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 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.

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.

For those with a sweet tooth, various small candy shops have emerged with their plastic stalls…read moreloaded with all sorts of delights that make a mouthful of sweet, sugary goodness possible. While I have grown out of splurging on too much candy, I still delight myself whenever I see a Candy Corner; I remember myself from before, so much in love with their delectable, sweet smelling, uniquely shaped candies that are so much the favorite of the young, hyperactive metabolism that can't wait to get all of that sugar down and exhaust it by running around and playing a lot, burning off so much of it and giving the adults a harder time before the eventual sugar crash and nap time. Ha, those were the days. Some things never change, I suppose; we still have these Candy Corner shops with the friendly women in aprons giving children what they wish to have to soothe their sweet tooth, and occasionally for the adults as well, who never really grow out of it.

Our sweet tooth lured us to Sugar Factory even with a full tummy. We were careful and ordered the…read morebasic chocolate fondue set for 2 people. We requested for Spaghetti and Meatballs and it was unavailable (On a busy Saturday?) The staff was nice enough to accomodate us on the large couch and they were very attentive. Large sugary cocktails, milkshakes, waffles, big burgers... it truly is a mad menu! I think the sugary items are too overwhelming for me with their huge servings but I see this'll fit well for those with mad cravings. I'm not sure if this is a place I'd go back to but maybe I will if I'm taking kids out with me.

It's was just ok for me. The food wasn't too good and the drink was ok. If I go back I'd just try…read morethe dessert. This location didn't have much in the gift shop. It's a really cute concept.

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.

Sasmuan Delicacies is the perfect place to go to if you're looking to buy pasalubong for your…read morefriends and loved ones. I consider it as the home of the best-tasting Filipino sweet treats. They sell polvoron (powdered milk candies), yema, pastilyas, pili tarts, and many more. I often go here whenever I want to eat something sweet after lunch. I don't normally order desserts in restaurants because it's too expensive, so I often look for desserts in different food stalls that can satisfy my sweet tooth. Sasmuan Delicacies is best known for their milky and great-tasting polvoron. They use local and pure ingredients to produce their polvoron. They have a variety of flavors to choose from that everyone will surely love. They have Butter, Choco, Cookies and Cream, Ube-Pinipig, and many more. This polvoron just melts in your mouth and won't leave you gasping for air. If you're looking for sugary treats to satiate your craving for sweets, then head over to Sasmuan Delicacies.

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!

My dad loves kiamoy--that sweet, sour, salty dried plum often found in Chinese stores and in Aji…read moreIchiban. As a growing teen and now as a still growing adult, the idea of picking candy out of an array of different treats to be put in a bag and weighed to exactly a hundred grams or hundred bucks is a trip, and I do still like to have a jolly good time at Aji Ichiban. Though they've lost a few brances, I'm glad this one in the less dense Shoppesville area in Greenhills has survived, probably because it's across the all-important Mercury Drug. I stop by here on occasion and go for gummy anything, like their blue-white gummy sharks and sour colas. A lot more "traditional" products are also worth getting here, like White Rabbit chews and haw flakes--those red, sweet, round dried fruit wafers that I've always had as a kid. Sometimes you'll even be surprised by what they have. Sour candy is my weakness and this one time they had this sour lemon drop candy that I bought and loved and which I still long for sometimes. Bring them back, Aji Ichiban!

During our most recent visit to Manila, we have dined at three different locations (actually if we…read morecount another one last year, it will be four for me). Every single location delivered the same top-notch service and excellent food. It seemed that there was always a waiting list. But what they did that was so smart was give us the menu and and an order form and that gave us the time to peruse the menu, decide what we want and place our orders. By the time we sat down, it didn't take long before our orders were delivered. The first time we dined, there were only two of us, so we ordere the small plates. Another smart idea to have the choice of small, medium and large orders depending on the number of people. We've always dined family style so we were able to taste different foods. We've ordered the essential Filipino foods i.e., different kinds of sisig, salpicao, sinigang, adobo, pancit palabok, buko pie, puto bumbong, halo halo. And every single dish was phenomenally tasty, especially for us who are all residing in the US. Manam will always be our first choice whenever we are in Manila.

Easy eats vibes with the choice of smaller portions if you aren't too hungry…read more Went for a casual lunch. Despite there being tables available, we had to wait about 15 minutes to sit. Ordered their garlicky chicken and pork adobo, sisig, garlic rice, and turon. The adobo was fine, I think it would have been better just with the pork vs with chicken. Sisig was on point. The garlic rice was fine as well. The turon didn't have bananas in it but mangoes instead. I had thought it would have had both mangoes and bananas, but was mistaken. Overall, a decent place for casual sit-down vibes.