Charity is a mother-daughter mission

All is set for the 2011 Grand International Importers and Exporters Christmas Bazaar, a celebrity and charity bazaar that I organize yearly with my Mommy Ching. Unknown to many, my mom has been a “mompreneur” — a “bazaarista” — since I was in high school. She was a biyahera, traveling to Hong Kong and Bangkok to import clothes, shoes and accessories. We sold them in our boutiques in Virra Mall and Shoppesville Greenhills.

It was my mom who taught me entrepreneurial skills, how to deal with and salestalk customers, as well as how to be patient with all kinds of clients. I remember having customers who would ask me to bring down all the clothes from the display window, fit them all but end up not buying at all! Still, I smiled and kept my cool. My mom reminded me: Smile at your customers all the time, even if they are giving you a headache, he, he, he! It was my mom who taught me the value of hard-earned money early on and this is why I am prudent with money.

Today, I’m making my mom’s senior years fruitful, productive and unpredictable by helping her organize bazaars. We are the ultimate mother and daughter tandem.

What makes organizing this year’s bazaar exciting is that I am able to count again on the help and support of your favorite celebrities. Below is a partial list of generous celebrities who donated personal pre-loved items, which will be sold in the celebrity booths. Some will be auctioned off every two hours in my bazaar. The entire proceeds of their donated items will go to the celeb’s charity of choice, or to the pool of funds which will be donated to Shepherd of the Hills Orphanage, World Vision scholars and sick children.

Thank you, dear celebrity friends for not thinking twice to help. God bless you more for your generosity.

Here’s a roll call of the celebrities who donated to the celebrity auction this year: Sharon Cuneta, Angel Locsin, Dawn Zulueta, Ruffa Gutierrez, Venus Raj, Lara Quigaman, Miriam Quiambao, Phoem Baranda, Jodi Santamaria, Xyriel Manabat, Iza Calzado, Toni Gonzaga, Angeline Quinto, Jericho Rosales, Vice Ganda, Kim Atienza, Anne Curtis, Pokwang and Charice.

Hope you can all come to my bazaar and take part in the bidding and together, let’s all raise funds for charity this Christmas season.

Special mention goes to TV5’s Kumare Klub exhibitor booth which will sell and showcase things donated by Kapatid artists like Gelli de Belen, Ryan Agoncillo, Ruffa Gutierrez, IC Mendoza, Alex Gonzaga, Sapul anchors like Paolo Bediones, and of course, my co-hosts in Kumare Klub — Amy Perez and Chiqui Roa. I will be auctioning off my own designer bags and clothes, too.

When you shop in my bazaar, you are also going to help the many merchants — mostly small-medium enterprises, college students, plain housewives, those who are in between regular jobs and those who joined my bazaar as exhibitor to earn extra income. I have merchants who are introducing their interesting, new products as well.

The yearly bazaar is my way of helping all these “entrePinoys” with individual, human interest stories to share. When you shop, the economy gets going. You buy something for you and your loved ones, and at the same time, you become part of this circle of helping others. Oh, by the way, do bring your eco–friendly bags when you shop.

Hourly raffle, freebies and free entertainment await shoppers.

Vice Ganda with the necklace he wore in his first major concert at the Big Dome

Jovit Baldivino and Duncan Ramos performed on opening day yesterday. Laarni Lozada and Hansen Nichols will perform today, K-La Rivera and Nikki Valdez on Nov. 14, Tuesday Vargas on Nov. 20 and the Rainmakers on two weekends. There will be free business forum by GO Negosyo and money talk by motivational speaker Chinkee Tan.

So, I’ll see you in my 10-day bazaar, which runs until Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Hall A of the World Trade Center. Avoid the Christmas rush. Do your shopping early! For details, call 931-0852.