I have been passing by Tambunting Pawnshop in Valero every day, but I haven't really found a need…read moreto use their services. All I know is that they are one of the most reputable pawnshop chains in the country. Quite simply, the pawnshop provides loans in exchange for jewelry and gadgets as collaterals. I often see a lot of people coming to and going from the shop on a daily basis. It's a good thing that I have taken a mental note about this shop even if I didn't have any previous business with them. As fate would have it, I finally had a chance to use Tambunting Pawnshop just recently because I needed to send cash to Leyte. The recipient of the money transfer I had to make seemed familiar only with Palawan Express Pera Padala and this Tambunting branch in Valero is one of their remittance partners. The transaction was fast. All I had to do was show a valid ID, fill out a form, and pay out a minimal fee. In a short while, the recipient in Leyte received a text message and she was able to get her funds without hassle. Aside from Palawan Express Pera Padala, the pawnshop is also a partner of Globe Telecom and BPI ATM BanKo Savings.

If you're looking for anything camera related, there is only one place to go to - Hidalgo in…read moreQuiapo. While you might think that it is such an unsafe place to get camera equipment that costs thousands of Pesos, the whole stretch of Hidalgo has been home to everything photography related for decades. Admittedly it can be quite chaotic and dirty since there are street vendors plying their trade on every conceivable square inch of the street, but I prefer to add it to the whole charm of the experience. Don't get too cocky and think that the shops don't have what you need just because they look run down. Mayer Photo, Henry's, Avenue, and 24K all have the newest and most expensive lenses and camera bodies out there. If for some reason they don't have it, you can order it. If you decide on buying something, BPI and BDO branches are nearby for you to get cold hard cash.

If there is a Divisoria for clothes and almost all general merchandise, there is a Hidalgo Street…read morefor cameras and accessories. Prices here are significantly cheaper than when you buy in malls. I bought two cameras here and I saved around P4,000 or more each. And this street does not just have camera shops, but really cheap street food, with pancit for P10. They also have kakanin like puto. There are stalls where you just order take-out or eat standing up, and there are stalls with makeshift wooden stools where you can sit while you eat. There are also clothes stalls here - I saw some nice bolero vests for P100, and I would have bought one had it fit me. Just be careful, though. It's ironic that that Quiapo, which is ripe for pickpocketing, is where Hidalgo Street is at. After I bought a camera, I immediately placed it in my backpack before going out of the store. I realized a guy was following us, though, as I wove through the food and clothes stalls. My companion had to stare straight at him to let him know that we knew he had been following us. He stopped shortly afterwards.

This is not one store but dozens across multiple buildings…read more Booth after booth of gold items, rings, chains, bracelets, earrings, after a while it all looks the same. They will charge an extra 3 to 6 percent on top of price if you use a credit card. It's cheaper than mall prices here.

Scammer Sale u gold with out know the weight of the unit…read more,so u don't know what u get , if it's good investment or not U r all ther Scammer Your policy r scams

There was a time when my sister, who was and is still living in the US, would send us money so she…read morecould pitch in with our birthday or Christmas (or whatever occasion it was) gifts for my parents and other relatives. I had to look for a nearby Western Union and found one in the crazy, lawless area that is Arayat, Cubao. The Western Union was also part of the pawnshop tucked into the corner of Arayat-EDSA. I wasn't expecting much walking up the cluttered sidewalk, but inside it was actually nice inside. It felt like an old bank with their pretty comfy, wooden benches and high glass windows. Surprisingly, it was cool inside even with the high afternoon heat and the lack of air conditioning in the waiting area. I'd surmise it was frigid inside their offices. Having never made a Western Union transaction before, but I the lady there assisted me accordingly and I was not made to feel like an idiot! Even the guard was helpful, and they had their own photocopier, which, though a little overpriced, was convenient. There's a nicer Western Union now in Magnolia, (and my sister and I found an easier way to send money), but I have no qualms about coming back here.

The brainchild of Tuts Calinawan, Medisina is the go-to angas clothing wear of all the Brgy Tibay…read morekids and their loyal following. Gamot raw sa BS. So true. Wish I could afford though. I've been lingering outside their shop staring at the pretty band shirts I've craved for so long o kahit Brgy. Tibay shirt man lang diba? Tapos ipagkakalat ko na bigay ng rockstar kasi cool ako at close kami hahahaha charot. Pero pwede namang mangarap diba? Pwede ring mang uto. Upon my recent lingering, I have noticed new apparel such as Urbandub jerseys that would look super pogi on me but would stab all my beer funds on the throat upon purchase. But shet guys, pag nakaipon kayo ng pangregalo sa mga chix niyo, get them a medisina shirt and you'll prolly get a call back. Nux!

This is the Hermès boutique of Metro Manila…read more Well, there is very little for me to comment about Hermès, other than they have the best silk ties, best silk scarves, upmarket shirts and high-end perfumery. The bottom line: Hermès is top dog when it comes to quality and style.

My cousin from Bacolod loves this shop. When she comes to visit, I get to take her around Makati…read more She always has to stop by this store. I'm not really into fashion, but I've learned how to appreciate the items in this shop. Honestly, the only reason I come to Aldo Accessories is to check their rings out. It's pretty pricey compared to other shops that sell rings that aren't exactly real and aren't also fake. But the designs of Aldo Accessories are so pretty. The rings are elegant but don't look old. They're also really classy but they do not call attention to themselves. If you collect rings like I do, visit this shop. Almost every month they have new designs. If you're not into rings, they do have other items like sunglasses and watches. Yes, it's a store for men and women.

As a commuter I dread going to the Manila City area, rarely ever go there on my own volition, and…read moreconsider my occasional Manila sojourn as a "day trip." But when I'm there I'm always sure to be visiting certain places without fail, and when I'm in the area the Booksale along Pedro Gil is one of them. I discovered the Booksale on accident looking for a training venue nearby, and to be honest, it took me by surprise. Sure, it's a populous area and UP Manila and Robinsons are just on the other side of Taft, but still it seemed so out-of-place among the chaos of Pedro Gil. Despite this, it's a pretty peaceful store inside, and it's a sizable Booksale at that. In most other branches you'd have to squeeze through people to get into aisles, and here, not so much! It's a great thing to be able to have all that space when you're browsing and digging through pits of books to find something worthwhile. I'm a big believer in finding good things in less accessible, offbeat places, and I do think that in this Booksale branch, you could do just that.

What I love about Booksale is getting that thrill of finding a random non-mainstream book that you…read morewon't get from the typical book stores in Manila. I love it when you discover new titles, series, and authors because of how random and chaoticly unorganized the books are in Booksale. What also makes these second hand books special is that you get random messages from old users such as dedications and other notes which tell you a whole different story. Not only that but these books were surely loved by their previous owners and they wanted to pass on the wonderful and magical experience they had. I also discovered my favourite short story writer named Etgar Keret when I randomly pulled out The Nimrod Flipout from the huge stack of unorganized books. It's so rare for me to instantly fall in love with a book by just reading the first page. I'm now on the hunt to see all Booksale branches in the metro to get his other books because you can't find them on other book shops. My best chances are, I'd find the rest of them on other Booksale branches.