I have this problem where I cannot walk into a bookstore and then walk out empty handed. I'm a big…read morebookworm and saying goodbye to an entire store filled with books without a book for myself is just unthinkable. That's like hiring a prostitute, giving her a hug, and then sending her away. Actually, it's worse than that. EXPLOIT THE OPPORTUNITY, methinks. This is especially hard when it comes to secondhand or cheap bookstores like Bookay-Ukay. This place is amazing. It is filled from ceiling to floor with books - and not the usual crap you see in chain bookstores, either. You can tell that these titles were handpicked by whoever manages this place, and you're sure to find something you like in this hole-in-the-wall. My girlfriend had to drag me away from these books. I wanted to buy the entire building.

Finally visited the store, saw one of my fave comic books and bought it. never knew that I could…read moreget one for a such a low-cost. I'll definitely visit the store again for sure.

Fully Booked Katip is a place I regularly pass by whenever I get picked up. My dad comes from the…read morenorth, so I chill at Regis Center while waiting for him. This particular branch is really fun to stay in, because it's hardly ever full. The staff are used to dealing with the "college kid" demographic, and know all the latest Young Adult or Romance hits, and are very responsive when you want to have one ordered from another branch to be picked up or to pre-order a book. It's especially nice to hole up in the back part of the branch or in the couch seat in one corner and just will the hours away. There's fancy stationary and pens available too, if you find yourself short of any. Another thing I love about it is how it's right next to a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf branch, where you can enjoy your latest book buy with some warm tea and pastries to keep you company.

Fully Booked is the heaven of book lovers! They have great selections of all sorts, and even a…read morego-to for comic books and graphic novels. The store gives a classy and comfortable vibe. Conveniently placed in Katipunan, students, teachers and even parents are the usual customers who drop by at this branch. I personally go to Fully Booked to buy quality art supplies that may not be found in other bookstores. I also find some of their items exclusive that's great for gift shopping. This particular branch may not be big enough to house the particular item(s) you're looking for, but the staff can help you find them at the other bigger branches in the metro. The downside for me is that their items can be pricey and buying from there can make your wallet cry :( However, the place for me can be a good treat-yourself once in a while. It will also help to avail their membership card if you're planning to buy books and supplies there regularly. I will surely drop by Fully Booked once in a while to update myself with cool art stuff and perhaps buy a book as well. :)

I am a very regular customer at SM Hypermarket and one of my most frequently visited establishments…read morewould hands down have to be Books for Less. Few things make me happier than sticking my nose in a book so when I found out that the store was no longer as big as it used to be, it made me sad. However, BFS continues to provide a decent selection of fiction and nonfiction books that one can peruse and purchase from. I've found many a gem here, and I'm glad that places like this exist as where would society be without the written word.

I stumbled into the Lagusnilad underpass one rainy afternoon last month, dodging puddles and trying…read moreto cut through from Taft to City Hall. Wasn't even looking for books--just wanted dry feet--but there it was, this cozy little chaos of shelves tucked between the clothing stalls. The smell hit me first: old paper, a bit of dust, and that unmistakable comfort of a real secondhand bookstore. The guy behind the counter (think his name was Aj?) looked up, smiled like he'd been expecting me, and asked what I was in the mood for. No pressure, just genuine curiosity. I ended up spending almost an hour there, flipping through worn paperbacks and hardcovers that felt like they'd lived interesting lives. Found a beat-up but complete set of Garcia Marquez short stories for P250 and a pristine copy of "The Shadow of the Wind" that I'd been hunting forever. Prices were ridiculously fair--nothing over P400--and the selection is surprisingly deep for such a small space: classics, Filipino lit, sci-fi, even some niche non-fiction. They've got everything neatly sorted by genre now (huge improvement from the early days I've heard about), and if something's buried in the back, they'll dig it out without making you feel like you're inconveniencing them. What really sealed it for me was the conversation. We chatted about favorite authors, he recommended a couple of newer Filipino titles I hadn't heard of, and even held a book I wanted for a few days when I realized I didn't have enough cash. Super chill, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about books--not just selling them. I've been back twice since, and every time it feels like visiting an old friend who happens to run the best hidden bookstore in Manila. If you're anywhere near Intramuros or Taft, duck in--you won't regret it. Absolute gem. Five bright, dusty, book-scented stars.

As a new university library, we need new books with subject coverage on Business Administration…read moreProgram and courses. We need books on every BA books avaiable locally from your bookshop. Please send me list of all books / titles under the course program Business Administration. Under each are courses or subjects with titles of books on them. Kindly send to my email address: dickorense77@gmail.com and deorense@amaes.edu.ph My contact no is 09293172259. Thank you and best regards, Dr. Dick E. Orense, Ed.D.

I haven't visited this establishment in a while. My thoughts, this establishment offers the bare…read moreminimum returns on all book commodities sold or fair market value for trading your books. CAUTION! Buyer's/ Sellers beware.

I frequent used bookstores because not only are their items inexpensive but they have many…read morehard-to-find titles as well. A few years ago, I used to visit Books For Less in Valero Street during weekends. I would spend quite a number of hours browsing through their shelves and reading while drinking coffee. It was really a sad day when they closed shop. Fortunately, I recently discovered that they have an existing stall on the third floor of RCBC Plaza. This is a small version of the shop they closed down and they don't have chairs and tables nor do they serve coffee. Still, the stall has tons of interesting books for adults and kids. In fact, after a few minutes of looking at the display, I found a suitable book for my one-year old nephew and a hidden gem which is the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition. Both books were selling for a bargain.

MSM Surplus should be one of the first places you go to if you've just moved into a new place just…read morebecause of the random stuff you find there. And that they have in abundance. From cutlery to china, appliances (beware the 110v though) to furniture, to clothes, toys and electronics. Lawnmowers. Telescopes. Old medical equipment like crutches and walkers and canes. Golf clubs. Luggage. Books. I can go on. Although some of their stuff looks broken beyond repair, there a still a lot of useful things that can be found there. Like power tools. Fishing rods. Gaming consoles. Gaming console adapters. Gaming console controllers. Gaming console games. The only dangerous time to go there is when you're looking for something you don't know what. Because you might end up buying old board games. Or betamax players. Or VHS players. Or laser disc players. Or playing cards. Or trading cards. Every corner has something interesting to see. So go there when you're looking for coffee makers. Or when you just want to look at old stuff and find somethinf neat.

MSM Surplus is one of those kinds of places you pass by on your commute by southbound bus or train…read moreand you wonder what it is and if their business is thriving and if they're even actually open. Then when you realize that they're the same place of a secondhand store you used to frequent in Cubao which closed, you finally do a search on them, discover that they have an updated Facebook page, and go for a visit and are treated to the wonders therein. It's a huge warehouse of secondhand everything from furniture to books to electronics to toys to clothes (the only category they don't have much of--they're not that kind of an ukay). You name it and you'll probably find it there in some shape and/or form. I'm a sucker for rummaging through a melange of stuff to get at good books (a still beautifully covered "Valley of the Dolls" or a "Marcel the Shell" hardcover) for fifty pesos each, or a childhood board game, which though incomplete, was still pretty worth it for a hundred bucks. (I'll be waiting for them to dredge up another copy and hopefully be able to actually play it.) If you're the kind of person who's still happy covered in dust having scrounged some great finds, then have at it.

Thank the book gods and goddesses for Chapters and Pages! I wish I knew of this store when I was…read morestill studying as I could have saved more money for other school expenses and food. For any bookworm who has a tight budget or who wants to buy more books, Chapters and Pages is the place to be! Instead of one book, you could buy a book or 3 for the same price. They have really inexpensive school supplies too! There's a lot of stock of pad papers and notebooks - a whole area dedicated for students. Any kind of book in a bookstore, you'd find here. I particularly love buying cook books here as in other bookstores, I'd have to shell out a thousand or more for just one cook book. Whenever I want to read something new or stock up on books for the summer or want to add to my growing collection, Chapters and Pages is one of the bookstores I never fail to visit.

Looking for affordable, educational and still efficient books? Then head on to Booksale, a bookshop…read morethat has almost everything: from recipe books to children's books, medical references, comic books, fiction and non-fiction novels, magazines, etc. Most of their books are sold for a much lower price, since they're already second-hand books (don't worry, the pages are still intact for most of them and they still look good in terms of condition). Some of their books may be outdated, but still full of information which you could use in whatever you need.

A treasure trove for bookworms, Booksale sits on the first floor of Makati Cinema Square, a mall…read morethat has seen better days but still remains a hub for one-of-a-kind finds. Stocked with mostly second-hand and dog-eared books, Booksale is a bargain heaven for the bibliophile. You really never know what you might stumble upon while combing through the shelves of the store. Art books for the fraction of the price in high-end bookstores sit on the shelves, waiting to be discovered by the keen treasure hunter. There's also a sizeable collection of hardbound books, science fiction titles, graphic novels, comic books, cook books, gardening how-to's, novelty and humor reads and so much more. If you're on the hunt for past issues of both local and international magazines, you are in for a treat. There are hundreds of titles to scour and they never cost more than an arm and a leg.

If you're a book lover, but you are on a budget (And when I say "on a budget", I mean flat broke),…read moreBook Sale is the answer to your needs. I've been in and out of various Book Sales all over Manila, and it's a fantastic place to look for pre-loved books at a fraction of the cost. Personally, I love going here to buy coffee tables books. There are a couple of good finds to be had here. You just have to be diligent when you do dig around. The branch at Makati Square is typical of most of their branches, but it does have a bit more elbow room than the others. They also have an inordinate number of kiddle books, so that's a plus for parents.