MAKATI CITY — Even before many children encounter concepts like profit margins in school, a weekend bazaar in Mandaluyong is already introducing them to the realities of running a business. Held on May 23 and 24, 2026, at The Podium, the Tiny Tycoon Bazaar transformed a popular shopping destination into a hands-on business learning space where children, some still in elementary school, operated their own stalls, handled customer transactions, and explored the basics of entrepreneurship. Organized by homeschooling mothers Czarina and Feliz, the event provided participants with practical experience in pricing products, managing inventory, interacting with customers, and handling earnings, valuable business skills that are often taught only theoretically in traditional classrooms.
Teaching Business Through Real-World Experience
Children who joined as “Tiny Traders” managed their own 1-by-1-meter booths, selling homemade crafts, baked goods, and pre-loved items. Meanwhile, participants under the “Kiddie Crew” program worked directly with established store owners, giving them firsthand exposure to customer service, teamwork, and inventory management. The event also included a child-friendly music festival and complimentary workshops on Financial Literacy, Math Lab, Public Speaking, and Debate, all designed to develop practical skills useful for future entrepreneurial ventures. Judges also recognized the Top 10 “Jr. Tank Shark Award Winners,” who each received PHP 1,000 and a special photo shoot feature in Modern Parenting.
Preparing Future Entrepreneurs Early
Beyond the experience of selling products, the bazaar was carefully designed to teach children important economic principles in an engaging environment. Participants learned how to value money, price products competitively, and respond to real-time customer feedback, lessons similar to the challenges faced by startup founders and business owners. “In a world that’s evolving faster than ever, children need more than academic knowledge,” the Tiny Tycoon organizers shared. “They need the confidence to create value, lead with purpose, and adapt.” For parents and educators, the event demonstrated how experiential learning programs can complement formal education by helping young Filipinos develop financial responsibility, leadership, and customer service skills long before they enter high school.
