|
Around-the-World Shopping in 10 Hours
|
Silver table-top knick-knacks from Laos, exotic jewelry from Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Italian perfume, New Zealand wines and cheeses, Chilean wines and juices and fresh protea from South Africa, on the opposite side of the globe — all will be shipped to Manila in a couple of months.
Along with the goods from 43 countries, the best the Philippines has to offer will also be on sale at the 41st International Bazaar on November 25.
Spearheaded by the
|
|
through the years,” since its inception in 1966.
“You can only buy such a worldwide array of items itn only one place—the International Bazaar,” Letty Syquia, says a trustee of the foundation and currently the chairperson of the Public Relations Committee, she points out that this is an alternative to traveling to 43 countries to shop.
It’s not easy putting together such an aggregation of global goods. Flying in fresh protea flowers, for example, is a novel
|
|
International Bazaar Foundation (IBF), Spouses of the Heads of Mission (SHOM) as well as the members of the Consular Corps, the annual bazaar supports thousands of Filipino beneficiaries. |
Jill Mary Beckingham, Christina Vermeulen, Artie Pine and Johanna Montero |
idea thought up by Chrisna Vermeulen, SHOM secretary and wife of South African Ambassador Pieter Andries Vermeulen.
Jill Mary Beckingham and Arti Pine, |
|
Livelihood learning has trained prize-winning lady bartenders, sent multitudes of children to school, built 15 Gawad Kalinga houses from SHOM proceeds, purchased a life-saving defibrillators for government hospitals, among others. Guinsaugon, Leyte landslide victims were the recipients, via the National Disaster Coordinating Council, of a significant sum of money from the IBF to help them rehabilitate.
In one of their tips to a project area, SHOM president Johanna Stegen de Montero, wife of Jorge Montero Figueroa, the Chilean Ambassador, recalls that a one-legged man asked her, “Please, can you help me? I need a leg.” Madame Montero said “Okay,” and she got him prosthetics.
Rosie Lovely T. Romulo, chairperson of the IBF says that “the nurturing role of women from all four corners of the globe allows the IBF to flourish and blossom |
|
wives of the British and the New Zealand ambassadors, Pieter Andries Vermeulen.
Jill Mary Beckingham and Arti Pine, wives of the British and the New Zealand ambassadors, respectively, together with Johanna Montero and Christina Vermeulen, sipping tea together one morning, were too thrilled about being able to help the needy, with no time to complain about all the work involved in tandem with the IBF to pull off the bazaar. Their reward is wrought on the happy faces of their grateful beneficiaries, and the camaraderie shared among the women to make it all happen.
The much-awaited event will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center Forums I, II, III, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, Roxas Boulevard, 1307 Pasay City, on Sunday, November 25 from 9am to 7pm. For entrance and raffle tickets, and inquiries, please call the IBF Secretariat at Nos. (02) 834–3036 or 834–3054 |
|
|
Nomad Sports Hosts International Football Tournament on Nov 17 & 18
|
On November 17 and 18 Nomad Sports Club in Merville, Paranaque will host the 22nd Annual International 6-a-side Football Tournament. About 32 teams from 14 countries from as far as Scotland, South Africa, India and Abu Dhabi will descend on Nomads and Manila for two days of highly competitive and good spirited football and socializing.
Inspired by the Hong Kong 7s in 1987, Albert Robert, former club president, started the tournament with just six teams. By 1996 this number had grown to 32 teams and the same number is expected at this year’s event.
Following his retirement and departure from the Philippines, Albert handed over the organization to the current football section captain, Andy Yates. With a reputation as one of the best organized and most well known tournaments in Asia there is a lot of pressure |
|
on Andy to get things right this year.
Last year’s winners, HKDC Mobsters will start the competition as favorites, with tournament hosts Manila Nomads, winners in 2005, also expected to do well. A strong showing is also expected from the highly competitive teams from Shanghai, Taipei and Hong Kong.
Sponsors of this year’s event include, Go Industry Philippines, Santa Fe Relocation Services, True Blue Tools, Lufthansa, Secomp Inc, Digiprint, Murphys Irish Pub, Sinclair James International, Oxford Suites Makati, Big Apple Dive Resort and LA Café.
Games will start at 10am on Saturday Nov. 17 with the finals scheduled for Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18. Guests are welcome at the club during this weekend. For more information, check out its website at www.nomadsportsclub.com |
Silvia’s Book: The Expats’ Guide to Manila 2nd Edition Out this Month |
Silvia’s back with even more tips, tricks, haunts and how-to’s for an expat’s first few years in the Philippines.
After its hugely successful first edition, Silvia’s Book: The Expats’ Guide to Manila hits bookstores once again this third week of November, packing even more punch.
Compiled by Silvia Davalos, Marit Yuchengco and Lizzie Zobel, the second edition now has a section devoted solely to kids (and kids at heart)—from |
|
sports and arts classes to toys and trips. Devoted to art? Troop to various museums in the metro. Got a mental picture of your dream home? Let some of the country’s best architects turn it into a reality.
Life in a new country means countless details that lead to countless questions—and Silvia’s Book hopes to continue answering them by being an indispensable guide for expats in the Philippines. |
|
