I had to get a gift for a niece a few weeks back and while I was wandering around Century City Mall…read moreI found this cute little store called Chibimomo! I entered because I saw a cute giraffe stuffed toy at the door and I couldn't resist! It turns out it was a kids store, exactly what I was looking for! They had a lot of clothes from brands I didn't know, so it's great for those who want their little ones to stand out. They also had a good selection of children's toys and decor. I ended up buying really adorable swimwear for my niece and couldn't help but grab one for her sister as well. Nothing cuter than matching siblings! Their prices are a little high but still not too bad. If you've got a toddler you're dying to spoil Chibimomo might have just what you're looking for!

Chibi Momo has everything I want my future child to be wearing: Girly baby doll dresses for the…read moreprincesses and adorable separates for the princes. I bet if we were still young'ns, my mom would've loved to go shopping here. While there are items in the store sourced in the US and Europe, what I love most about this place are there capsule collections featuring local designers. As someone who works in fashion, I was so over the moon just thinking about my (future) little one dressed up in Maureen Disini and Rosanna Ocampo! I mean, how fabulous is that right? Some moms may find it too frivolous and rather expensive especially for children's clothing, but I just think you're paying for premium goods. Far from the mass produced and brightly colored things you can easily buy in every other mall, everything at Chibi Momo feels well thought out and well curated. It could be that I work in a fashion magazine but I'd be happy to recommend a bit of fashion into any little girl or even a little boy's life in that matter! After all, you're never too young to learn about good taste.

When it comes to my niece and nephew, I err on the safe side. Even if there are many brands…read morespecializing in children's goods, I usually patronize the ones that my mom bought us when we were young. One brand that our family has trusted for a long time now is Enfant. I can attest to the quality of their products because some of their clothes that my mom bought me when I was a kid are still usable up to this day. I like going to the Enfant store because everything I need to buy for my niece and nephew can be found there. Aside from kids' apparels, they also sell baby bottles, toiletries, bags, and baby-friendly furniture. I like their baby clothes because they are made of 100% cotton and are hypoallergenic. I wish, though, that they sell clothes that are more in tune with the modern times, so to speak. Another good reason to buy from this store is the price of their products. I was able to buy a sturdy stroller for my niece for less than PHP 4,000.00. Now, I think that's a bargain.

When you become a godmother, it's time for you to look for places to buy baby clothes and baby…read moreaccessories. You can't just rely on the sales that happen seldom. You will have to come to reality by accepting the fact that anything for the baby is expensive! Whenever my friends and I give gifts to a new mother / friend, we try to pass by Enfant to check out their merchandise. First we ask our mother / friend what she needs for the baby and being the practical friends, we split the cost of something big. Like for example before when my boss gave birth, we bought her a crib in Enfant. Since we were 15 people, the price of the crib divided amongst us wasn't so bad. I think it's the best way to help the mother / friend. You give something that she really needs, which lessens her costs. This is really a mommy's heaven!

What I love about Gingersnaps is that they really cater to the Filipino audience. The clothes they…read morehave -- particularly the shirts are made with thinner cotton material which is perfect for the weather in the Philippines. Some would argue that because of the thin material, it looks a bit cheap. But having a baby and owning a baby clothing line myself, I totally understand where they are coming from. Of course, I've had my fair share of shopping for US brands, but I always end up using the stuff I buy from Gingersnaps more simply because my daughter is more comfortable in them. Don't worry, even with the thinner material, the clothes are very well made and they can stand several washings. I also love the retro designs that they have and that they have a very extensive line for boys as well.

Thieves. Took our money (peso 3500+)but did not want to release the items to us because they could…read morenot see the money in their bank account. Spent 3 hours in the store on the phone with our bank explaining that the money had already been debited from our account. In the end we left without any refund nor the goods. One staff said this has happened many times before. By the way, THANKS FOR RUINING OUR HOLIDAY. NEGATIVE STARS FOR THIS STORE.

If you love bargain hunting, this is definitely the place to be. I thought Greenhills was…read moreimpressive, but this place takes shopping to another level. I always considered Divisoria top-notch for deals and variety, and this shopping center did not disappoint. The mall has about six floors packed with countless aisles and shops to explore. The lower floor is not air-conditioned, but as you go higher, the atmosphere becomes more comfortable and boutique-style. Unlike Greenhills, the vendors here don't constantly hound or pressure you while shopping, which made the experience much more enjoyable. The prices are already relatively cheap, so there's not much need to bargain aggressively. I didn't even make it to the top floors because there was just so much to see. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more.

168 Shopping Mall (MANILA Philippines)…read more There are 7 malls in Divisoria and this is the shopping mall we spent the most time. This is an indoor mall with three levels and over 300 stalls/stores. It is air-conditioned inside for shoppers' comfort. When you hear Divisoria it is synonymous to cheap bargains and you can haggle the price and get it more cheap. They have everything here, especially off-the-rack clothing, purses and shoes, novelty items, gadgets... well, almost, everything. I tried to look for a Sacramento Kings jersey but they didn't have it LoL! They also have food stalls. Mom was able to buy a Filipiniana (aka 'Maria Clara'). It was a fun shopping experience here. Cash is king so have some handy before coming to Divisoria. I guarantee you'll find something and you won't be able to leave empty handed, that's for sure. Review #3293

Street Market in Manila Philippines…read more This is the largest street market in Manila. When i hear people say "mura" (cheap) I immediately think of Divisoria where you can haggle for the final price. The place is dirty and crowded and hot but it was fun seeing the many vendors and browsing through the many merchandise. We had our cousin come with us and she was the one who haggled for us LoL! I actually found some cool items here including clothing, and knock off "authentic replica" stuff. LoL! We also found a classic mahjong set for mom and a nice embroidered "barong Tagalog" (a traditional Filipino attire) for my brother-in-law for P450 which equals to $8. Oh man, we tried some street food too like corn on the cob, melon juice and Calamansi juice. I could shop and eat here all day. The place is huge. There are banks accessible around if we wanted to exchange currency. All cash here so bring enough. I guarantee you will not leave here empty handed. Review #3289

NIGHT MARKET MORE LIKE NIGHTMARE MARKET!!!! If I could rate…read morethis a zero star, I would the smell was so bad there's little kids running around barefoot and screaming and crying the smell mixed with the food and all the animals makes the smell so bad I was crying from how bad the smell was and from all the loud noises we were stuck there for half an hour, trying to find a way out of this market. Please don't go here at your own risk.

Big & Small Co wa¬¬s the first company established by the now popular group which includes Spin,…read moreOrange Juice and HAB Maternity & More. They have been around for a while and is among the pioneer local baby clothing stores in the country. Each brand in this group is popular by its own right. Spin offers edgy clothes for boys, HAB addresses the dearth of good local maternity items and Orange Juice caters to the tween market. Big & Small Co offers classic and colorful pieces for children. I love their summer clothing line. Aside from offering tiny swimsuits, rash guards and cover ups, they generally have bright colors and bold patterns during this season. They have a line of Nautical-themed clothes for your Little Sea Captain or Little Miss Summer - both styles for boys and girls are exciting and unique. In terms of quality, their years of experience gives them an edge over other kids' brands in the market today. The clothes are of good quality that can withstand several washes.

Children deserve to have beautiful party dresses, too! Tarte Tatin is an amazing store for little…read moregirls. They have some sporty and casual pieces for dress down events and some elegant pieces for dressier events. Its really a collection of stylish clothes for kids fit for any occasion. Tarte Tatin is owned by model Mandy Santos. The main product lines cover newborn girls to size 16. They also have some adult pieces for fashion-forward mommies. While the dresses are all lovely, you also have to check out the unique line of little bags and shoes. I love that they have little gladiator sandals and ballet flats! They source their fabrics from Asia and Europe but have everything locally manufactured so you get the innovative design of other countries but the quality craftsmanship of the Philippines -- the best of both worlds. Plus, since it is a local brand, they get plus points for helping boos the economy.

One of the first things you'll notice as a new mom is that newborn babies grow up incredibly fast…read more So you'll have to buy new clothes for your kid much more frequently than you do for yourself (by the way, you'll also notice that parents usually don't have any free time to spend shopping, so get used to your good old pajama as you'll spend a lot of time wearing it). The second level of Greenbelt 5 is the perfect place if you're looking for children's clothing, since it concentrates many nice stores like Mothercare, Gingersnaps and Osh Kosh. My favourite, however, is Cotton On Kids. Clothes there are so soft (cotton! yay!) and the prints are funky and cute at the same time. I just love their sleepsuits, specially because they offer many different options with side zippers or side buttons, what ease the dressing a lot. I get happy every time my baby wears Cotton On clothes. It's like "ooooh, you are so cute!", photo shoot #1; "owwwh, you look like a rock star with this one!", photo shoot #2 and I take a thousand pictures and don't know which one to instagram. Besides being soooo adorable, I can feel my baby gets really comfortable with the clothes, and that's what matters.

I love Cotton On so when I found out they had a store just for kids' clothes, I was excited to…read morecheck it out. Cotton On Kids has the cutest selection of clothing ranging from infant wear to bigger kids' clothes. Their clothing are up-to-date, but not over-the-top that makes your child look like a shrunken adult. Their clothes are made of nice material, not too thin not too thick, making them very comfortable for kids. They have shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, swimwear and sleepwear. They also have really nice accessories for both boys and girls. Of course, the girls get the nicer things like tutus, wands, headbands and clips, while boys get sunglasses and hats. I'm so excited for my little one to come out so I can buy him/her some clothes from here!

Nice bright store with beautiful clothing in bright colors for the Summer. Clothes are reasonably…read morepriced and well made. The styles are simple, have a good fit and the fabrics they use are of good quality. Dressing rooms are bright and clean, with full length mirrors inside each stall and one outside in the hallway. The stalls have stools to sit down on or rest your purse on. Sales people are stone faced but helpful. Sales prices are great! I came out of here with a beautiful emerald green wrap around top with lace shoulders, and a black fitted sheath dress 70% less than any other store in the mall. I'm a hard core thrifter so I won't be back here often; but I will be back, especially when they are having a sale. FYI - they carry XXL for guys!

The Cut is where boys go to become men (No, not the filthy way). If you're a guy with discerning…read moretastes, and the mall shops doesn't represent the real you, this is where you go. Located in a spot on Salcedo Village that is increasingly becoming hipper by the day, The Cut carries a lot of exclusive and limited release stuff, stuff you'd be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. They carry shoes, shirts, bags, wallets, cufflinks, hair care products, socks, tobacco, handkerchiefs, and everything in between.The items have been "curated" to bring out your inner swag and differentiate you from the heathens wearing those China knock-offs they bought from 168. Yes, the prices here are a bit on the high side, but that is a paltry price to pay for being the most well-dressed man in Manila. Man up, man. While you're here, you might as well go up the mezzanine and check out Felipe and Sons, the parent company of The Cut, where you can get a proper shave and cut, and probably get a suit tailored for you as well. Because that's how real men roll.