THE Christmas Season is in the air. Though it is pandemic, we are catching the excitement after the Church lighted the Advent candles. When I go home at night, when I see the Christmas lights lighted in our neighborhood, I also switch on my Christmas lights to brighten a seemingly bleak season because of the pandemic.
With this then is the Christmas buying and selling of items to give away to friends and family. People now have planned to do Baratilyos, Christmas showcases of micro, small, medium enterprises (MSMEs), Plantitos and Plantitas, and more ways to draw people to part with their money to buy gifts and tokens for Christmas.
Through the partnership of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the City of Baguio, there is a market showcase in Session Road every Sunday of the month. On the part of the city, we are showcasing the Market to Home Delivery Association, the Micro-Enterprise alternative livelihood project and the farmer organizations of the Barangay Agri Fisheries Council. These three groups have products that include Cordillera wear, souvenir items, woven product, fresh fruits and vegetables, cooked food and pastries, drinks and native snacks, plants and plantitas, mushroom fruiting bags and strawberry runners and many more.
When DTI called me up for the city’s participation, I immediately contacted local vendors and farmers to participate. And lo and behold, in the December 13 event where I personally went we saw the farmers and vendors so willing to sell but still, the presentation needs to be improved to make it a welcoming sight to the buyer. Some need to be taught how to make price tags, on the spot training. Even in the arrangement of their products, there were some adjustments to make it presentable. We were able to fill in 21 tents, some of them were showcasing for the first time.
It is breaking grounds for those who have attended the showcasing for the first time. It is giving them opportunities for their products to be introduced to a wider audience. It is so heart-touching to see them try to dress up tables with curtains, bring out their stands and hangers... it is to more creative and imbibing a new mindset of marketing products. It is introducing them to the online business, where we started them with the group chats and barangay home delivery system. We hope come this Sunday we will have better formats and presentation of products. With better organizing and better selling skills, some of the farmers are still shy in selling and promoting their products. It is a new thing for them, as they are just used to tilling the soil and producing food for people, not necessarily marketing. It is indeed a breakthrough for them and treading it so carefully and slowly.
However, there are still some politicians who are so politicized and think everything is politics. They are impediments to a vibrant society.
That is not how a lot of people think.
For me, this is service for the better Baguio, a helping hand to those who are in need, a step to improve the economy, a commitment to the general public in small steps to recovery and stability. It is helping the cope mentally and psychologically amidst a time of uncertainty. At the time we started, I was not even involved. Now with never guidelines, my office is now the center for the orientation and assisting the participants to comply with their special permits and guidance.
The participating organization members are registered with DTI and sometimes with DOLE, some have business permits and special permits, some just a special permit. With making my office the center, then we will be working closely with the PESO Office with regards to the Micro Enterprise Alternative Livelihood project, with the city planning with regards to the Market to Home and the City Vet and Agri Office for the farmers. We hope to gain more grounds in serving and inspiring. We pray for better appreciation and commitment from others.