This year’s PaskuJuan Bazaar and Festival showcasing different products of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 (DSWD FO1) accumulated a total sales of P73,204.00.

30 Self Kaunlaran Associations (SKA) and SLP Associations from Pangasinan (16), La Union (9), Ilocos Norte (3), and Ilocos SUr (2) displayed their own products for sale. They offered  the public wellness and massage spa, food delicacies, house decors, cosmetic services, bamboo novelty items, fermented products, organic fruits and vegetables, among others.

Each concessionary was entitled to its own sales.

Each SKA and SLP Association designed their own booth with artistry in which the Best Christmas Tree and Best Dressed Booth were adjudged.

RMJ Fish Longganisa and Embutido Association from Magsingal, Ilocos Sur was announced as the Best Christmas Tree. Anda KLAP Kabaraybayan Livelihood Association Program was hailed the winner for Best Dressed Booth. They were awarded with cash prize of P3,500.00 each.

Entries were judged according to originality of Christmas theme, resourcefulness and creativity, continuity and harmony of design, and over-all impact.

SLP Staff ramped in their Filipiniana attire as a prelude to the DSWD Fashion Show featuring SLP Products by selected beneficiaries representing their own association.   Joshua Conde representing Out of School Youths from Bolinao, Pangasinan and Bernice Talia Tabion Guadiz representing Fabric Remnants of Laoac SKA were the winners of the Fashion Show with P3,500.00 each.

Photo contest entries were also displayed for public viewing and judging. Entries highlighted SLP in action. Winning entries were picked based on creativity and originality, composition, artistic merit, content, and story relevance.

SLP Partners from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Luzon Technology and Skills Development Center, First Asia Career Education, Globe Telecom, Smart Telecommunications, and PJ Zambrano Marketing Inc. along with other DSWD Personnel served as judges.

DSWD staff and partners all together enjoyed a boodle fight. Mothers’ Best Club SLPA, a newly formed SLP association, rendered catering services.

PaskuJuan Bazaar and Festival is regularly conducted by DSWD every Christmas season through SLP to penetrate larger market opportunities for SLP products. (by: Jaesem Ryan A. Gaces, Information Officer II/Pantawid Pamilya with reports from Roger Jimenez, SLP Training Officer)