I miss this place! I wish it's still open!…read more This is our go to gift shop back in the days

A visit to Greenhills will never be complete without going to Regina Gift Shop…read more When I was a kid my parents would remind me that it's a gift shop meaning I went in to buy gifts for other people. I believed that lie until I was about ten. I guess that was to prevent me from buying all the awesome goodies this shop has to offer. Sorry, parents. I'm buying gifts for myself. They have everything! And I really mean everything. They have all my childhood candies next to a stand of plastic balloons. You know, those little tubes which you squeeze until this substance comes out which you blow into with the use of a little stick. There's a shelf with plates, spoons and forks and knives, cups and lunchboxes. And in the center, you'll find notebooks, stickers, pens, art materials, cellphone cases and the occasional sex toy. Speaking of toys, they do have toys for babies and children and adults who collect toys. Not into those things? They have bags, clothes and hats too. I remember being dragged here by my mom whenever I needed a costume for school. "You're only going to wear it once anyway. But it at Regina," she'd say. Don't get me wrong, their clothes don't break after one use. They have cool socks and hats. And sometimes if you're lucky, they have sell Christmas stockings. I can't remember everything they sell at this shop. So it would be great if you have a look for yourself. You won't be disappointed and you'll leave with lots of loot.

So let's say you want a memorable gift for someone or maybe an eyecatching centerpiece for an…read moreevent. Have you ever considered candy? And not just any candy. There's actually somewhere in the metro that makes hand pulled, hand rolled rock candy. And it's not going to break your bank either. You can get a small jar for 100php or a bigger jar for 175php. For that much, you get a bunch of small, 3-5cm large candies with individual designs. These were pieces cut from one long roll. It blows my mind that these guys are able to make designs like cars and letters and hearts and even little Captain America faces out of rolls of colored, flavored sugar. No molds, no guides. Just rolling and kneading. Blows. My. Mind. The flavors are great, too. My personal favorite is (no prizes there for guessing) the salted caramel. Not only do you get that pure sugar flavor from the caramel but you actually get little flecks of salt from time to time. I found myself cracking the jar open multiple times in the day. Just a heads up though, if you want to use these as centerpieces then make sure they're kept away from hot lights. They don't keep in heat very well. Keep them on a table in the jar a few days, they'll still be okay but they might end up kind of fused together.

I'm a sucker for sweets with a little something extra, and Twisted Candy gives you that. It's…read morealmost just regular hard candy, sure, but it comes in a lot of different flavors, and comes in these little cute designs that are just made by hand at the store itself. It can be pretty mesmerizing to watch these guys just throw around the soft candy into ropes and bang it out into these itty-bitty buttons of fun. They even do personalized designs, which I think is pretty cool. I buy these for my brother when I'm thinking of getting him a treat, since they look so appealing even in their plastic bags. My brother goes through dialysis almost daily so he has a lot of food to avoid, so he appreciates a little special something when he does actually get something he can eat. I do think they're a little on the pricey side though, since a hundred bucks would only get you a small bag. But I guess it's fair with the work that goes into them, and just the variety of fruit and other sugary flavorings they come in, which makes you want to try everything! Luckily they have the variety packs for you to do just that.

Aji Ichiban is the kind of store that really makes me feel in Asia. It's a candy store, but the way…read moreit's organized (like those traditional Chinese stores we see in the movies) and the products they offer make it much more interesting. Everything is displayed on acrylic cases, so you just choose what you want (you can try first) and the amount (usually scoops) and the attendant puts it inside a little plastic bag. My favorite product there is their dried ginger dusted with sugar. I always buy it when I have a sore throat or a cold. It's natural and it really makes me feel better :) They have other types of ginger, but this one is the best for me. I highly recommend it. Pair it with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate...instant comfort and relief!

Oh, Aji Ichiban, another store from my childhood. My mother used to buy me sweets from there, and…read moremy favorites were the chocolate filled marshmallows that are, sadly, not there any more. Anyway, Aji Ichiban is a snack food store that has lots of food from all across Asia and America. Have you ever heard of a store that has both Japanese-style Seaweed and Skittles? Yeah, this would be it. The have food that ranges from Beef Jerky to Dried Plums to Gummies to Chocolates. The selection may sound random, but it's really fun to see what they have in store! However, it may sometimes be a little pricey depending on the food item. It'll be up to you to decide if it's worth it or not.

I was in grade school when I first saw a Candy Corner open at my school. It was for me, one of the…read morebest places to go to. They sold almost everything a kid with a sweet tooth could possibly want. It was also one of the most expensive stores, considering my meager allowance at least, on campus. I would sometimes save some of my money to buy a lot of the candy that I wanted. Times have changed, but Candy Corner hasn't It's still a small stall that has a lot of the stuff that you would rarely, even if you could, find at your regular grocery. Look at what they have to offer and even if you have only one tooth in your mouth wanting something sweet you'll most likely end up salivating over everything that they have. Price is fair I would say, I mean, this place isn't the sort of thing that would leave a normal person with an empty wallet.

I was walking along the alley inside UPTOWN mall and saw this store in the middle of the walking…read morearea. The design of their store is so welcoming that you'd think you are in charlie's chocolate factory. They have the same design that would entice your craving for chocolate and at the same time look elegant than most chocolate shops. We got the chocolate chip caramel apple and a few of their chocolate pieces with almonds. Their candy apple is gonna make your tastebuds crazy. You wouldnt believe how the chocolate blends so well with the apple. After one bite, you wouldn't blame Eve for biting the forbidden apple too. Dont think that because their candy apples are so good that their chocolate pieces aren't. These are the david and goliath of chocolates. They maybe small but they sure as heck taste awesome. The chocolate was so rich and creamy while the almonds were perfectly nutty. Definitely going back again soon to try more of their products.

Looking for healthier options at your local candy store? You might not find one... not unless they…read moreare like Shien Shien Delicacies. This particular stall offers a wide array of snacking foods, mostly candies such as gummy worms and what not, that can be popular with little kids. To an adult with a more savory palate however, there is also the options to go for their wide assortment of nuts, including cashews, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, (roasted or in adobo style) peas (not a nut, I know, but it's there) and beans among others. They also have dried fruits and vegetables that run the gamut from dried mangoes, tomatoes, olives, melons, and so on. Also of interest are their other options, such as whole red and yellow cherries (with seeds and all). These are not candies, so they are not meant to be sweet, but they have a long shelf live, are reasonably healthy compared to fattening chocolates or cakes, and, at Shien Shien, sold at very good prices starting 100g of each item.

There are stores with names that have next to nothing to do with what it sells or the services that…read moreit offers. There are stores that are named after the owners. There are stores that a good description of what they are. Then there are stores that basically tell you what you should do which is what Pick & Mix does. Pick & Mix is another store that molds itself after Candy Mix. I can't say that there's anything wrong or bad about it. Nor can I say that there's anything good about it either. The thing here is that it's nothing entirely new or original. It's been done before and I see no real rhyme or reason why I should give this more attention or preference than anything else. Anyway, it's still a nice place to get candy though so don't give it a pass simply because it's not something new.

My family has a big sweet tooth! I pretty much believe it stems from when we were kids. My aunt…read morewho's a flight attendant for Cathay Pacific, would always give each of us a massive bag of candies whenever she'd come back to the Philippines. I also have another aunt who lives in the States and works for Nestle. OMG, during the holidays, she brings home the best kinds of chocolates and candies. We didn't only have heaps of candy during Halloween, hehe. Don't worry, we brush or teeth regularly! Needless to say, we became candy addicts. Candy Corner would be our favorite candy store. I love how you don't necessarily need to buy the candies in packets but you can buy them in kilograms and put as many candy in the plastic bag as your heart desires - a literal candy buffet! Our cinema must-haves would be gummy bears (one time I ate 2 whole bags in one sitting, haha!), jelly beans, gummy worms, apple-o's and the super yummy candy strips sprinkled with sugar. We love the balance of the sweetness and sour. These candies would be the perfect movie snack if you're a sweets lover.

Candy Corner is my sweet little happy place. Offering tons of gummy candies, jelly beans,…read morechocolates - basically anything your sweet tooth desires. Before watching a movie at the Power Plant Cinemas, I always make pit stop to this place and buy myself some sweet treats. I usually go for the pick-and-mix, which is essentially picking all my

A friend of mine posted on instagram a photo of candies she brought from Made in Candy but I really…read moregot disappointed when she told me that it was only available in HK. Thank God that on the next day, Made in Candy posted on their FB page that they're gonna launch their first branch in Manila at SM Megamall. Funny thing is, a few days or weeks after, I went to Megamall because I can't wait to get a taste of those very pretty candies but again, the place is still under construction. You have no idea how much I've wanted to get a taste of those candies that looked like unicorn gems. When I finally got a hold of 'em, I brought the lychee flavoured pack at work and it was gone right away. I just wish I brought another pack all for myself. The other one that is sold in a small jar, I brought it for our team building the next day. Another funny story is, my friend Shalla asked to take a photo of it then suddenly, the strong wind toppled the jar from the billiard table. It was a mortifying but a funny moment. Because of what happened, I dubbed it as Shalla taking the game Candy Crush to reality.

As a kid, my mom would always get mad at me for eating too much candy. She told me that…read moreoverindulging in sugary snacks like candy can lead to certain health complications. She lectured me on how it can cause Type II Diabetes, morbid obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, and even cancer. Just try to imagine the torture that I have been through as a child. I remember hiding all of my candies and sweet treats under my bed to make sure she doesn't see any of it. Now that I am an adult (kinda), I can already eat and buy candies as much as I want. My favorite go to place for great-tasting candy is definitely Made in Candy. I discovered Made in Candy several months ago. I was tempted to check out this wonderful place, because there were a lot of people outside the store. They were trying to watch the candymen create sugary masterpiece. Each candy has a complex design etched into it. Looking at these designs will definitely make you appreciate Made in Candy's quality products.

I don't remember the first time I've set foot inside an Aji Ichiban store. I think I've always been…read moreaware of its presence since, well, forever. Hahaha. My mom has always been a fan of this place, often indulging herself with some champoy. Recently though, I checked out the Aji Ichiban branch in Megamall and was pleasantly surprised to find that they have leveled up their offerings! You can now buy a bunch of sweets here too, apart from the nuts, dried fruits and chocolates they used to offer. When we swung by, we came out with a plastic of sour candy - my favorite. My little kiddie heart was thoroughly pleased!