Compared to its neighboring businesses in the area, Wellmanson presents itself like a glittering,…read moregolden boutique staffed by well-dressed ladies in blazers and pencil skirts assisting you in buying stuff you likely don't really need. Sure you might have just come in to get a pair of nice pliers or leatherette cord to make accessories with, but you will be bewildered with the wealth of other DIY craft items and supplies and gift items in general. Where else would you be able say "Look at these beads!" and "Check out this dog hair trimmer!" in the same breath? They have mini water fountains, and toy brick sets, and thighmasters and who knows what else. They're like a mini-mall oasis in the middle of Quiapo. The place is somewhat labyrinthine in structure, and while it is fun to look around and see what the next room holds, it does get confusing if you're really looking for something specific. Their payment system is also a bit of a pain--though professional looking, it's a little cumbersome to line up to get your items priced, *and then* have to pay for them in a separate line. Also, there are these curious pulley baskets that have ropes leading to dark holes in the ceiling... You know if you're going to browse through stores in Quiapo and DV and its nearby areas that you're just getting into a trap, because if you think you're window shopping without buying anything, you're kidding yourself. Wellmanson knows this for a fact and has set out to have you do exactly that.

Hear ye, hear ye, passionate beaders. Feeling a bit crafty?…read more The whole stretch of the street where Wellmanson is located is full of shops selling beads and whatnot! Villalobos Street is the place to be if you are looking for new craft projects, specially accessories. It's the disneyland of crafter's everywhere. I've lost one whole day just going through each one of he shops in there, checking out the craft supplies and beads. Wellmanson's my favourite store so far and the biggest I've been into among the ones on the street. I've never seen so many craft supplies in one store. Beads of all kind and sizes are found there, prices ranging from very cheap to expensive ones like the swarovski. I went here one Saturday afternoon and it was packed with manangs like me :p They have ready made accessories like necklaces, watches and bracelets... but the best part of the store for me is where they sell the raw materials. Twines, nylons, charms, beads.. the whole nine yards of it. They even have those hooks for earrings and locks for bracelets, of different sizes, color and shapes. They also have those organizer where you can keep your beads inside, pattern boards, tools like pliers. I enjoyed myself too much shopping in there :)

Gift Gate is a store that basically sells a lot of items that are colored in pink. It's main mascot…read moreis a Kitty that I'm sure many of those born in the 90's would recognize but those after the millennium would not. Back in the old days Gift Gate was well, a nice place to get gifts for your loved ones, particularly kids. They sold stationary, toys, pencils, pens, you name it it had it. I gave this one four stars because of the sense of nostalgia. I have a great suspicion that buying something here and giving it to a girl who grew up in the 90's might appreciate the sense of nostalgia that this would bring them. Not only that, but items from Gift Gate aren't that expensive. It's a nice place for people who are working on a tight budget, but want something that has a little bit of thought and sentimentality to their gift of choice.

Ugh. Too many cute things in one place…read more I am not into cute things, but I made a deal with my nieces that I have to pass by this shop whenever I'm here, take a picture of their new things and send or show it to them. And sometimes, being a good aunt means enduring a trip to Tickles to look for cute stuff for my two adorable nieces. Everyone keeps telling me, "The stuff there is so cute!" Yes, so cute, but the price of their stuff isn't cute. A notebook there goes for Php200 up when I can get the same one in Landmark for Php100 or less. Their bookmarks are also more expensive than the exact same one in Fully Booked. I suggest, before you buy the cute things you see here, scout around other places 'cause they just might have it at cheaper prices and better quality. The only thing I will ever splurge on in Tickles is stuff for my pet. They now have these really pretty beds for dogs and cats. And my poor cat won't have to sleep on an old pillow on the floor every night. There are times, I also find myself buying their stuffed toys to give my cat as a present so it won't be bored at night.

If you have very little self-control for purchasing cute things, make a detour! But since this…read moreparticular branch is right smack in the middle of Greenbelt 1 and 5, which makes it VERY. HARD. TO. AVOID, then you (or at least your wallet) will be doomed. Tickles is one of those places that are just difficult to resist. It's like a cute child doing a very convincing "paawa face", holding on to your legs, begging for ice cream. Through the years, this place has been constantly getting better and better at stocking the quirkiest and cutest finds, and at reasonable prices. You can count on Tickles for that last-minute birthday present, or for when you're looking to fill that existential void with cuteness in the form of adorable animals printed on pencil cases, pillows, bags... or everyday things with faces on it, soft plushy things for your desk. And, it's actually not just all cute stuff, but also quirky, functional things like statement aprons, wallets, bags... Ack! Oh and they have stuff for the most special people in your life--I'm referring to our companion animals, of course! They have these colorful beds for your dogs/cats, so they can sleep in style, unlike their slaves (us).

Great selection of unique gifts from the Philippines. We found gifts for all our family members…read moreback in the states

Whenever I see brown paper, I think of Papemelroti. And, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It…read moreonly means that Papemelroti for years and years has really made a name for themselves for being so good at making paper things. I usually go here if I have a present that needs a nice, presentable, brown paper bag, or perhaps one of their decorative paper boxes if it's an extra special present. They have several options for gift-wrapping here if you're going for a more DIY, organic look & feel - twine, brown paper, and all. I absolutely love their gift cards and postcards here, too! I purchased some teacup and teapot-shaped cards. I found them too pretty to actually give to someone, so I stuck them on my wall instead, haha. Papemelroti is really known for those sentimental, sometimes cheesy gift items. You know, things with motivational quotes on them, things that say "best grandma ever",and the like. Magnets, mugs, wall hangings, etc. They do have a line of crafty-looking accessories (though I'm not sure how sturdy these things are...) which is perfect for you if you're into the boho/hippie style.

The Manila Collectible Co. store is one of a kind. It is unique in its history, concept, and…read morenature. Owner and manager Charisse Tugade (a Filipina who grew up mostly in the US), conceptualized and opened the store to feed her passion and personal advocacy of proliferating knowledge about Filipino pre-Hispanic culture. The Manila Collectible Co serves as an approachable museum and "culturespace" -- a very informative center for education on Philippine pre-history, Filipino indigenous people and their culture, and uniquely Filipino products -- all sourced from all over the Philippines. As a museum, TMCC offers exhibits on woven crafts, baybayin (an ancient Filipino system of writing), and manunggul jars (replicas of which she also sells), among other things. As a culturespace, she offers pottery painting classes for children, weaving workshops, and has partnered with several groups for frequent pasyals (tours), workshops, and special performances. As a store, TMCC carries food and beverages, textiles, finely-produced costumes and accessories made out of these textiles, and quality trinkets -- all amazing souvenir finds for foreign visitors, as well as locals who never really realized how talented their fellow Filipinos are. I've bought several things from TMCC. Favorites are the Tsokolate con Crema, and Dulce de Leche spreads; an authentic Ilocos towel (which are super soft, lightweight, absorbent, and beautifully woven); and Real Tan organic browning oil. My next target purchase is an exquisite ikat clutch from her Bai Riasha line.

As a fan of all things Filipino I always go out of my way to check out cultural shops and try as…read moremuch as possible to support them! Manila Collectible in Intramuros is one of those great finds! They carry a lot of handwoven bags in shapes I've never seen before, national costumes for kids (but not the usual ones!) jewellery boxes and a lot of textile. It's great to find these things in Manila especially for those who can't make a trip out of the city. Its fun inviting atmosphere makes you want to spend the whole afternoon here. They recently moved to a new location in Fort Santiago, I haven't been but their old store was amazing. They had a set of stairs lined with manunggul jars and behind it an excellent view of the cathedral. The other set of stairs led to a rooftop deck, open for events and parties. If their new location is anything like this one, I'm sure you wont be disappointed!

Just to be clear, I really do not believe in all this feng shui stuff but a lot of people do, and…read morenot just my Chinese friends either. My brother, for one, is a firm believer after a feng shui expert gave him some advice about where to place certain furniture at his place, and also recommended some feng shui items like the kind found in this store. After that, he swears that his health improved substantially. A lot of my friends also believe in feng shui. Mostly, their premise is "it can't hurt." I do find some of the stuff here quite decorative, and they do make good gifts for those who are into this oriental mumbo jumbo. No offense meant for those who believe in this. Anyway, the store is one of the biggest of its kind that I've ever seen and I've seen plenty. I suppose tourists will find this store extremely interesting.

I'm glad I came here for souvenirs before heading home. This store in the Mall of Asia (MOA) has…read moreFilipino food, art, clothing, history, and culture. It's thoughtfully designed and clean. I think it's valuable to visit a unique place like this as there's lots of rare finds. It was pretty busy. I had to maneuver around a lot of people while browsing. They had a lot of merch that I wanted but I knew I didn't have a lot of space in my luggage. When you check out, just know green shopping bags are sturdy and good quality. I regret buying the brown shopping bags. I noticed they smelled funny when I unpacked my luggage when I got home. I ended up recycling them. I wish I had more luggage space. I wish I had more time in this store. I guess it gives me a reason to come back here on my next vacation.

My favorite store in MOA (MANILA Philippines)…read more This store had everything and then some to warm your pinoy heart. You know I'm not fond of shopping but I enjoyed browsing through the many items and merchandise in this store. I found lots of souvenirs and handicrafts here and some must-have "pasalubongs." I like to pick pasalubongs that will capture the essence of the Philippines and they have many of them here including novelty shirts, home decor items and don't forget snacks: Crispy Mushroom Chips, Banana Chips and, of course, Dried Mangoes. I also found some cool local fashion I can't wait to wear this summer. They had luggage and bag tags that come with free personalization. Made the recipients happy... Great prices because the U.S. dollar is strong ($1 = ± 56 pesos). There are plenty of employees to help if you need assistance. The best part is... they accept major credit cards which was good because I was running out of pesos LoL! Filled one luggage to capacity (22kg, almost 50 lbs which was the max allowed w/o paying excess) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Okay, that's all... happy shopping. Review #3300

Thank heavens for gift and flower shops conveniently found near or within hospital grounds. In a…read moresense, they are also a life saver. These shops can avert a potentially embarrassing situation which is you forgetting to bring something for the patient you're visiting. Case in point is Liza's Flowers at Manila Doctors Hospital. This small shop offers different types of flowers, balloons, and stuffed toys that can surely touch the heart of the person you're visiting. I bought a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers for my wife's relative who had just given birth at MaDocs. Initially, I wanted to bring food because, by tradition, that's what most Filipinos would expect. But since I didn't have the time to shop for the perfect food takeaway, I settled for flowers. My gesture was much appreciated by the recipient. But alas, I paid a lot for convenience! The shop also offers personalized t-shirt printing, if you can believe it! Although this service isn't necessarily intended for hospital patients, maybe someday it will become a popular souvenir for loved ones confined in the hospital.