When the clock struck 11 a.m on Friday (25 November), Ayala Malls Manila Bay started to take life as shoppers embraced the shopping season with much enthusiasm.

Hundreds of people swarmed the booths at the Tindahan ni Tarsee Nasa Mall Na bazaar, showcasing the local small and medium enterprises, part of the Daily Tribune's corporate social responsibility to support both the SMEs and the revitalization of the domestic economy by encouraging retail spending.

At the bazaar, participating merchants hung up their products, some switching on colorful lights to attract visitors, others displaying mouth watering food to entice buyers.

Twenty-five-year-old May Kyle Tecson, the owner of Kape Seresa, was busy preparing an espresso, warming the cup, and rinsing it with hot water so it won't cool down beverage on impact. Her business partner Brian Ong was busy answering queries from a couple who wanted to engage Kape Seresa as their coffee bar host for their upcoming weekend.

Immediately after the future husband and wife left, another couple inquired if they could engage the services of Kape Seresa for their office event in February next year.

"We are very grateful for the opportunity to participate in this year's Tindahan ni Tarsee bazaar," Tecson told this writer. "We are getting good customer responses, we have great sales figures, and we can sell our coffee for less because we have not paid for bazaar fees, and the Daily Tribune is not asking for a share of our revenues."

In its third iteration, this year's Tindahan ni Tarsee combined online and on-site selling. And although the Daily Tribune management decided to hold an on site bazaar at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, it stayed true to its commitment to supporting SMEs by offering the bazaar at zero cost to all participating merchants.

"This (Tindahan ni Tarsee) is Daily Tribune's CSR to help promote SMEs and cushion the impact of the crushing lockdowns," Willie Fernandez, chairman, and publisher of the Daily Tribune, commented.
"We searched for like-minded sponsors who made the NO FEE, NO CUT FROM SALE Tindahan a reality for the struggling and budding entrepreneurs," he added.

These like-minded sponsors include the Ayala Malls, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Angkas, DOOH, the Department of Trade and Industry, Home Credit, Dermclinic and Regroe.

Daily Tribune managing editor Dinah Ventura said in her opening remarks, "Back in 2020, when malls were intermittently closed, and business was halted for many months, we came up with the idea of offering the new, home-based businesses a platform on which to showcase their products and at the same time tell their stories — how they dreamed up their products and made something of their talents and passions during a most uncertain time of our lives."

She added the hybrid Tindahan ni Tarsee Nasa Mall Na also showcases the news organization's transition into a full omnimedia company that delivers news on print, TV, radio, and digital platforms.

Ventura added, "This year, with the restrictions eased, we decided to bring Tindahan ni Tarsee to the mall. Over the past few months, our hardworking bazaar team worked to bring this all to fruition."

Grateful merchants

The grateful merchants who participated in the three-day bazaar did not overlook the Daily Tribune team's efforts to organize the event and sent us tons of 'thank you notes.'

"On behalf of the Paws Republique Team, we thank you a looooootttt for organizing such an event to help SMEs grow their business.

We look forward to joining next future events. Such a happy three day bazaar-getting to know other merchants. See you around! Have a good day, everyone," Jermaine Bohol said.

Jepay Eustaquio of Coffee and Roast expressed gratitude for the invitation to participate in Tindahan ni Tarsee and the Gising Na! feature interview. Gising Na! is the daily morning show of the Daily Tribune which airs from Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m to 9 a.m over Radyo Bandido TV, simulcast over DZRJ 810 AM, and live streamed via the Facebook pages of the Radyo Bandido TV, DZRJ, and the Daily Tribune.

"We enjoyed this bazaar. Hope to keep in touch with everyone," Eustaquio added.

Indeed participating in Tindahan ni Tarsee was a wonderful experience that imbibes positivity and an opportunity to make new friends and expand your network.

Ember Calloway of Memories of the Orient by Orientalis, which sells artworks, expressed the intention to participate in next year's Tindahan.

"We all are driven to sell and put a smile on the faces of our valued customers, new and old," Calloway said. "We, Memories of the Orient by Orientalis, don't have any sales, but our pipeline increased, and who knows, they'll keep in touch, and in time they'll purchase."

She was happy to make new friends during the three-day event and was pleased with the experience.

"Let's all continue to shine with our products and services offered. Good luck, everyone. Have a prosperous holiday. Thank you as well for featuring us. Keep safe, everyone," Calloway added.

Several embassies also sent their representatives for Tindhan, including the embassies of Malaysia, Thailand and Spain.

Good busy

Meanwhile, Tecson has to leave her booth for a few hours to buy new supplies for Kape Seresa.

"There are too many orders, but we are happy. We ran out of milk for our latte," she said.

Yes, Kape Seresa is one of the biggest winners of Tindahan ni Tarsee Nasa Mall Na. Only a month ago, there wasn't even Kape Seresa yet.