MANILA, Philippines - Chorizos from Spain, Murano glass jewelry from Italy, porcelain and animé goods from Japan, silk blouses from Thailand, handicraft from South Africa and homemade Turkish baklava. These are just some of the offerings of the 42nd annual bazaar of the International Bazaar Foundation (IBF).

To be held on Nov. 16, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), CCP Complex in Pasay City, the annual event organized by the IBF with the Spouses of the Heads of Mission (Shom) hopes to match, if not surpass, last year?s record of P8 million revenues from the one-day bazaar.

The bazaar is a fundraiser that benefits the charity projects of the IBF, which include college scholarships, purchase of new equipment for hospitals, school trainings and emergency relief efforts.

Its annual partners for this project are the diplomatic and consular missions in Manila, which bring in select and unique products from their home countries, making it a distinctive marketplace that draws in a good crowd of discerning buyers.

Expected to participate this year are 35 members of the diplomatic corps, nine members of the consular corps and 112 local participants including 30 nongovernmental organizations.

?They?re more enthusiastic each year,? says IBF overall chair Lovely Romulo, referring to the envoys? wives, during a preview of the bazaar items this week. ?They?re really trying their best to help our countrymen.?

Romulo lauds the efforts of Cosetta Cassin-Fedele, wife of the Italian ambassador, who, as last year?s Shom president, raised P8 million, with P5-million net for the IBF projects.

?With this year?s [economic] situation, we don?t expect to raise that much,? Romulo says. ?But we?re still hoping. You never know.?

?We will try our best,? said new Shom president Yasuko Katsura, the spouse of the Japanese envoy. ?But it?s not just about raising money. Above all, we must make it enjoyable for everyone participating so they would join again next year.?

Recipients

Some of the participants are quite generous that they donate the entirety of their sales, according to IBF president Sylvia Farolan. Last year?s recipients were the Philippine Christian Foundation, Handicap International Philippines, Daughters of the Mary Help of Christians, the Rizal Medical Center, the Association of the Rights of Children in Southeast Asia and the Community and Family Services International.

Farolan notes France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea and the Asean countries as some of the more popular booths annually. Romulo adds Spain?s chorizos are always bestsellers. The United States has stopped joining ?since the American Women?s Club is busy doing its own projects, and they?re doing enough [for charity] on their own,? says Farolan. The IBF hopes countries like Australia and New Zealand will join in future bazaars.

Entrance ticket to the bazaar is P100, with a separate raffle ticket at P50. Up for grabs are hotel accommodations, airline tickets to local and international destinations, plus premium items from donors like Rustan?s, Makati Shangri-La, Bench, Unilever, among others.