25 Years of Joy, Giving, and Filipino Christmas Spirit: World Bazaar Festival Marks Its Silver Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Every Christmas season, there is a familiar warmth that fills the air. The glow of parols, the sound of carols, and the joy of coming together. For twenty-five years, one event has captured that spirit and turned it into a beloved Filipino tradition: the World Bazaar Festival.

This 2025, the World Bazaar Festival celebrates its Silver Anniversary, marking twenty-five years of turning shopping into sharing and gatherings into lasting memories.

What began in 2001 as a humble holiday bazaar has grown into the country’s biggest, grandest and longest running Christmas charity event. Each year, it brings families, friends, and communities together under one roof at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. Through the years, it has become more than just a destination. It has become a part of how Filipinos celebrate the season.

From December 12 to 21, 2025, the World Bazaar Festival will once again open its doors to hundreds of local entrepreneurs, global brands, and creative artisans. Visitors can explore a wide selection of heartfelt handmade gifts, festive décor, and culinary delights. Every corner will be filled with the sights, sounds, and flavors that make Christmas in the Philippines truly special.

But beyond the sparkle and the shopping, the festival has always been about something deeper: the joy of giving. Organized by Worldbex Services International for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation, the event continues to uphold its mission of “Shop and Share.” Every visit and every purchase helps support charitable programs across the country.

This year’s Silver Anniversary Edition will be a nostalgic celebration filled with exhibits, live performances, and interactive installations that honor the people and stories that shaped the World Bazaar Festival through the years. Visitors can relive the magic of their first bazaar visit or create new memories with loved ones while being part of a cause that continues to make an impact.

For twenty-five years, the World Bazaar Festival has been more than just a shopping event. It has been a celebration of Filipino generosity, creativity, and connection. It is where laughter fills the halls, where gifts carry meaning, and where the spirit of Christmas feels most alive.

The 25th World Bazaar Festival runs from December 12 to 21, 2025, open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

To secure your tickets and learn more, visit www.worldbazaarfestival.com or follow @WorldBazaarFestival on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

DepEd underscores PBBM’s promise to prioritize education in Albay school visit, PhilSports inauguration

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PASIG CITY, 19 November 2025 -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday reaffirmed that education remains central to the administration’s agenda, citing President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s back-to-back engagements in Albay and Pasig City as the national government focuses on learners’ welfare, disaster readiness, and youth development.



During the President’s briefing at Cararayan-Naga Elementary School in Tiwi, Albay on Tuesday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted the administration’s directive to accelerate relief efforts, reassess damaged infrastructure, and provide psychosocial support for affected families, especially children who have experienced trauma. DepEd also deployed learning kits to evacuation centers to ensure continuity of education while communities recover.

“Mandato natin sa DepEd na tiyakin na tiyakin na ligtas ang ating mga mag-aaral, at nabibigay ang kanilang mga kinakailangan, lalo sa panahon ng sakuna. The President’s emphasis on the welfare of children and the continuity of education reinforces our work on the ground,” Sec. Angara said.


On Wednesday, Sec. Angara also joined President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, and Philippine Olympics Committee (POC) President Abraham N. Tolentino in Pasig City for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the refurbished PhilSports Complex, strengthening the government’s broader efforts to integrate sports development into holistic education.


The upgraded complex features improved dormitories, a redesigned Philippine Sports Museum, rehabilitated aquatic facilities, and modernized PSC offices. The improvements aim to support high-performance athletes while expanding access to youth sports programs nationwide.


In his message, Sec. Angara emphasized the significance of renewed sports spaces for DepEd’s grassroot sports programs.

“Sa loob ng maraming dekada, ang iba’t ibang sports complex sa bansa ang nagsilbing tunay na tahanan ng ating mga pambatong atleta,” Angara said. “With the country hosting the first-ever FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup starting this Friday, DepEd gives its full support to PSC and the Marcos administration in strengthening sports programs to uplift the Filipino spirit of discipline and excellence.”


DepEd said the day’s events highlight the complementary roles of disaster response, youth development, and infrastructure improvement in fulfilling the administration’s education-centered vision.


“Whether in evacuation centers or national training grounds, the direction is clear—education, child welfare, and youth development remain at the core of government action,” Angara said.

Eating More, Growing Less: The Crisis of Stagnant Farms and the Widening Philippine Rice Gap

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The Philippines is facing a critical tipping point. A startling disparity has emerged between the Filipino appetite and the capacity of the nation's farmers to feed it. In 2022 alone, Filipinos consumed 2.3 million metric tons more rice than the country produced. This staggering 18% shortfall has locked the nation into a deepening dependence on imported rice, effectively stalling years of government attempts to achieve self-sufficiency.

New research from Ateneo de Manila University’s John Gokongwei School of Management and Department of Environmental Science exposes the root of this crisis: a national rice output that has remained largely stagnant since 2017.

The Decade of Stagnation

The numbers paint a sobering picture of an industry struggling to keep pace with a growing nation. In the ten years leading up to 2023:

Production vs. Demand: Total production of palay (unmilled rice) grew by a meager 9% (from 18.4 to 20.1 million metric tons), failing to match the rise in population and consumption.

Idle Lands: Rice farmland expansion was virtually nonexistent, increasing by just 1%.

Slow Yields: Average yields improved by only 7%, moving from 3.9 to 4.2 metric tons per hectare.

Dispelling the "Myth of Urbanization"

For years, a common narrative has suggested that sprawling concrete cities are eating up the country's rice paddies. The researchers, however, have debunked this. They found no strong evidence that city expansion is the primary reason for farmland stagnation.

Instead, the true enemies of production are far more systemic and brutal: a combination of limited land expansion, slow yield growth, climate shocks, and uneven public investment.

A Tale of Two Archipelagos: Feast and Famine

The research reveals that the Philippines is not experiencing this crisis uniformly; rather, the data exposes sharp, dramatic regional contrasts.

The Regions in Retreat Between 2018 and 2023, some regions faced a collapse in production. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) saw output plummet by 15% and 11% respectively. These declines were driven by a "perfect storm" of challenges:

Loss of rice farmland.

Repeated typhoons and punishing droughts.

Farmers abandoning rice to switch to more profitable crops.

The Unexpected Victors Conversely, other regions defied the trend with spectacular growth. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) achieved a massive 40% increase in rice output. Cagayan Valley (Region II) and Ilocos (Region I) also posted significant gains of 27% and 16%.

These successes were not accidental. They were the result of:

Infrastructure: Expanded irrigation systems and farm mechanization.

Support: Improved seed programs and targeted regional initiatives.

Peace Dividends: In the specific case of BARMM, the surge is linked to dedicated investments and the political stability achieved in the region.

The Road Ahead: Targeted Strategy Over Blanket Policy

The authors of the study note that blanket national programs, such as the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), have been insufficient to lift the productivity of lagging regions.

To close the widening deficit, the researchers argue that the Philippines must pivot toward regionally tailored, climate-resilient strategies. This includes:

Stronger irrigation systems.

Better-targeted support services.

Financial measures to lower costs for farmers.

There is still reason for hope. The success of regions like BARMM and Cagayan Valley provides a blueprint for the rest of the nation. With the right mix of policies and investments, the researchers remain optimistic that local rice production can grow again, finally narrowing the country's dependence on foreign grain.