The new year is fast approaching. Our schedules are jam-packed, and our calendars are full of much-awaited holiday gatherings and celebrations. As we power through these busy days and festivities, it may seem as if we have no time left to squeeze in new experiences and opportunities for personal growth.
This weekend, however, the Pabili Po! Flea Market at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is here to remind us that there’s still plenty of time to try new things and hone our creative pursuits before the year ends.
Photo: Pabili Po! Flea Market, Weekend Watercolor Circle/Instagram
From December 19 to 21, 2025, the weekend pop-up at Forbestown, BGC, will host three art and lifestyle workshops where attendees can pick up a variety of crafty skills and hobbies. If you’re feeling extra sociable, these activities will also help you make new friends in the Filipino creative industry as the community grows.
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Each workshop at the Pabili Po! Flea Market features talented Filipino illustrators, designers, content creators, and business owners who’ve established their own brands and identities on social media. Participants are in for three days full of fun, learning, and appreciation for the local art and fashion scenes.
Here’s what you can expect from each activity, as well as more schedules you can anticipate at the weekend market:
Bayong & Mary Janes Painting Workshop (Hosted by Paint by John)
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Your shoes and accessories deserve to stand out in the crowd. In this upcoming workshop by Paint by John, you can achieve that distinct sense of style as you learn to put intricate patterns on dainty bayong bags and classic Mary Jane flats.
Fashion meets functionality in this special event. Once you’re done painting, you can take home the bags and shoes for everyday use. Who wouldn’t enjoy the fulfillment of flaunting your own art, which also fits right in with the rest of your wardrobe?
Filipino artist John Salcedo established Paint by John as a creative outlet that specializes in decorating shoes and handcrafted bags. You can sign up for his workshop at Pabili Po! for ₱1,800. Your attendance on December 20, 2025, will include painting materials, your choice of a bayong bag or a pair of Mary Janes, and one cup of coffee from Nueve Café.
Make Your Own Leather Journal (Hosted by Dominique Gil)
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If you’re a journaling enthusiast who also enjoys do-it-yourself (DIY) art projects, content creator Dominique Gil is hosting a workshop at Pabili Po! that you wouldn’t want to miss. At her leather journal-making session, you’ll learn how to create your own special folios and covers that look just like the ones on social media.
Leather journals gained prominence this year thanks to the French stationery brand Louise Carmen. Since then, multiple Filipino brands have joined the bandwagon and created their own versions of these writing and planning essentials. On December 21, 2025, Dominique Gil will guide you through the ins and outs of making a leather journal from scratch, just in time for the new year.
This workshop costs ₱1,300 per person and includes faux leather sheets, two notebooks, charms, and elastic cords.
Watercolor Session: Christmas Cards Edition (Hosted by the Weekend Watercolor Circle)
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We’re getting extra sentimental this holiday season with the Weekend Watercolor Circle, a community that hosts creative talks and charitable initiatives around Metro Manila. Its members will stop by BGC for a painting session on December 21, 2025.
This workshop lets participants enjoy the nostalgia, comfort, and fun of making Christmas cards. You’re free to fill your card with vibrant images and themes that never fail to get you into the holiday spirit. You can also give your watercolor paintings to a friend, loved one, or anybody who deserves to feel special this season of giving.
You can sign up for the Weekend Watercolor Circle’s workshop at Pabili Po! For ₱499. The session includes art materials, your own Christmas card, and personal guides who will help you along the way.
Check out the Pabili Po! Flea Market on Instagram for more exciting updates, as well as registration links for all three Christmas workshops.
ALSO READ: Patrons of the Arts Presents: A Women’s Month Art Market Showcasing Local Female Artists
Which of these Christmas workshops do you want to attend this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
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