American Women's Bazaar

I was instantly captivated by a vintage-looking neck piece made of turquoise and sterling silver kept inside the locked display case at the showroom of Tawid Crafts in Baguio last April 10. He was willing to accept my personal check but I didn’t have one with me. I instead gave a P9,000 cash downpayment and I was relieved when the owner told me they were actually going down to Manila the following tuesday for the American Women’s Club of the Philippines’ Bazaar.

The bazaar is a monthly fund-raising project of the AWCP and is always held at the World Trade Center in Buendia corner Roxas Blvd in Pasay City.

World Trade Centers around the world adhere to a certain global standard.

Yen and I were carpooling that day so I brought her along. We paid P50 each at the entrance.
American ladies were the organizers. They were the ones selling the tickets and manning the gates.

Bazaar Bags

Tawid Crafts’ booth
Yen bought a simple necklace for P3,000.

After I gave the full payment for the necklace, Oyen and I went around the big hall.
There were so many handicrafts and souvenir items. These handpainted wooden birds are for exports.

There were also a lot of imported items from India, Thailand, Indonesia, and of course, China.

Some items are expensive, parang presyong pang-expat.

Some items naman are reasonably priced like this one. Supposedly pang export ito.

Bird house made of shells P650 only.

I bought several pieces of shell crafts from this booth. Their factory is in Pasig and they’ve been exporting for many years.

She and her loving husband started their shell crafts business moe than 20 years ago
(Clyde and Paz Shells).

I bought one peppermint massage rub. It’s now in my office drawer. Minsan kasi when I am in the office I get migraine attacks, para sure that I have my Giga rub. It helps relieve my hilo and headaches.

Alice blue also had a display there.

Would you believe we bought this huge treasure box made in Cebu. It’s made of inlaid mother of pearls .

We don’t have treasures to fill it in. Kailangan Yamashita golds. Meron kami Mama Sita, from Shopwise.
I haven’t displayed it yet. Am not quite sure what it’s really for. Sabi ni Oyen lalagyan ng plates. Or pag daw meron kaming party, pwedeng wine cooler. It’s still in the corrugated box, and I haven’t shown it to Edmund. I know what he’s going to say- “Wattt is dattt?”

American’s like this cat thingy. They are more fond of cats than we Filipinos do. Tayo binubugaw natin- “Tsuupiii”. Sila naman- “ccommme Kitty Kitty”.

I think this could also be used to serve peanuts during parties. Come guests, meow meow.

Wooden ewan from Bali, Indonesia

Colorful shawls from Indonesia

The back section of the main exhibit hall is for food items.

Since it was already 1 pm, we might as well….

We ate karekare with rice. Ang sarap! I forgot the name of the caterer.

After eating, we continued shopping. Oyen told me “Mom, you didn’t say I have to bring money”.

I just love these lamps. I just don’t know where to hang them.

The company that manufactures and exports these items is located in Angono, Rizal

Stone in-laid narra and other hardwood furniture from Mindanao

Creepy tissue holder. I actually bought a male version. Eto kasi mukhang male. Yung male mas sweet looking kaya yun ang binili ko.

Antique narra coffee table, P35,000

it was already 2 pm, we’re panicking na and running to go to the car. On our way out, nakita ko yung daster, ang ganda. P850 daw ang mahal naman. Binili ko na rin P800 with discount.

Oyen——- “Mom, have you seen the plates? Same style as Anthropologie, go”.
Takbo naman ako. I bought 4 plates for P350 and 6 ceramic ice cream bowls for P200. They were export overruns. When I flipped the bowls, merong Williams-Sonoma.