Colette & Monique share their volunteer experience

Colette Forma (leftmost) on a meeting with the G&G team: (L-R) Greg Perez,
Executive Director; Michael Golsworthy, AYAD Volunteer; Marge Obligacion,
 In-House Designer  at the Gifts & Graces office

In April 2011, our company Moodies celebrated its 10th anniversary. A special moment that we wanted to mark in a meaningful way. Around the same time, we met SharePeople, an organisation that connects social entrepreneurs in developing countries with European professionals in various fields. They suggested we volunteer for Gifts & Graces, who were in need of a retail concept for their fair trade products.

As our own business had to continue as well, only one of us could go and work at G&G. Colette was the lucky one, but of course she was also the one who had to leave behind her family and get all the vaccinations J. At G&G, Colette met a professional and very dedicated team with a clear look on their business. They introduced her to some of the community workers. A quote from her diary:

"I was very impressed by all the communities I visited. For example, Boy Buenafe, the artist that decorates the woven paper bags. He lives in a very poor neighbourhood. The streets are full of dogs, chicken, laundry, waste and junk. This is where the children play… We entered the artist's house by a very small staircase. His 'studio' consisted of a table full of working materials, next to the kitchen. It was really impressive that in this small workspace he creates the pictures on the G&G bags, one by one and all by hand. The result is unique and of high quality – something to be proud of!"

What inspired us most, is that G&G does not give such communities one big order once, but aims to give them continues orders. Also, they help to improve the quality of their products and in general, to build their business. This way, people get a real chance to build a live for themselves, their familiy and their kids.

It has been a very rewarding experience, to add a little of our knowledge and experience to G&G. And we learned a lot ourselves as well! We will tell you more about the job we did next time.

Colette Forma and Monique are the managing directors of Moodies, a Dutch agency that works for large corporate clients. We make sure our client's target groups are receptive to their message. Our moodmaking activities concentrate on internal and external communications, as wel as brand experience and interior design.

Organize Your Life

Does your home look like it;s been hit by a tornado? You're going to need things to help you organize. Buy fair trade products to get your life in order!

Mangyan Cloth Organizer

Put your things in little compartments, roll it up, tie it around and put it away!
Easy tidy tip!

Wooden Desk & Drawer Organizers

Compartmentalizing is the secret to a well organized life. Have a place for everything and everything in its place with these desk/drawer organizers.

Retail Partner Recap: The Lobby Shop at Edsa

Do you know that Gifts & Graces products are available in your favorite retail stores? In fact if you are staying at the Edsa Shangri - la Hotel you can drop by The Lobby Shop and get some of our fair trade products.

Here they are on the shelf of The Lobby Shop:

G&G Products at The Lobby Shop are:

Retaso Stuffed Toys

boat bags

and our handpainted newspaper bags:

Get them while it hasn't been snatched up yet!

Gifts & Graces in the Santa Clara University Blog!

Gifts & Graces' Executive Director, Greg Perez, is a Global Social Benefit Incubator '09 Alumna.

As such, Greg's success of pushing for Fair Trade Certification for Gifts and Graces was lauded in the Santa Clara University Blog.

Thank you Santa Clara University & GSBI for featuring the success of your alumna and in the process helping spread our advocacy of livelihood support & fair trade!!

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If you want to feature Gifts & Graces in your blog or website to help us spread our advocacy

please don't hesitate to contact us at marketing@giftsandgraces.com or ring us at 759-2525!

Producer Spotlight: Liezel Quismorio of FCED

As one of eight siblings, Liezel Quismoro dreamt of a better life. She left her hometown of Makato, Aklan with high hopes of bettering her lot in life. She came to Manila to study programming at STI but abandoned the dream of becoming an IT professional when she realized that encoding and programming was not for her.

Instead of being in front of computers, what Ate Liezel really wanted was to be in front of a sewing machine. She wanted so badly to learn how to sew but failed to get into the free training in TESDA. She ended up working for an aunt instead who sold clothes and who taught her basic sewing skills.

It was seven years ago that she joined FCED. Eventually her sewing improved and she learned additional skills like beadwork which she learned form Firma owner Lito Vijandre and rag- weaving which she is learning from Rags 2 Riches.

She expresses her gratitude to Gifts and Graces for helping them find work and marketing their products. She says more people should buy from Gifts and Graces to help poor families like hers.

Ate Liezel is one of five women from FCED who make the tarp bags for Market! Market! Aside from the bonding that they do while completing their sewing tasks making tarp bags allow  them to buy essentials for their kids. Making the tarp bags for Market! Market! Also allows her to earn an income from home while looking after her four kids. Three of her children are in school, she's hoping she could send her third child Ronel to school too. Maybe like his younger sister Rahzel, Ronel could be awarded first honor as well.

She dreams of one day owning a small house and lot in Laguna or Las Pinas where she could be close to her aunt and where her children can have better access to schools. With your help in providing her with a steady income through your support of Gifts and Graces, Ate Liezel's dream could still become a reality.

Gifts & Graces in Metro Society May 2011

We, at Gifts and Graces, would like to extend our appreciation to Metro Society Magazine for featuring our beautiful newspaper bags on their May 2011 Issue with Kenneth Cobonpue on the cover.

Very special thanks goes out to Ms. Marichelle Ligon for including our best-selling Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly newspaper bags in her feature Objects of Desire.

The featured bags are handwoven from upcycled newspaper pages and hand painted by Mr. Boy Buenafe.

If you want to order or see more of our newspaper bags 

you are welcome to drop by our office/showroom:

Unit 131 Milelong Building, Amorsolo St, Makati City

or call 759-2525 or email us at: marketing@giftsandgraces.com

Fair Game

Fair trade products cater to a wide range of people including the little ones. At a young age, start exposing them to eco-friendly and ethically-produced toys so that they can start early with social responsibility. 

Get your kids a few of the fabulous Gifts & Graces Fair Trade Foundation toys:

The Tangram

A 19th century Chinese puzzle that has spread around the world. The tangram is a square that has been cut into 7 pieces or tans. The tans are used to make silhouettes of everyday objects, animals and even people. The only rule is all 7 pieces be used in making a design and none of the pieces may overlap.  

Tell your kids to use their imagination and sense of humor to come up with his or her own shape.

Monster Dolls

Give your kids cute and quirky monster dolls to help them express their personalities and to stretch their imaginations. Help them make stories about these unique plush toys using different scenarios. Teach them imaginative play and the concept of individuality!

Retaso Stuffed Toys

These stuffed toys are truly one-of-a-kind. As they are made of donated quality scrap fabric, no two stuffed animals are the same. These cute bears are made by differently-abled persons. Your purchase will supplement their livelihood programs.

These are available at The Lobby Shop at Edsa Shangri-La 

and our office/showroom 

Unit 131 G/F Mile Long Building

Amorsolo St., Makati City