The annual St. James Bazaar, the biggest Christmas market south of Manila, has become an annual prime shopping event. On its 25th year, it will be held on Nov. 24 to 27with more than 500 concessionaires gathered under huge tents at the St. James Parking Lot and at the Cuenca Community Center, Ayala Alabang Village.
Manufacturers, exporters and artisans from various regions offer Christmas accessories, home décor, local and imported fashion accessories, jewelry, export overruns, artworks, natural personal care products.
There is also a Food Pavilion participated in by such popular food outlets as Amici, Barrio Fiesta, Brothers Burger, Army Navy, Ineng’s Special Bbq, Ellies Roasted Calf, Cocohut Fried Chicken, H-Cuisine, Odd Balls, Cheesesteak Shop, Saibachi, Jamaican Pattie, Coolman Halo Halo to name a few.
The bazaar is enlivened with various activities such as games and raffles where major prizes will be given away everyday.
Unlike other bazaars wherein customers pay cash, St. James makes it easy for customers to pay with Mastercard and Visa or withdraw cash from the UCPB Mobile ATM, Metrobank ATM and other ATMs .
The Bazaar Committee is composed of chairpersons Mimi Valerio and daughter Nikki Valerio; St. James Foundation President Manny Gonzales; parish priest Msgr. Allen Aganon, Edza Gonzales and Titang Montinola.
Proceeds of this four-day bazaar will be for the benefit of the St. James Parish Foundation, Inc., a supporting organization whose purpose has been to build the community parish church and its supporting structure.
St. James Bazaar was established in 1991 to raise money to build St. James the Great Parish Church in Ayala Alabang Village, whose architecture was inspired by the grand churches in Europe. The project was completed in 1995. Over the years, the income from the bazaar has allowed the foundation to acquire the St. James Parking Lot on Cuenca Street corner Nasugbu, one of the bazaar venues.
St. James Bazaar is supported by Globe Broadband, Purefoods Hotdogs, Petron, Tent World, Bibingkinitan, AC Corporation, Diamond Rent a Car, Buenaflor Insurance, Pronto Auto Services, Play & Display and Superstore Inc.