10 November 2005 – In preparation for the International Bazaar which will be held at the World Trade Center Manila on 20 November, the IBF held its General Meeting for the participants from the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and Briefing for the Local Participants on 8 November 2005 at the Bulwagang Blas F. Ople at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was presided by Mrs. Sylvia J. Farolan, Vice-Chairperson, IBF on behalf of the over-all Chairperson Mrs, Lovely Rosie T. Romulo..
 
According to the IBF, a total of 83 booths has been allotted to the Diplomatic Corps, while 14 booths were allotted to Honorary Consulates. The list of Embassies participating in this year’s International Bazaar are the following: Belgium, Brunei, Chile, China, Cuba, European Union, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Panama, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, Venezuela and Vietnam.  The Honorary Consulates participating in the International Bazaar 2005 are the following: Bulgaria, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Lebanon, Maldives, Monaco, Morocco, Oman, Peru and Togo.

The IBF also announced the annual raffle of prizes such as two round trip tickets to Hong Kong on Business Class donated by Philippine Airlines and a round trip airline ticket Manila-Xiamen-Manila, donated by Ambassador Wu Hongbo of the People’s Republic of China. The Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Rustan’s Marketing Corporation, UNILEVER Phils., The Peninsula Manila, Malaysian Airlines, JEWELMER, Korean Airlines and Tesoro’s Marketing are among the corporate donors to provide generous raffle prizes.

The International Bazaar Foundation has been organizing the annual fund raising activity for the past thirty-nine years. Products unique to the country each participating Embassy can be purchased at very reasonable prices. The proceeds of the International Bazaar will go to the poor and less privileged sectors of Philippine society through donations of medical equipment, scholarship grants and livelihood projects. END