Netopia is one of the more reliable internet cafes in Metro Manila. This is probably the main…read morereason why they grew so fast and can now be found in most Ayala and SM malls. When I say reliable, of course I am referring to internet speed and connectivity. If you need to do basic internet surfing they are able to connect you to apps and sites like Google for search, Skype for communication and Facebook and Twitter for social media and many more. I often go here for my printing and copy needs. They provide the basic services of black & white and colored printing. They also do photo printing and business card printing (which includes the cutting service already) for a decent price. Of course there are units for gaming as well but I love that most people who come here use the place for their business needs so its pretty quiet most of the time.

There are a lot of Data Blitz branches out there. All of them are interesting for gamers to walk…read moreinto. I mean, I haven't walked into a Data Blitz store and left without at least being satisfied of seeing some video gaming goodies. Of all the Data Blitz stores I have to say that this one is the most special one for me. I bought a lot of my most important games here like StarCraft 2 and my Diablo 3 right here. This place is one of the few places in Alabang Town Center that did not just stand the test of time, but also grew. You see, their space used to be smaller, however, a recent visit showed that the store grew in size. In fact, it's a lot better than before. I love this particular store since it represents how things do change, but not all changes are for the worse. The change this particular Data Blitz went through was a good one as it's now bigger and a lot better than before.

I was going around Cyberzone in Southmall to look for a tablet which can also work as a phone, and…read moreI already have a very particular one in mind, thanks to the suggestion of a techie - the latest model of the Asus phone tablet. I asked around but all the shops I went to said they only have the older model, and many thought that that was actually the latest model. Until I went to PC Express. I've already had good experience with PC Express in Gilmore, the discount hub for personal computers. Well, PC Express is a tad pricey compared with other PC shops in Gilmore, but in the case of Southmall, the branch there seemed to be the most updated and well-stocked. And, they had all the available colors for the tablet I want. The staff was accommodating and friendly, too, even directing me to other shops where I could buy the screen protector, the casing, and the powerbank.

PV Express did a bait and switch on the price for a graphics…read morecard. Advertised price on web site is Php 23,900. Placed the order and price increased to Php 30,000. Not a good business practice.

It's kinda hit and miss in terms of quality - don't buy speakers or earphones here, but the…read moremicrophones, screens, and computer mouses/mice (oh god what is it) are fairly reliable and last a while. There's also a bunch of phone and laptop cases with silly designs like puppies running in a meadow or Angry Birds. (Ugh, Angry Birds died a long time ago. Please don't resurrect it.) They also sell USB cables, HDMI cables, flash drives, and styluses at prices way lower than what you'd find in other stores. For tech stuff that don't require a serious investment, CD-R King is your best bet.

I came here today because I needed earphones. Honestly, it was my first time to enter a CD-R-King…read morestore. I've always known about it, I just never had a reason to go there. I have friends who swear by it, even saying that it's as good as any department store. I always thought it was a joke until today, until I saw an actual refrigerator inside along with several bikes in different sizes all waiting to be sold. This store really has everything- screens, phone accessories, laptops, desktops, microphones, videoke machines and some other stuff you never knew existed, trust me it's that comprehensive. It's like a little divisoria of sorts filled with things you need and things you don't need all sold at very cheap prices. The quality of the items seems to be okay. Don't expect to walk out with high-end brands; I don't think they carry them. That's not really their thing. Their thing is imitation and they do it very, very well.

I was going around Robinson's Place one day and chanced upon Unitrack. When I see a computer tech…read morestore I find myself magnetically drawn to it just to check what kind of hardware they sell and whether their prices are competitive. It's your run of the mill computer store. It stocks most of the hardware that a person could ever need for a computer. They sell printers, CPUs, monitors, portable hard drives, graphic cards and so much more. Price is reasonable, meaning it's typical market price. You won't find a mind blowing bargain here, but then again you won't be paying a price to high for what you'll get. In terms of options though, their stock is limited. If you're the type of person who's into the high end computer hardware, which is basically me, then I would suggest that you would look somewhere else. If you want mid range hardware then this is a nice place to stop by for your needs.

Octagon really embodies the meaning of superstore: it's a huge place, stocked not just with laptops…read moreand desktops but also with TVs, speakers, earphones, gadget cases, and various accessories. Their stock is really complete and comprehensive; for one, this is the only store where I've seen Alienware laptops! They do carry other, more popular brands. In fact, this is where I got my new laptop just a few months ago! The salesman who helped me pick out a laptop was really knowledgeable, patiently explained unfamiliar terms, and even helped me install Windows and Microsoft Office after I bought it. Aside from a laptop, this is where my family bought a printer and still buys ink up to today. Octagon is the ultimate in reliability when it comes to tech stuff and their customer service has always been good.

This is a well-run business. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. The range of products is…read moredecent and the check-out process is efficient. It's a good place to buy computers, hardware and accessories.

Whenever I just absolutely have to go to CD-R-King (Hint: I hate lining up at any of their…read morebranches), I go to this one. Why? There's usually no one here. That's a WONDERFUL thing. CD-R King has been the place to be for everything you need that's related to computers, not just CDs or DVDs, but EVERYTHING. Sure, you can't be too confident about quality when you're paying so cheap for most of their products, but more often than not you get a good purchase that will get you by through whatever tech crisis you are encountering. In the last few years though, CD-R King has gotten stranger and stranger. How so? They've been "branching out" into a place that just about sells anything. Rice cooker? Fancy, decorative fountains? Stress balls? Luggage? Blender? Back scratcher? It's really quite strange, but OK. Fine. Distract us customers with more stuff then. Though, one of my favourite, non computer-related purchase here around 4 years ago is actually an analog, point and shoot film camera, and they had these on sale for Php50 before. It's blue, translucent, and takes great pictures--that is until the film advance gets stuck and it leaves you screwed with more than half a roll of unexposed, wasted film. The film it came with was actually expired, and this is actually a good thing (for me and people who like lomography) because the pictures produced had some extra, trippy effects. Anyway, yes, CD-R King. You know what needs an upgrade though? Funnily enough for someone who sells tech stuff, their queueing and manual receipt system is still in the dark ages! It takes a lifetime for you to get out of their stores. Again that's why I particularly love this store. Look for branches that have NO PEOPLE!

More popularly known as "BF Ruins", the Good Shepherd Bazaar has become a permanent fixture and…read morelong-time favorite local haunt amongst southside folks. It's a popular "tiangge" where you can get these four things: Pirated DVDs/Music CDs, cheap clothing and shoes, mobile phones/accessories, and cheap food. It's not glamorous nor is it well-ventilated, but on days outside of the holiday season, it's a pretty relaxed place to go for some light impulse shopping after work, or a place to get some cheap, quick snacks in BF Homes. Although on holiday season, beware because this place becomes a cramped, sticky labyrinth, but still is a convenient place to get some last-minute gifts. Back when the internet wasn't such a thing and DSL connection was still unheard of, my favorite stall here would be this seller of rare/hard-to-find/indie pirated DVD's. But now, I just go here for cheap clothes and to grab some veggie snacks at Feng Ling, the cheap Malaysian & Singaporean food place, which serves tofu, veggie balls, fried kangkong, and yummy green mango smoothies. If you're planning to drop by, do visit around 5pm to be sure that all the stalls are already open. They open late, and since there is zero ventilation system inside, it's better to go when the sun is out.

It has been called by many names: BF night market, The Good Shepherd Bazaar, Ruins. But most…read moreresidents from the south know it by the name that it was first called: BF Ruins. This interesting little one-stop-shop for everything has been inside BF Homes as far back as I can remember. Before Aguirre became a famous food strip, right at its corner with President's Avenue was the ruins of an abandoned old building. Some really cool merchants started pitching tents and setting up tables to sell their wares there. You'd find a lot of really cool vintage items and some stylish clothes that you won't get in malls. Over the years, it has developed more into a find-everything-here place selling DVDs, CDs, electronic gadgets, accessories, clothes for kids, swimwear, tshirts, gift items and toys. It is now a structure with a huge roof and several stalls. It was called The Good Shepherd Bazaar for a few years now and usually runs between 2pm to 2am. However, their selling time seems to have changed very recently and most stalls are already open by noon and close around 11pm. While shopping in the sweltering heat may not be a good idea in the summer, I often brave the traffic and the heat to go here because they still have the best selection of children's items. If you're looking for class A toys, they've got a bunch you can get from P100 to P200. For instance, if you buy Shopkins (those little plastic toys with faces) in the mall, a 5-piece set would cost you about P350. Here, you get the items with the same quality - since it's all made in China anyway - for P120. You can get a two-piece swim suit for a baby for only P80 and Gerber Graduates, which is not available in malls here, for P220. Pajamas for kids run for about P100. Oh, and they have a nice little food area where you can get some really cool snacks. They have kwek-kwek and tokneneng selling for P20 for an order of 5 pieces. Chicken skin is the bomb! They sell 5 pieces for P25.