of products such as marked down perfume and kitchenware from Rustan’s, Korean-inspired clothing, shoes and espadrilles from Marikina, toys, natural skin care products from notable online sellers, Christmas ornaments, plants and decorative items plus rows and rows of food and pastries.

This bazaar is always teeming with people and parking may be a problem so come and shop early. ATMs are provided so you can withdraw your money with ease, while some vendors accept credit card transactions. And oh, they also have booths specifically for celebrity sellers. Ogling is allowed.

Greenmeadows Christmas Rush Bazaar

December 17-18, 2011 at the Greenmeadows Clubhouse & Basketball Court, Quezon City

Organized every year by Claudine Baron, it’s a relatively smaller venue than the others but is smack in the middle of several upscale villages in the Quezon City area. You’ll see a lot of clothes, accessories, bath & body items and novelty items for sale, mostly catered towards women.

As Greenmeadows Bazaars are usually held a few days before Christmas, you can expect that the crowds here are enthusiastic and would like to get their Christmas lists down stat. They expect a good bargain, and will usually buy in bulk, and as such prices become considerably lower to accommodate hagglers. The venue also isn’t air-conditioned but the heat is usually tolerable.

Zonta Alabang Christmas Carnivale Bazaar

December 17-18, 2011 at the Cuenca Court, Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City

The Zonta Club of Alabang Carnivale Bazaar is not only a shopping bazaar but a charity and community event rolled into one. Targeted towards families living in the Ayala Alabang village, it only showcases unique products not normally seen in other bazaars such as personalized gift items, fashion jewelry and accessories, religious items made my Filipino artisans, and vintage clothing, to name a few. It also offers fun activities for the kids (while Mom shops), fire zips, dog grooming, dog shows and a delicious array of food concessionaires to keep everyone occupied and entertained. It may be a 4-5 hour drive for most of us from the North, but the activities and unique products make it all worth it.

Holiday Sugar Rush Dessert Festival

November 26-27, 2011 at The Beaufont, Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City

December 10-11, 17-18, 2011 at the Corinthian Hills Clubhouse, Quezon City

Christmas is forgivably the best time to eat, drink and be merry. If you’re craving for desserts and other satisfying pastries, check out the Holiday Sugar Rush Dessert Festival and know exactly what you should bring home for Noche Buena, Media Noche and to your next Christmas gathering.

Remember when shopping at bazaars:

- Take the time to look around and not buy on impulse, some sellers might be offering similar items at lower prices.

- However, if you spot a really unique item (and you are positive that it is not sold anywhere else) and the price is just right, then by all means grab it before somebody else does.

- Food booths almost always offer a sampling of whatever they are selling, feel free to try them before you buy.

- Ask a lot of questions. If you are unsure about the product, ask some more. This of course applies to buying shoes and clothes. All venues offer fitting rooms for shoppers.

- Save money by mastering the art of haggling. Be polite and courteous to the seller because aggression will never get you anywhere. Be prepared to actually purchase the product when the seller meets your price.

- Stores and sellers love frequent customers, so use this to your advantage when haggling.

- Always pay in cash in small bills.

- As always, wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Not all bazaars are conveniently air-conditioned, so be prepared to sweat it out (literally and figuratively) when shopping.

- And lastly, stick to your budget.

For more tips, please visit our previous article “Tips on shopping smart this Holiday season.”

All images taken by author, some rights reserved.