I had accidentally placed an order online noticing that their prices were double of what I could…read morefind on Amazon. I contacted them immediately to cancel my order and they refused to refund it to my original payment method and only to store credit even though the item was literally just purchased and no processing or shipping was done. I told them I'd refuse the package as well but they shipped it regardless. Extremely shady business practice.

This was the High End Mall, before all the other High End Malls appeared. And to this day, it…read moreretains a lot of the class and style that defined it as THE mall of choice of Manila's elite. Rustans is special because they were handpicking and curating the vendors and suppliers for a sensible, classy experience even before curation became a thing. And that's probably why Rustans has remained relevant. While other malls and department stores are content with featuring whoever and whatever, stepping inside Rustans was an experience in itself. If you had the scratch to spend on a place like this, you could step out of there in style. The men's section in particular gives you the whole "Manly and Classy" vibe that is just almost impossible to find nowadays. An amazing, amazing place.

One, if not the most beloved SM branch in the country for me, is, SM Quiapo. It is actually one of…read morethe two Outlet Stores of SM. It is still one of the best kept secrets in Manila because its hidden in the streets of Quiapo and it's a haven for bargain hunters. Most, if not all, of the sale items in different SM stores that weren't bought are delivered here. From clothes to toys to appliances and even school supplies, SM Quiapo offers its clientele the orange to red tags, denoting that original prices are marked down. One of the nicest polo shirts I bought came from this store. Originally priced at Php799, I bought it for only Php250! A pair of running shorts and a gray undershirt cost me only Php 150. It packs a lot of people especially during weekends but come on an early morning weekday and the store has a few buyers. A tip for everyone: Learn to ask for the cheapest racks for clothes, anyway, you wouldn't go here if you are not looking for quality and cheap clothes.

For starters, I don't know why this place is called SM Department Store Quiapo when in fact it's…read morelocated in Sta Cruz, very near the Carriedo station of the LRT. Maybe Henry Sy prefers to keep it this way. The story of SM's growth from mere shoe store in the '60s to the biggest department store chain in the country begins near this branch. The original SM was located a few meters away but the building where it was located has seen better days. This SM is known as a clearance outlet and I've known for the longest time that it's one of the best places in town to buy imported chocolates. For several Christmases, I bought assorted chocolates here to give to my family, friends and office mates. A friend who worked briefly for SM tipped me off about this branch. He told me that some items were being sold below cost. Now what can be a bigger deal than that? In my latest visit, the bargain sweets were still there, and I hope they will be for as long as there's an SM. I've also bought small items here in the past and was not surprised that the prices are not too far off from the sidewalk vendors outside. Since the place is comfortably air-conditioned, it's also a nice place to cool off and shop at the same time. Of all the SM department stores inside their malls, this place definitely has the lowest prices. That's saying a lot because SM already has a reputation for having the best prices in town.

Looking for cool and functional items you didn't even know existed? Then head on to Saizen, an…read more88-Peso store that sells items from Japan. Every time we pass by Trinoma, it's a must to visit Saizen, since they update the store every month and goodies are available every now and then. Although it is a surplus store, their items are still efficient and safe to use and eat (for the snacks). They sell from cute, colorful notebooks to yummy chocolate wafers, kitchen and dining items, bathroom items, and even beauty items! They sell all kinds of things, and some even make great ideas for gifts! Don't worry, 88 Pesos may be expensive for a three-piece candy, they offer half prices or one price for two items as well, so you can be assured you're getting enough for what you pay for. Tip: it's inside True Value hardware shop, so don't back away when you don't see it as a standalone shop.

Who doesn't love Saizen? It's such an amazing store and I really spend hours just looking through…read morethe P88 finds. Whether it's items for the kitchen, for the office or for personal use, you will definitely find something to your liking at Saizen. Funny though, I always go here not intending to buy anything but I always end up with several items costing me about P500 or P600. No worries though, I always end up using what I buy anyway. The best finds so far, the vacuum / compression bags. When you're packing for a trip, they really save a ton of space in your luggage. I also found some wool gloves for those quick trips to winter countries. I don't mind buying the cheap kind since I don't use them that often and they actual work for protecting your hands from the cold. If you like being creative with your kid's baon or your own packed lunch for the office, Saizen is an amazing place to buy bento stuff. They have rice shapers, sandwich cutters and different types of lunch boxes that would drive any bento momma crazy.

When I want to buy local souvenirs, I usually go to Kultura Filipino or to Filipiniana. Both are…read morelocated in Makati, close to my place. And both offer all the traditional symbols of the Philippines - barong tagalogs, pinneaple fiber clothes and table runners, t-shirts, Mother Pearl picture frames, pearl and coral jewelry and so on. I particularly prefer Kultura Filipino, because I have the feeling it's better served. Actually I think the store is bigger. Anyway, I prefer it. But when I don't want to cross Glorietta to get to the SM building, I go to Filipiniana, inside The Landmark. I highly recommend it for those times you have to buy a gift for a foreigner friend or buy some souvenirs to your family when you go back home on vacations.

If you're a foreigner or balikbayan looking for authentic and inexpensive Filipino souvenirs and…read moregoods, you have to stop by the Filipiniana section of Landmark. The large section is dedication just for Filipino crafts, products and food and I love how you have so many options to choose from. I'm not a foreigner or a balikbayan and I'm not looking for souvenirs but I do love going around this section and buying things. I love being a Filipino and I'm certainly proud of our skills, talents, culture and food. In this part of the department store, you'll find any kind of souvenir you want. It's basically a one-stop-shop. You can find gorgeous handmade and local artisan crafted furniture, home accessories, jewelry, clothes, traditional costumes and even yummy Filipino food snacks like peanut brittle and the famous dried mangoes! I always bring my foreign friends and family members from the States to this store and they always buy so many things and come out of the store happy and satisfied.

You walk through the store and nobody will leave you alone. Until you get to customer service and…read morenobody wants to help you. A room full of people waiting to be helped, 4 people sitting behind the counter and only one of them working.

SM Department Stores has been renamed as SM Stores but they still stand for everything you need in…read morejust one place. The one in Megamall is one of the biggest and easiest to navigate. Each floor is designated to items catering to a particular gender or age group. They also have a floor just for home furnishings and appliances. I've lost count of how many times I've been in dire need of a gift item at the last minute and was saved by the SM Store in Megamall. They house almost all of the most famous and dependable brands be it for clothes, toys, footwear, beddings or appliances. It makes it easier to shop if the other brand is just a few steps away. You can browse and compare all the brands without breaking a sweat. They have a lot of fitting rooms so the only times when you have to wait for your turn to try out an outfit is if it is the holiday season or during a sale. And they have several weekend sales throughout the year with numerous items selling for up to just 50% of their original price. And like what I mentioned earlier, it's easy to navigate this huge store. It's basically just one large rectangle of shopping haven with several floors.

I can't remember how many times I've been to the Landmark since I moved to Manila. I guess it was…read morethe first store my husband showed me. I remember that entering there was like a baptism, a début. I could almost hear the voice over: "Welcome, Danyella! This is the one and only Landmark! Here you'll find EVERYTHING you may need from now on. And for a cheaper price!". Did I say EVERYTHING? Yes, because that's exactly the feeling you have when you enter the Landmark. I just cannot decide where to look at. All products catch my attention. It's crazy. I'll give you a short list of what I already bought there, so you can feel the vibe: a Hello Kitty towel as a monito monita gift; a beautiful tea pot; maternity clothes; comfortable shoes; baby onesies; underwear; step ladders to reach high shelves; cute notebooks; toiletries; Instax instant film; scarfs; bags; a wallet; table linens and much more items. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the grocery. It's cheaper than Rustan's and even SM and you can find great variety. TIP: They sell Santis's meats and cold cuts at Landmark! I highly recommend it because of the quality. It's great to have this facility, so I don't have to split my grocery list anymore and go to Santis Deli at Rockwell.

So many cutesy butingting, so little room in the house…read more There is a section at the Landmark Department Store that can be considered a haven for hipsters - in that it features products that are shabby chic, and full of typography and graphic designed travel stuff. As you enter from the walkway that connects it to Greenbelt, you'll see the area on travel-inspired designs of notebooks and planners. And then there's the tin-can containers reminiscent of the things we used in the 80s as kids but the design is more English rose country and shabby chic. Still some of the home decor items are of prints and typography that would fit any room occupied by a hipster. Not that I'm a hipster, lol. But they are soooo cute!

The SM store Aura has a good selection of popular and new collection perfumes (Gucci, D&G,…read moreGuerlain, Burberry, Lanvin etc). They surprisingly have Creed and Bond No. 9 as well . If you want guaranteed authentic perfumes and don't want the stress of second guessing whether the perfume you bought is fake or not, come to the dept store of SM Aura.

When you enter SM Aura through the taxi stand, the first thing you are walking into is the SM…read moreStore. A bit weird that they don't have a formal entrance on that side and when I do groceries I literally walk back with grocery bags through the t-shirt section. Which is very annoying because the store is set up so that they make it as inconvenient for you to leave and they want you to linger so that you will buy more. So with heavy bags I have to find a way through the perfume section as well, which is pretty tight. If you are just shopping for items, this store actually has a nice relaxing atmosphere. They have some nice items for the home and kitchen. If you can find any appliances, there is an SM appliance store next door. No lines at the check out counter, fast and good service that help you wrap your items, even if it's a 100 php glass, they take care to wrap it for you in a respectful way as if it is an expensive wine glass.

If you pass by Guadalupe MRT station on your way home, you've probably seen arrows pointing to…read moreMartOne Department Store. One afternoon, I decided to give this establishment a try because I have nothing better to do plus I wanted to buy some office supplies. I was lucky because at that time, there was a sale. I asked the staff about it and she said that the establishment offers regular clearance sale throughout the year. This is a small department store but it's air-conditioned and it offers a wide variety of products. If you are not very particular with branded clothes and items, then this is a great place for you to find inexpensive goods. There's a section for home supplies, clothes, office supplies, beauty products, and even snacks. In addition to dry goods, the store also has an area offering printing, photocopying, and fax services. This establishment, which is open from 9:00am to 9:00pm every day, accepts credit card payments but be sure to bring a valid ID for verification.

Just the place to get some bargain knock offs! Yep, I'm cheap. Everyone's respectful and no one…read morepushes their stuff on to you. Just check them out and get only what you want.

Over the years, Tumblr users have skyrocketed. It's so popular that a lot of kids, teens and hip…read moreyuppies get inspiration from Tumblr blogs. May it be photography, quotes, memes, gifs, art, pop culture, style and most especially fashion. My friend actually introduced my sister and I to Fashion Market. After learning about it, we go there every time were at this mall. Fashion Market is split into 2 sides on the mall - the left and the right. I suggest going through all stores. It can take hours though, haha, but you won't regret it. They have every style and trend you'd typically see on Tumblr, fashion blogs, Youtube beauty channels and fashion week! Inside, you'll also find spas, salons, money changers and ATM's. The prices range from super inexpensive to normal clothing price rates. A lot of stores sell super hip shoes, clothes, hats, shades and even prom dresses and traditional Filipino costumes. Definitely check out these stores I frequent when you're there - (right side) Push Thru, Mastermind Chase and Muradito, (left side) Nava, Berca and Ballow. Happy shopping! :)