Someone once told me that you can buy practically anything wholesale in Binondo.This store must be…read moreliving proof of that. You have to wonder how a store can survive selling only one type of merchandise. In the case of Big Time Candle Trading, it's all about candles, candles, nothing but candles. I would think that a store like this can only make hay on the one day in the year when Filipinos pay respects to their departed relatives by lighting candles at their graves, which would be All Saints' Day. But no. This store is surviving and has been in business for many years, according to the lady behind the desk. She said she is not sure how long the business has been operating, but she does know that the owner is not the first generation owner of the establishment.

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

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 :)

Wanna-be bakers and chefs, listen up! I've got the perfect shopping destination for all your…read morekitchen needs! Say hello to MK Kitchen Equipment, world! This outlet store of sorts is found along the strip of Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong City. It's kind of easy to miss since it isn't at all fancy. It's just a simple warehouse beside Pioneer Point building. To be honest, I never once noticed it before. I just thought it was an unknowing junkshop in front of HMR Trading Center. But when my boss shared that they once took a side trip here during one of their lunch breaks, I knew I had to check it out for myself. Buying kitchen equipment can leave anyone's pockets all holed up. And that is the beauty of MK Kitchen. It's a warehouse that sells baking and cooking items in wholesale prices. They've got muffin pans, colourful ladles, wooden spoons, measuring cups and spoons, pans, etc. Safe to say this place is a haven for anyone who is a resident in the kitchen. If you're thinking of putting up your own restaurant, building your food business or just want brand spanking new kitchen equipment, you should definitely pay MK Kitchen a visit. It's got everything you'll need and probably more!

I started wearing eyeglasses only a couple years back but I have broken, misplaced, lost, scratched…read moreand stepped on 8 pairs of eyeglasses. I am that careless when it comes to my eyewear, since I hate wearing eyeglasses. They are cumbersome, clunky and uncomfortable. However, I am too broke and deathly afraid for laser eye surgery or eye correction, so until I marry into money, I'm going to have to keep on breaking, losing and scratching my eyeglasses. It's a good thing that I have found the best place to get cheap eyeglasses around the metro. Paterno Street, a few streets away from Raon and Hidalgo streets near the Quiapo Church, is the mecca for optometrists and eye specialists. Here, you will find row upon row of eyewear stores and specialty shops for all kinds of eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses. You will find frames in all styles, brands and makes. You can also select from a range of prices, from the obviously fake and fragile counterfeits to the discounted bulk-rate imported frames. You can also buy wholesale frames (for what reason, I don't know. I mean who would possibly need a wholesale rate on eyeglass frames... oh yeah. Me.). All you need is a little patience. You can walk around and shop around for the lowest prices on frames. You can also duck into one of the eye clinics to have expert optometrists perform computerized eye refractions and check ups. The entire street is basically competing for business, so bear that in mind when haggling for the lowest bargains.

Just came home from Paterno Street. Lots of optical shops to choose from. My daughter and I…read moreentered at least 10 shops. My daughter was not able to choose the eyewear that would fit her personality and face from the famous shops (according to the star rating in Google). When we decided to just come back to the first shop that we've been into, that's the time we saw this optical shop in the corner of Paterno and Sales (?) Street. The name of the shop is KMC Eyewear Shop manned by two Chinese (maybe one of them is the owner). They called our attention. I told my daughter that we can try looking at their eyewear since we still have enough time. They're kind and accommodating, very patient in assisting my daughter as she tries one pair of eyeglasses to another eyeglasses. She liked 2-3 pairs and confused which one to buy. Then I saw a Dior brand in red color and asked my daughter if she likes it. She tried it on and she said it looks really good. I then asked the Chinese woman if they have a blue of it and she said yes. She went out of their shop to get the blue one from, I think, another shop of theirs or stockroom. While she was out, I saw another good pair of eyeglasses in blue color tucked in the corner of the glass shelf. It was an Oakley imitation but nevertheless a good-looking one. My daughter said she also liked it. When the Chinese woman returned, I asked her how much for the two pairs if we will have them in multicoated and transitional lens. She said 3200 pesos but since we will buy two it will only be 2800 pesos. Wow! My daughter said that only the Oakley will have the multicoated and transitional lens, while the Dior will be as it is. She decided just to keep the Dior as a reserve once the Oakley would be damaged in the future lol. So final price for the eyeglasses is 2300 pesos plus 200 pesos for the eye check up. It's really a very good deal. Two pairs for just 2500 pesos. In the mall it is around 6000-6500 pesos for one pair of eyeglasses with multicoated and transitional lens when we asked Acebedo. Above all, my daughter is so happy with her glasses. She keeps saying that everything is HD lol. Thanks to KMC

Waited 20mins as priority ( senior citizen) to order and then waited another 15mins to claim my…read moreorder. It's not worth the wait.

As a grocery store ya love them schitz . Except who's the Einstein designed the shopping carts ?…read more Only 1 cart per isle will . I go to the store before most Filipinos have thought of getting out of bed .. 10 am. Any later and it's like a bunch of grownups playing bumper cars .between the staff and these pro grocery shoppers always in my way not yielding to paying customers ‍. The cafe is alright if you don't mind food a room temp . I've been in this country 8 years now .. serving hot food is never a priority anywhere. Its hit or miss with cashiers .. it can be a real nightmare if you purchase off the discount shelf . One time I got an excellent steak in the meat section it was really excellent last year.

Most of the reviews here are on the pet center or the other divisions of the market, i.e. the one…read morewith shoes, the one with clothing overruns, the one with secondhand appliances, the one with bicycles, the one with gardening stuff, etc. Those are all well and good, but what I love about the Cartimar Market is their food. Seriously, where else can you get authentic Thai food for less than a hundred pesos? Sen Lek Thai in the foodcourt is one of the best Thai places I've tried. If you're more into Korean food, Arisoo is a restaurant towards the back that I was also able. My favorite though is the cold taho at one of the Japanese groceries here, I forget the name. It's basically cold taho with toppings of your choice, for around fifty pesos for a big bowl. It's my secret pick me up. Don't tell anyone, okay?

I consider Cartimar Market to be one of the more underrated places in the metro. A lot of people…read moreknow about the pet center here, which is also what drew me to the place in the first place, but once you go past that, you'll see that it has a whole lot more to offer. It's not a market in the usual sense. I haven't seen any wet produce like meat or fish, though I'm sure there's an area in there somewhere. What I have seen are stores selling clothing - mostly overruns or surpluses of major brands, stores selling shoes, stores selling appliances, and stores selling miscellaneous items like mason jars and the like. You also have, of course, the pet center, and the SM supermarket. The best part, I think, are the foreign groceries where you can get Japanese or Korean ingredients dirt-cheap.

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.