A Heaven-Sent Lifestyle Bazaar

Christmas is a season to defy the epidemic of economic pessimism and welcome the opportunity to start a business.

The Heaven Sent Lifestyle Bazaar held Nov. 16 and 17 at the Manila Polo Club in Makati provided an amazing marketplace for 150 entrepreneurs to show and sell their wares. It was organized by Pilates studio owner Carmen Jimenez Ong, youngest child of San Miguel Corp. director Menardo "Nards" Jimenez and wife Carolina. The final shopping days will be today and tomorrow, November 23 and 24.

Beneficiary of this year’s Heaven Sent Bazaar’s philanthropic support is the Unicef and its projects to help poor children. When this annual bazaar was put up 10 years ago by Carmen and her gymnast friend Bea Lucero, the beneficiary was the Prison Fellowship Philippines, a Christian group helping prisoners and then headed by Carmen’s father Nards Jimenez. The first project was intended to raise funds to buy toys and gifts for the children and loved ones of prisoners.

Heading the multitude of well-heeled shoppers who trooped to the bazaar were SM malls and Banco de Oro president Tessie Sy Coson, Marni Ocampo of Sari Sari, Prudential Guarantee chairman Robert Coyiuto, Jr., businesswoman Yvonne Yuchengco, Secretary Gloria Tan Climaco, Ilocos Norte Congresswoman Imee Marcos, Shell Philippines director Oscar Santos, Bangko Sentral Governor Rafael Buenaventura and wife Marivic Rufino, Planters Development Bank chairman Ambassador Jesus "Chuching" Tambunting, ABS-CBN boss Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III and wife Panjee, Atty. Katrina Legarda, Portuguese Ambassador’s wife Urike Caetano da Silva, Bea Zobel, actress Judy Ann Santos, singer Kuh Ledesma, presidential daughter-in-law Angela Montenegro Arroyo, gourmet cook and the late Ninoy Aquino’s sister Maur Aquino Lichauco, former athlete Christine Jacob-Sandejas, Citibank Private Banking head Richard Smith and wife Sasa, Pinnacle Healthpointe Spa owner Nelson Sy and his girlfriend Rebecca Dy, construction supply entrepreneur Richard Barria, model Apples Aberin, actresses Cherie Gil, Dawn Zulueta, and Agot Isidro, writer/lawyer Roberto "Argee" Guevarra, top lawyer Ted Tarriela and his wife Philippine National Bank director Flor Gozon Tarriela, and Mustang Bar owner Ted Tarriela, among others.

Showcasing Philippine Goods

With its one-year preparation and careful screening, Heaven Sent ensures that there’s no duplication of goods and only those selling high-quality products at affordable prices are invited. Many of the vendors first joined the bazaar mainly for fun and adventure.

This year, among the many new entrepreneurs minding their own stalls was real estate tycoon Fernando Zobel de Ayala’s wife Kitkat Zobel selling her Fresh soaps and film-TV director Ruel S. Bayani selling his mother Aling Aning’s multi-colored organic rice from Nueva Ecija, which he proudly shared was the trade that sent him to Ateneo de Manila University and University of Southern California. Shell director Oscar Santos bought the last violet rice from Aurora province, while I got a bag of exotic-looking red rice. ZZZ Sleepwear entrepreneur Natalie M. Barria had her dutiful husband, construction materials entrepreneur Richard Barria, to help her mind the store. Carolina "Kay" Gozon Jimenez, who has ventured into her own Carolina Bamboo Farm in Barrio Pantay, Antipolo, Rizal, sold her bamboo plants for the first time at this bazaar.

Blue Parasol baby clothes manufacturer Anna C. Parma said that although a lot of local manufacturers have moved to China due to lower production costs, her family is still producing in the Philippines for domestic and export markets. Home accessories businesswoman Geena N. Llamanzares of Play & Display, Inc. opened her business at the bazaar, and now, she has 12 stores located at SM malls, Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Power Plant in Rockwell and Pavilion Mall. John and Vida Lao of Pillow Talk also started out at Heaven Sent Bazaar, selling slumber bags and other pillow items. Now, they have a store at Greenbelt Shopping Plaza. Still another entrepreneur who got her break at the bazaar was Cecily Mabasa, who later opened her own store selling bags.

Young entrepreneur Carolyn Ipapo Pesueña with her husband Rene is continuing the jewelry-making business of her 76-year-old grandmother with North Atelier based in Meycauayan, Bulacan. Their exquisitely-designed jewelry is of export quality.

Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan’s daughter KC Cuneta was seen helping her Tita Olive Isidro sell White Box ensaymadas and cakes. Arthur M. Evangelista of Antipolo City, who heads Mac-Mac Enterprises, has been selling at Heaven Sent bazaar for the past 10 years. Maria Rowena Juan Matti of Sacred Heart School helped put up the children’s activity center of the bazaar, and she said that their school business, which now has12 branches, was started by her mother Ma. Rosario Tambunting Juan. One of the award-winning stalls was the PNKY Collection of Pynky Gomez Magsino, a Baguio-based entrepreneur who also has a shop at Glorietta. The Guevarra family, represented by businesswoman Monica G. de la Cruz, tended their stall, Tree’s Company. Business partners Ann Catherine Chua and Christine Tan of Acco Trading Co. lit up the bazaar with their colorful Christmas trees and decor. Roselyn Tiangco of Kitchen’s Best sold pies and cakes.

Bird cages and plants entrepreneur Joey Marquez denied any romantic link to Kris Aquino and insisted that he is not posing as the Parañaque mayor. The owner of their family business, based in Lucban, Quezon, is his brother Jun Marquez.

Relojes Antiguos, owned by antique watch collector Angelito San Luis, was one truly unique stall. Exporter Lambert Mendoza of Design Info Co. only sells his goods locally through the Heaven Sent bazaar. US Embassy staff Sonia Bamba Anihal did very well at the bazaar with her Dragon Master Marble Products.

The Barco Linens items were very exquisite, the very same Philippine-made linens sold at the posh LeRon boutique in New York. The Philippine-made Aranaz bags could compare with the high-quality bags of Kate Spade, Ferragamo, Rafe and other name brands. Selling fast, too, were Jeff Koons’ limited edition coffee sets, Gabriel’s Workshop’s handmade wooden toys, Kuwintas’ heirloom pieces, Hobby World’s men’s items, Pet Shop Boys’ rare tarantulas and tortoises, Craft World’s paper embroidery, among others. To add spice to the festivities, San Miguel Corp., Purefoods and Magnolia sponsored cooking demos conducted by Azzuro restaurant chef Philip Golding, chef Sandy Daza, chef Cathy Pineda and actor Hans Montenegro who whipped up his Hans’ baked chicken and potato gratin.

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