Gifts that will keep on giving

Despite the rush, it’s important to realize that giving is the true essence of the holidays — generosity far beyond material things. Gift-giving can mean something more if, in return, it also benefits other people.

Last 11 December, at the Palm Drive Activity Center, Glorietta 2, the BPI Sinag ng Pasko Christmas bazaar came into the scene offering more than the usual gifts.

“We offer Sinag ng Pasko as an ideal venue to look for Christmas gifts, whether you are a zero-waste advocate encouraging your loved ones to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, a proud champion of Filipino craftsmanship or simply a shopper looking for unique and beautiful items,” Maricris San Diego, executive director of BPI Foundation, said.

“By bridging social enterprises and conscious consumers, Sinag ng Pasko aims to shine the light on a more meaningful celebration of the Christmas season,” she adds.

For over 40 merchants across the Philippines, the BPI Sinag ng Pasko has become an arena for small and local businesses to offer the best of the Filipino culture at its finest: from arts, fashion and food, to its newest addition for their fifth year, home essentials.

The Christmas bazaar has it all under one roof — products made not just with passion, but also local, sustainable materials that help the environment and marginalized communities (and make the gift-receiver smile, too).

The BPI Sinag ng Pasko is a spin-off from the BPI’s Sinag, an initiative program for local businesses and social entrepreneurs to get a grasp on starting up a business — be it through providing finances, resources or intellectual capital just “to make the social enterprises scale up and spread more impact” in the progressing world.

Some participating merchants are the award-winning Auro Chocolates, Accents & Petals, Habi Footwear and Lifestyle and Down to Earth.

One of the merchants for the 2019 BPI Sinag ng Pasko was Julyan’s Farm, which has become a social enterprise built with passion and mission to provide a safe place for its owner’s son and persons with disabilities (PWD.)

“The farm was because of Julyan, my son, a middle child with autism. He was brought to Zambales to be more productive because he is considered to be in the lower end of the spectrum because his language is limited. So as a person with autism, we had to find ways to see where he could be productive and, more importantly, to find a calming space. The best place (was) Zambales and to surround him with nature,” Rachel Harrison, owner of Julyan’s Farm, shared with Daily Tribune.

“Julyan’s Coffee Spot is our first. This is our entry for BPI Sinag ng Pasko because we felt at that time (that) we have to learn and grow as a business, to know how to make a business grow. So this is what we pitched because, eventually, what we wish to happen is to scale this so we can give skills and employment to PWD,” she explained.

All the other merchants participating in the Sinag ng Pasko had to go through the rigorous process of learning the ropes — from starting and maintaining the business, to building connections and bridges in the local industry.

“What happened was we learned a lot of things at Sinag as a business. That there’s a lot of things to consider. If you don’t have a business background, it’s an eye-opener. Can you imagine a two-year business course getting squeezed into two weeks? Crash courses, they teach you marketing, teach you about accounting, taxation — the works,” she explained.

Like Julyan’s Farm with the inclusion of the PWD, the other merchants showcasing their arts and crafts at the BPI Sinag ng Pasko bazaar also have their social issues to address: from out-of-school youth to the underprivileged — one gift can support more in return.

Learn more about the programs of BPI Foundation by following its Facebook page www.facebook.com/BPIFoundation or visit the official website www.bpifoundation.org/.