Pop Culture isn't so much as a store so much as it is a part of Alabang Town Center. This place is…read moreto Alabang Town Center as a district is to a city. I hope that analogy helps clear things up for you guys out there. Anyway, Pop Culture has a lot of small stores, one of them sells video game hardware and games. Most of them sell clothes for girls at a really low price point. Then there's a store that specializes in selling ipies, bongs, and rolling paper and other Rastafarian paraphernalia. It's interesting to walk down this part of Alabang Town Center because of just how cool some of the stores are. Most of them have forgettable names, but it doesn't make the place any less interesting. When I just window shop for the heck of it, I find myself strolling around this place even if it's just for a few minutes.

Do you sometimes feel like your limited budget is keeping you from enjoying a mall? That's how I…read morefeel often whenever I'm at Alabang Town Center and mostly everything I see in shops are out of my budget. Though with Pop Culture around, I finally have a place where things are of "within reach" on those days where I'm in a pinch. Pop Culture is that section of Town, beside the food court that's basically a small group of boutiques that sell a lot of good clothing, accessories, shoes, bags and whatnot. There's a Girl Shoppe by the entrance, which sells a variety of women's accessories, while the other stores inside have a lot of imported clothes from Bangkok and sometimes locally manufactured like Get Laud. Lots of Korean accessories too. What I love about Korean accessories are how dainty and quirky the designs can be. Most of the prices here are relatively cheap to averagely priced (around Php 100-450 for, let's say, a top) so there's surely something that fits every budget.

Ahh Mendrez. The sign of their store alone is enough to conjure up found memories of my early…read moreadolescent years. I often bought school shoes in this store. I would go here with my mom and she would recommend to me a pair that was in fashion. Back then fashion was the least of my concerns. So long as I didn't look like a garish clown I was happy with what I wore. So far as I know, Mendrez is a local brand. So there, you can already tell that there's a level of craftsmanship and quality in material that you won't find in foreign brands whether in the US, Japan, or Europe. That said, out of the local brands of shoes, I have to conceded that Mendrez is probably the only one that I'll ever trust. Most of the shoes I bought from Mendrez actually lasted me for quite a long time. When we hear of local, there's a strong tendency to think that it's something that won't last for more than a year. To it's credit my Mendrez lasted me for two years of everyday wear.

A good old reliable store for basic shoe needs; I used to buy black flats for school here, haha…read more While some of the designs can occasionally be a little bland, I like how Mendrez is able to follow the trends set by more expensive brands and offer their own versions for half or even a quarter of the prices of other stores. I recently replaced an old beat up pair of sandals with ones from here. They're sturdily built, comfy, and stylish without being in your face. I'm definitely a fan!

Back when I was a kid I accidentally ruined my shoes. As punishment I ended up having to buy new…read moreshoes with my own money. What happened next was a disaster. I ended up being a scrooge and penny pincher and buying shoes from a local brand thinking all shoes were the same. I bought a pair from a store called Rusty Lopez. The design looked good and the material seemed decent. I though I got away with my first bargain. Boy was I wrong. I ended up having to have the shoe replaced no less than three times because it would break in less than a week. I decided to never buy from this brand ever again. Shucks I wouldn't even touch it. Seeing it's name is an eyesore that fills me with rage and bad memories. After years and years of waiting, writing this single star post has given my opportunity at revenge! Man is it sweet. On the plus side it did teach me the great lesson of you getting what you pay for.

Believe me when I say that you can really find anything you'll need inside BF Homes. For a quick…read moredose of shoe shopping, a lot of women here head to Step-Rite. They're a local brand and manufacturer of shoes, and they've really made quite a name for themselves here in the south. They have a lot of styles available, but I do believe they're more known for their sandals/slip-ons. I've purchased several pairs of shoes here while growing up. School shoes, slippers, wedges, espadrilles... Their styles lean more towards classy than trendy. They have a pretty good variety most of the time, and they often have sales!

When you live in BF Homes, you don't have to go too far to get anything. Need clothes? Shop at…read moreRuins. Want dinner? Eat at Bamba Café. Want to get drunk? You have over 40 bars to choose from. In this dining neighborhood, everything is accessible, even a perfectly good pair of shoes and you can find it in a little shop called Step Rite. I've been here several times before on different occasions and it's mostly when I'm too lazy to drive to the mall. They've made buying shoes more than just a fun activity; they've made the whole experience easier. They have a good selection of shoes, parking is never a problem and the shop is right along a Thai restaurant and a cake shop. Shoes here are well made and I've been using my pair for quite some time now. This shop has been around for years and it's there for all the right reasons.

Not enirely sure what to make of GEOX. On the one hand their products look great to me. They even…read morebrag about how their shoes are breathable and the fact taht they're made from Italy. I noticed that brands are as likely to brag about how they're shoes are made from Italy mcuh in the same way that watches brag about how they're made by the Swiss. Just because the Swiss make some of the finest watches known to man does not mean they can't make something horrible. The same is true for the Italians and shoes. Just because they're capable of making great shoes, doesn't mean that every pair of shoes to come from the country shaped like one is a great pair. Upon close inspection though, I see little to no fault in the consturction and the material used in making GEOX shoes. I might just buy a pair once I earn enough cash.

If there is one store that would describe my husband, this would be it. It's slick, laidback and…read morebreathes basketball. Ballers are drawn to this place because of two words: basketball shoes. When we were still living abroad and would go back to the Philippines for a vacation, no trip is complete without a visit to Titan and copping a few pairs. And hubby and his fellow south ballers must have prayed so hard because just last year, Titan opened up a big store in Alabang. Aside from the wide selection of basketball shoes (it doesn't matter if you're a Kobe, Jordan or Lebron fan), Titan also sells top of the line baller apparel and accessories. Their flagship store in BGC has a barber shop (we have yet to try that out), while this one in Alabang houses the TitanxLGR design studio, a place where athletes can order customized jerseys. Hubby's basketball team in the office ordered their uniforms there and one time I accompanied him to pick them up. These jerseys are quite pricey in my opinion (1,800 for a pair of uniform), but hubby said they're really comfy to wear, and it's very durable. When we're in this store, hubby treats me the same way I treat him when I'm in H&M or Forever21; he knows I'm bored after seeing a dozen shoes but he pretends not to notice and continues to shop anyway.

Walking around Southmall, I stopped when I saw this store as it was my first time seeing it. Also,…read morethey were offering a free foot examination of some sort. Curious, I immediately went inside and the staff kindly assisted me and had my feet assessed by a kind of machine you step in, which reminds me of weighing scales, as you put your feet flat there, but this machine measures something else. When the results came in, the staff explained to me that the natural arch of my feet was already collapsing - eventually it would lead to pain - and I would need to take measures. She gave me an exercise to do daily to prevent the condition from getting worse. And then I looked around the shop and she showed me the different sandals, explaining that each was comfortable and designed to fit the shape of the foot well. I tried some on, and I was sold at one white pair of casual sandals, which was the most comfortable I've ever walked with. But then the price was over P4,000. Aside from shoes and sandals, they also have shoe accessories, like in-soles which you can insert in closed shoes so that they will be more comfortable. I was drawn to it, though I only have a pair of flat shoes, which I rarely use.

Sebago boat shoes have been around since the 1940's and I've seen a couple of them when I was…read moreyoung. My dad always had a few pairs and I wondered what kind of shoes they were. Now they have been such a hit again with people wearing boat shoes as part of their fashion statements. Sebago for me is the most reliable brand when it comes to boat shoes. I bought a pair 3 years ago and they are still in good shape until now. The leather is still in perfect condition and has not withered. I love that I can just let my Sebagos get drenched when it's raining and I don't have to worry about the quality. I also love that Sebago sells extra colored laces if you want to mix and match. Sebago also has a wide range of colors for their boat shoes from dark ones to really bright colored ones. Take your pick anytime and drop by their store.