SNAPS

‘Tindahan ni Tarsee’: Beyond journalism

Raffy Ayeng · Dec 11, 2023, 12:01 AM

‘Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town’ organizers, headed by DAILY TRIBUNE president Willie Fernandez and executive vice president Chingbee Fernandez (center), join merchants who participated in the yearly bazaar in Ayala Malls by The Bay in Parañaque City, which ran from 8 to 10 December.

In its triumphant fourth year, the DAILY TRIBUNE's "Tindahan ni Tarsee" Christmas Bazaar unfolded with a vibrant assembly of micro, small and medium enterprises at the bustling Ayala Malls Manila Bay.

Entrepreneurs found themselves in a glittering arena where they could showcase their wares and capture the hearts of eager customers. More than 70 driven merchants converged, each bearing a treasure trove of delights from culinary creations to captivating artworks and organic offerings.

DAILY TRIBUNE president Willie Fernandez (left) and executive vice president Chingbee Fernandez examine the footwear products of one of the merchants of 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town' in Ayala Mall by the Bay in Parañaque City over the weekend.

visitors of the ride-hailing app Angkas booth, 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town,' get free Angkas shirts.

One of the sponsors of 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town,' Regrow, examines the scalp of a customer who visited their kiosk. | PHOTOGRAPHS BY YUMMIE DINGDING AND JOEY SANCHEZ MENDOZA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE @tribunephl_joey @tribunephl_yum

For three wondrous days, from 8 to 10 December, their colorful array of goods transformed "Tindahan ni Tarsee" into a bustling marketplace brimming with promise and possibilities.

Before its formal launch, organizers convened MSME participants for another episode of the Asian Innovation Forum, where a lineup of speakers brightened the pathway for MSMEs to access financing.

Small Business Corporation president and CEO Robert Bastillo rallied the participants to seize the opportunity to tap into the government's array of loan facilities, highlighting the RISE UP Multi-Purpose Loan. This empowering initiative gave MSMEs the chance to secure loans of up to P300,000, with a repayment period of up to three years and a 12 percent annual interest rate.

A buyer checks the parol product of one of 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town' merchants.

gourmet vinegar on display at Casa Lontoc, one of the participants of 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town' in Ayala Malls by the Bay in Parañaque City.

A merchant prepares soap products in one of the 'Tindahan ni Tarsee Christmas Town' booths in Ayala Malls by the Bay in Parañaque City.

DAILY TRIBUNE received praises from Bastillo for "walking the talk" and going beyond traditional journalism by organizing an event that provides vital assistance to MSMEs, whom he referred to as modern-day heroes, likening them to overseas Filipino workers, the backbone of the country's economy.

Angkas founder and CEO George Royeca, a stalwart champion of the informal sector, cited "Tindahan ni Tarsee" as an enduring example of the Bayanihan spirit — a formidable strength of collaboration that blossomed during the pandemic that continues to uplift and inspire.

Launched in December 2020, "Tindahan ni Tarsee" initially thrived as an online initiative, serving as a vital platform for local MSMEs to stay afloat in the face of the pandemic's challenges.

Following the government's approval of face-to-face gatherings in 2022, the DAILY TRIBUNE expanded "Tindahan ni Tarsee" into physical spaces within malls, teaming up with Ayala Malls to offer MSMEs an expanded marketplace to flourish.