THIS YEAR’S Designer’s Holiday Bazaar (DHB) held its first stop in Davao City at the Ayala Malls Abreeza Activity Center on Thursday afternoon, Sept 3, kicking off a four-day celebration of Filipino culture, local craftsmanship, and modern artistry.
DHB’s first event outside Metro Manila drew exhibitors and premier creators from across the Philippines, bringing products in fashion, handmade goods, food and beverages, and home decor.
The bazaar also provides a venue to support local artists and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), while honoring rich Filipino heritage in line with its theme, “Sinag.”
It also includes a special live performance choreographed by national artist Agnes Locsin, held on Saturday, Sept 5.
The opening ceremony was attended by founders Bea Zobel de Ayala Jr. and Sofia Zobel-Elizalde together with key representatives of Ayala Malls Abreeza, guests, and stakeholders.
During an interview, Sofia Zobel-Elizalde shared that they decided to bring DHB to Davao City for Davaoenos to see new products from Manila since there are already many bazaars held there.
“I’ve always found the Davao audience to be so warm, so cultured, very appreciative. So we said, you know, let’s start in Davao and see how it goes and let this be our first provincial mall. And so far, we’re so happy to be here, and people seem so happy and appreciative to have DHB here, so it’s been going very well,” Zobel-Elizalde said.
She also said that the event can help to discover emerging talents in Davao, where they will have the opportunity to feature their items in Manila.
More than just a holiday marketplace, DHB is a shopping for a purpose where proceeds of the event will go directly to the beneficiaries of the Ayala Foundation and Steps Scholarship Foundation to fund academic and dance scholarships.
