What better way to help budding Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program entrepreneurs than to promote their products through a nationwide holiday bazaar?

Last Sunday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted the ​PaskuJuan 2015 simultaneously in various parts of the country.​ PaskuJuan is a bazaar for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who are part of DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

In the National Capital Region (NCR), Pantawid Pamilya entrepreneurs from the 17 regions participated and sold their products in the bazaar at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

Unique products such as squash noodles from Zamboanga del Norte; shell craft from Guian, Eastern Samar; handmade jute slippers from Bicol;  dried fish from Pangasinan; and decorative flowers made of corn husk were the best sellers.

Coffee from the Cordillera; handmade trays from Northern Mindanao; brooms from Leyte; and processed food from Manila and Lucban were equally patronized by the public.

“The success of PaskuJuan last year prompted us to institutionalize it as a yearly activity. It is one way of helping the beneficiaries market their products to the public,” DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said. “Those who bought at the PaskuJuan also helped the families earn.”

Grateful for a chance to earn

The beneficiaries were all smiles during the bazaar as they sold their products to patrons of Araneta Center. They said they are grateful for such activities as they profit better than their ordinary selling day.

Maria Marissa Alperez, who sold doormats, shared, “Mas malakas ang kita dito sa bazaar kumpara sa normal na araw (I earned more here in the bazaar compared to ordinary selling days).”

Another beneficiary, Jesusana Moya of Pateros, said, “Nagpapasalamat po ako sa DSWD dahil sa pagbibigay nila sa amin ng tulong. Dahil sa SLP, natulungan ko po ang aking pamilya. Nagpapasalamat din po ako at naimbitahan po kami at nakabenta kami ng marami (I am grateful to DSWD for the help extended to our family through the SLP, and for organizing this bazaar where we sold a lot of our products)​.​”

​Julius Bulawon, Project Development Officer, accompanied the beneficiaries from Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro. He provides technical assistance to the beneficiaries who formed the Barahan Corn Husk Handicraft Association. Their products include colorful decorative flowers made of corn husk.

“Malaking tulong po itong PaskuJuan sa mga beneficiaries kasi may pagkakataon sila na maipakilala ang kanilang produkto at magkaroon ng linkage sa mga kliyente (This PaskuJuan is a big help  to the beneficiaries as it provides them the opportunity to introduce their products and to have linkage with possible clients),” Julius said.

Julius noted that the 50 members of the association, who used to be plain housewives, are now able to bring extra income to their family. He also observed that the mothers have gained more self-confidence in dealing with the public as demonstrated by their enthusiasm to join bazaars and product fairs.

“Just last month, some of the mothers participated in the bazaar at the Mega Trade Hall in SM Megamall.  They were there by themselves but they were able to sell their products,” Julius proudly shared.

Talented beneficiaries

PaskuJuan did not only bring out the entrepreneurial and marketing skills of the beneficiaries, it also served as a venue for them to showcase their talents.

Sixteen groups of beneficiaries competed during the 4-hour talent contest which also drew attention from passersby and buyers.

Beneficiaries from Taguig emerged as the big winner.

SLP is a community-based capacity building program that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of beneficiaries.

Under the Microenterprise Development Track of SLP, partners are provided with capital assistance of P10,000 each. Aside from this, it also looks at available resources and accessible markets for the beneficiaries, such as the product bazaar.

From January 2011 to October 2015, SLP has served a total of 851,505 families wherein 87 percent or 740,665 are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and 13 percent or 110,840 are non-Pantawid Pamilya households assessed as poor through the Listahanan or database of poor families. ###