In celebration of our silver jubilee, we, the Ateneo de Manila High School Class of 1987, bring you the Blue Market – a weekend fair with a twist. Not unlike the usual Saturday-Sunday bazaars full of great deals, curious finds, and gastronomic delights, the Blue Market serves up all that, and so much more. It is a special batch fundraising project, in support of social entrepreneurs, student business initiatives, and similar micro enterprises, for the benefit of the Tulong-Dunong Foundation and the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus.
Beyond providing a venue for buyers and sellers to come together, the Blue Market is a vehicle for helping social enterprises and student ventures take off at minimal cost, with a ready clientele. As a natural draw for members of the Ateneo community, as well as residents of neighboring villages such as Xavierville, La Vista, and the like, the Blue Market easily assures these incubating endeavors of a constant and loyal customer base. This gives them instant access to a large group of shoppers with tremendous purchasing power, and affords them a unique opportunity to understand, interact and build relationships with a broader spectrum of consumers they would otherwise have little chance of tapping.
For some, an innovative product or a particularly worthy advocacy may find favor with benefactors willing to throw their full support to see such ideas and undertakings to fruition. Aside from this, the Blue Market is also a valuable marketing resource. It can provide significant exposure to the various social enterprises via its website, and promote their products and services to an infinitely wider audience.
For market-goers, this is a chance for spending time with family, touching base with old friends, forging new partnerships, relaxing, unwinding, and sharing blessings while making great new finds and savoring the joys of shopping. It is a simple yet effective outlet for lending support to young companies and apostolate communities, and in so doing, taking part in nation-building and the empowerment of the less fortunate.
The Blue Market is many things to different people. It is a unique and solid launch pad for young, commercial undertakings. It is a practical learning lab for budding entrepreneurs. It is an arena for giving back to the community. It is a fun, festive, exciting, and enriching experience, where everyone can answer the Ignatian call towards being men and women for others.
The Blue Market, a fundraiser by the Ateneo de Manila High School Batch of `87, takes place November 17-18, and 24-25, between gates 1 and 2 of the Ateneo de Manila parking lot in front of the Blue Eagle Gym, right along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City.
