Subic Christmas bazaar opens

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The 8th Subic Night Bazaar, one of the freeport’s largest yearend revenue earners, opened last Friday with its goal of hitting its highest revenue target of P9 million.

"This night market has been one of the most awaited events in Subic. On average, the project has earned us an annual net income of around P7 to P8 million," Freeport Services Corp. (FSC) president Jose M. Calimlim told The STAR.

According to Calimlim, the bazaar, which usually runs from October to January, has turned in P49 million in earnings for the past eight years.

FSC is the manpower and services-based subsidiary of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and is also regarded as one of the top revenue earners for the government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

Calimlim said this year’s market has been carefully prepared and researched to be able to give consumers a more improved night market to visit.

"This year, we are working hard on promotions, entertainment programs and structural improvements in an effort to reach a net income of P9 million," Calimlim said.

More modern and spacious kiosks and booths have been made available to the night market tenants, measured at around four by four meters on a seven-hectare expanse which used to be a helicopter landing area during the time Subic was a US military base.

The improved kiosks resulted from an intensive consumer research done by the FSC to make sure that the night market stalls would be advantageous to both the consumer and the stall owners.

"The more than 250 food and dry goods stalls have been laid out for maximum public access, and to allow a good view of the stage and easy movement between the carnival and vending areas," Calimlim said.

Calimlim also pointed out that this year’s night market will run for 75 days, instead of the usual 60 days, due to public clamor for the bazaar to run earlier than usual.