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- Revive. Restore. Rehabilitate: The Fair Trade Bazaar 2009
Mall Events / Sale/Bazaars
Revive. Restore. Rehabilitate: The Fair Trade Bazaar 2009
The fair expects to help kick-start the livelihoods of over 24 small producers belonging to Rizal Exporters Manufacturers Association Incorporated (REMAI), who survived Ondoy flooding and now need to raise working capital to help long-term sustainability of their businesses.
Take REMAI member, Medoth Philippine Crafts as an example. In a cruel twist of irony, the factory of this Angono-based Christmas décor artisan is likely to remain submerged in spillover from Laguna Lake until after the Christmas season. Likewise, another REMAI Christmas décor artisan, CD Handicrafts, Inc, experienced vast destruction. 25 of their subcontractors houses and shops were either flooded, washed away or destroyed in the flood on September 26.
Gabby Lopez, Chairman of APFTI's Board of Trustees said: "The Fair Trade Bazaar aims not to give hand-outs, but to allow these aspiring fair trade producers to get a step up, and raise much needed working capital to help them get their business back up and running to ensure sustainability and job security for their workers and sub-contractors".
In a display of human triumph and resilience the Philippines is famous for, these small business owners, the "warriors of development" as APFTI's board chairman often calls them, are not giving up. With an aim to Restore, Rehabilitate and Revive their business operations, they will use micro-loans provided by APFTI to start producing products in makeshift workshops to supply The Fair Trade Bazaar.
The beneficiaries of the fair, members of REMAI, were severely affected by Ondoy flooding in Cainta, Cogeo, Montalban, Taytay, Binangonan and Angono on September 26. In Brookside Park, Cainta, Beth Tianzon from Getzon Legacy International experienced 10 foot flooding of her house and workshop. With her machinery lying to waste, Ms Tianzon has grave concerns about the viability of her business that supports six families. Whilst Ms Tianzon doesn't have much to smile about, she remains positive that she can rebuild, and sees the Fair Trade Bazaar as one such way to move forward.
The Bazaar will feature products such as: Christmas décor; bags and wallets from indigenous and sustainably gathered snakeskin and frogskin; fashion accessories, storage boxes and hampers, cloth bags, home accessories and décor.
REMAI producers were assisted in the past by APFTI in their aim to progress fair trade in the Philippines. Fair trade is a global movement with estimated sales of approximately USD5 billion in 2008, averaging growth of 42% in the last 2 years. It's an alternative to conventional trade prioritising workers rights and environmental sustainability in the workplace, and providing opportunities to the poorer and more marginalised producers across the Philippines.
The fair will also hold activities such as yoga demonstrations, product demonstrations, acoustic guitar performances and underground bands such as Lip Service, 5 Feet Adjustment and Vitlava.
Take REMAI member, Medoth Philippine Crafts as an example. In a cruel twist of irony, the factory of this Angono-based Christmas décor artisan is likely to remain submerged in spillover from Laguna Lake until after the Christmas season. Likewise, another REMAI Christmas décor artisan, CD Handicrafts, Inc, experienced vast destruction. 25 of their subcontractors houses and shops were either flooded, washed away or destroyed in the flood on September 26.
Gabby Lopez, Chairman of APFTI's Board of Trustees said: "The Fair Trade Bazaar aims not to give hand-outs, but to allow these aspiring fair trade producers to get a step up, and raise much needed working capital to help them get their business back up and running to ensure sustainability and job security for their workers and sub-contractors".
In a display of human triumph and resilience the Philippines is famous for, these small business owners, the "warriors of development" as APFTI's board chairman often calls them, are not giving up. With an aim to Restore, Rehabilitate and Revive their business operations, they will use micro-loans provided by APFTI to start producing products in makeshift workshops to supply The Fair Trade Bazaar.
The beneficiaries of the fair, members of REMAI, were severely affected by Ondoy flooding in Cainta, Cogeo, Montalban, Taytay, Binangonan and Angono on September 26. In Brookside Park, Cainta, Beth Tianzon from Getzon Legacy International experienced 10 foot flooding of her house and workshop. With her machinery lying to waste, Ms Tianzon has grave concerns about the viability of her business that supports six families. Whilst Ms Tianzon doesn't have much to smile about, she remains positive that she can rebuild, and sees the Fair Trade Bazaar as one such way to move forward.
The Bazaar will feature products such as: Christmas décor; bags and wallets from indigenous and sustainably gathered snakeskin and frogskin; fashion accessories, storage boxes and hampers, cloth bags, home accessories and décor.
REMAI producers were assisted in the past by APFTI in their aim to progress fair trade in the Philippines. Fair trade is a global movement with estimated sales of approximately USD5 billion in 2008, averaging growth of 42% in the last 2 years. It's an alternative to conventional trade prioritising workers rights and environmental sustainability in the workplace, and providing opportunities to the poorer and more marginalised producers across the Philippines.
The fair will also hold activities such as yoga demonstrations, product demonstrations, acoustic guitar performances and underground bands such as Lip Service, 5 Feet Adjustment and Vitlava.
Contact Details:
For inquiries, please call Ester Gamboa at (63 917) 505-9464 or email: egamboa@apfti.org.ph.
