Aug 23 2007
AWC Charity Bazaar
The past month has been busy for me at work. First, Honey was detailed to Manila so in addition to my usual work, I also had to do his here in Cambodia (for the newcomers in this blog, Honey is also my officemate). Second, for some reason, my work has been heavier than usual. And third, this time of the year is usually busy for our office because it’s around the anniversary of ASEAN, of which both the Philippines and Cambodia are members. And this year was especially busy because it’s ASEAN’s 40th anniversary and our office as well as the other ASEAN embassies have been swamped with a series of activities. One of these activities is the AWC Charity Bazaar.
ASEAN embassies put up their stalls at the National Cultural Center where they displayed foods and products from their own countries or provinces.
In the Philippine booth, we sold beautiful handicrafts from the Philippines. We decorated our booth with WOW Philippines posters and a video of Philippine dances and performing arts. Here’s our booth with the girls from the office and their kids (I’m not there in case you’re wondering):
Our Filipino receptionist also sold homemade polvoron and cheese puto.
I also sold some of my handmade soap (I’ve never blogged about it, but I make handmade soap). Here’s some of my soap amidst Cambodian kramas.
Surprisingly, people flocked to our stall from the first hour and we made a little profit. All proceeds go to charity (thus, the name Charity Bazaar), specifically, the Cambodian Red Cross.
So you guys wanna see my little haul? First off is naturally… FOOD! I bought my favorite fish crackers and these sweet biscuits from the Malaysian Embassy. The fish crackers are like our chicharon I guess, except that Malaysians don’t eat pork. But I just love it and I could eat the whole pack if I don’t restrain myself. It’s a fun food to share though… when it’s shared, it’s never enough.
And then I went to the Cambodian merchants and found these beauties:
They’re Cambodian Topaz… just recently discovered in the mountains of Takao Province here in Cambodia. So far, only a few have been found and they say that supply doesn’t last. They’re very rare, and once supplies are exhausted, they’re going to fetch quite a big price. Right now, you won’t believe it but I bought six of those for only $3 per karat.
And then, well I thought that I’d get into the swarovsky crystal bandwagon. The pair of earrings are only $10 and the pendant is also $10.
Speaking of Swarovski crystals, there are more than 600 Swarovski crystals incorporated into the New York city scape design of this tennis outfit which Sharapova would wear during the fast-approaching US Open (see this article).
Technorati tags: ASEAN Women’s Circle
charity bazaar
Philippines
Cambodia
- WIG Bazaar
- Sharing Blessings
- Ladies Magazine
- Happy Merry Christmas
- ASEAN-CHINA Joint Cultural Performance
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ang gaganda ng booth ng philippines, ang cambodian topaz at nung pendants
wow you also make your own soap? siguro tipid yan sa grocery hihihi
have you also sold that here sa pinas?
I’m impressed! Toe, the soap maker
Ang mura ng swarovsky pendant at earrings and topaz! You hit the jackpot 
I like your booth 
You’ve never blogged about making your own soap? Perhaps you should.
Reminds me of the movie Fight Club. hehe
Wow! Andami mo palang hidden talent toe. How come you’ve never mentioned that you make soaps?? And nice topaz..looks very expensive. Mukhang ansaya-saya ng bazaar.
ang mura nga ng cambodian topaz, i wish i could go there para mabilhan ko si mahal
You’re made to do this kind of diplomat stuff, Toe.
Sharapova looks hot as always.
Nice Shots Toe!!!
Ay nako, don’t remind me of Swarovski crystals. My ex-wife collects them, she has — during the time we were married — amassed a a cabinet-full of those figurines of all shapes and sizes, including the special one-of-a kind collectibles. She never fails to buy a couple whenever she goes abroad. And all I get is a lousy t-shirt. Hmmph Buti sana kung masasanla niya ang mga yon… mwahahaha
I’ve tasted Malasian fish crackers, masarap yan. And unless puno siya ng MSG, it’s notas fattening as chicharon…
Wow! You do your own soap!
Yes, you should blog about this. I have no idea how soap is made.
wow…i love the topaz. and you’re right, it is still cheap. i also like your necklace and earring set. love the design. masarap yang fish crackers na yan.
naku, very enterprising ka pala Toe. You make handmade soap. Maganda negosyo yan. Pwede mo na yan palakihin tapos export mo.
I’m impressed by the homemade soap
ang galing !
wow i like those Cambodian topaz beauties, birthstone ko kasi yang topaz. i love going to cultural fairs, maraming good finds, mapapabili ka talaga esp. mga butingtings and i am curious to taste food from other countries.
curious pala ako how you made your handmade soap, sana magpost ka rin how to do it, pero baka top business secret yun pala.
Yup, wil is right, toe, you’re one step closer to making a bomb =) soap-making is one skill I definitely want to learn. Is it hard?
gusto ko yung cambodian topaz! kse topaz birthstone ko. hehehe.
galing naman nung chicharon. healthier version kse hindi siya pork. hehe ;p
Neat event! We could actually see the showcase of each country here. Ang mura naman nyang Cambodian Topaz. Sana pala nakabili ako ng ganyan bago tumaas ang market value. Hehe
Wow I like the cheese puto & pulvoron ! I envy you could eat what you want, wala nyan dito sa Pransya ! But i guess there are Pinoys who make homemade pastries too ! I am surprised about the price of swarovsky crystal, dito kasi it’s expensive eh ! NICE BOOTH
!
I love to go to these kind of things and see the interesting products and handicrafts esp sampling the different foods each country has to offer
In one of the fairs here in Toronto I bought a real and neat looking silk necktie from the Thai booth for an unbelievable price 
Ayyyy, tapos na ang bazaar? Wala nang part 2?
Sayang!
great haul you had there, Toe, esp the topaz and the pendants. and you said you make soaps, too? wow–a blogger soap maker. how about candles?
kewl!!!
Toe you should blog about your soaps you know…just don’t disclose your trade secret hehe
This was nice – it was like going to the charity bazaar. I would have loved to do my Christmas shopping there … with everything going to charity, that’d be a bonus!
And yes, I agree with Verns – blog about your handmade soap. I am very sure that would be very very interesting!
Carlotta, I often wear the swarovski crystals now. I’m still figuring out what I want to do with the cambodian topaz. I haven’t really started my soap yet. I just make it for gifts and for bazaars like these. I use it everyday though and I quite like it.
Momoftwo, thanks! Yeah, I made quite a good haul that day.
The staff did quite a good job with the booth, didn’t they? 
Wil, that’s because since I started blogging, I never had time to make soap anymore… hehe!
But I plan to go back to it next year when I go back to the Philippines. I still have a lot in stock though and I use it everyday. 
Ladybug, you know me… lots of talents… I can also swallow swords and walk on fire… hehe!
I think that the Cambodian Topaz would be quite expensive soon because they’re so rare.
Iskoo, you can find all the precious stones here except diamonds… they mine sapphire, rubbies, garnet, zirconium, etc.. All quite cheap as long as you know how and where to buy.
Rey, oh I’m not really sure if it’s for me.
All men love Sharapova. 
Thanks ChaCha
Snglguy, hahaha… yeah, I know about your ex’s swarovski crystals.
They’re cheaper here I think but I still prefer real diamonds.. ayun masasanla. Hrhrhr! 
Syney, it’s easy! You just need the right amounts of lye, oil, and water… and you have soap.
I learned it on the Internet and I was able to make my own recipes. 
Ipanema, I make soaps in very small batches… only 6 bars to a batch, so it’s a bit expensive. I have fun making it though I’ve been having difficulty looking for ingredients lately. When I go back to Manila, I’ll probably start doing more and selling a little.
Oh, I also loved the food from the Brunei stall.. they also had fish and shrimp crackers and sweets made of pandan and taro. 
Waaa! I miss shopping in PP! The booth looks good! Sounds fun, the bazaar! Ganda ng blocking and showcasing ng soaps mo, heheh.
Pining, it’s quite easy really. I got interested in it because the idea of making my own soap was really fascinating to me.
Carey, you should try the international bazaar every october…. coffee, wines from different countries at rock-bottom prizes. I think they do it at the World Trade Center in Buendia.
I learned how to make soap through the Internet… so it’s no secret really. 
When I start to make it again, I’ll blog about it. I’m having difficulty finding ingredients lately though.
Jap, it’s very easy making handmade soap. I just researched it on the Internet.
Handling lye is very difficult. You have to know how to mix it with the water. And you also have to protect yourself with gloves and goggles.
Tin-Tin, there’s also a blue version of that Cambodian topaz. It’s also very pretty. Hehe… I also tell myself na healthier version yun kc fish.
Ferdz, balik ka na dito.
Haze, we have about 3 Filipino restaurants here so it’s easy to avail of Filipino food.
Yes, the swarovski crystals here are very reasonably-priced. 
BW oh, yes… thai silk is very nice… that must have been a great-looking tie.
ZJ, may WIG bazaar pa sa December… but it’s kind of expensive no?
SexyMom, no I don’t make candles… I think you have to be more artistic for that.
Soap is easier and more straightforward. 
Verns, it’s no secret really since I learned how to make soap through the Internet.
And it’s not as if I make money out of it… but maybe someday. 
Bugsybee, yeah… no-guilt shopping as proceeds go to charity.
I’ll blog about it the next time I make it again… problem is, I’m having a little trouble with lye, which is one of the main ingredients. I couldn’t seem to find it around here anymore. 
Ces, yeah… I love that picture of my handmade soaps.
toe, am interested in your soap. too bad, you are not nearby so i can buy it from you. i like to use those kind of soaps for bathing. di ba, mas healthy yan? and how do you make soap?
Belle, yes, they’re very healthy because they’re made from all-natural ingredients. Soap-making is very easy… you just need to combine lye, oils, and water… and add in other ingredients like essential oils, etc.. I just learned through the Internet Belle. I’m not very active now because I’m having difficulty finding the lye.
ate toe, bilhan mo ako nung blue na cambodian topaz. tapos bigay mo saken , pagbalik mo dito. dun na din kita bayatan
Sure tin-tin! Remind me before I go home ha… next year pa naman e.