As soon as night settles in this place comes alive…read more I only was able to get video of the night life here, but it's a really cool market to find deals on shoes or clothing or just about anything. Half the market is street food vendors-- a variety of things from kwek-kwek, day old chicks, balut, corn on a stick, etc... you get the drill.They also have things like vendors with congee and noodles. There is such a condensed variety of foods here. I found a lot of what was being sold fairly reasonable or cheap, but it was really cool just seeing the market in action. It's not a place just to go sightseeing, however. I can't stress how packed it is and you can easily lose your group if you blink. It should also be noted to keep your bags and valuables close to you, I imagine this would be a good place to pick-pocket. While I don't know of any reports related off the top of my head, I just believe it'd be better safe than sorry since it's a practical sensory overload being in the thick of it. In a nutshell, it's gritty and people aren't overly friendly, but they're there and it's an interesting place to explore. If I was a local, I might not venture here a lot, but every once and awhile it would seem like a good place to find a deal.

When you've had your taste of ukay, every so often you'll be itching to venture out and ukay new…read moreold stuff, very much like the itching you get after you've tried on several articles of dusty clothes. It's all worth it though, when you find those few things you've worked hard to find among the sea of secondhand somethings you'd had to wade through. This particular building in Anonas houses a good bunch of ukay-ukay stores and has always been one of my go-to places to thrift, after the spots in Cubao had to close and be replaced by the condominium sites. It's really accessible to the Anonas LRT Station and a lot of the stores have air-conditioning, which is great to have when you plan to be covered in grime at the end of the day. Most of them are fashion stores, carrying clothes, bags, and shoes, but a good few would have beddings, toys, and a couple of appliances or books here and there. One of the stores only specialize in toys and collectibles, while its neighbor only housed shoes and bags. It's my personal strategy to go for the least accessible places as they'd probably have cheaper stuff, but most of the stores in the higher floors had a more limited selection, more expensive clothes, and limited air conditioning. One of the stores had tops and dresses that went for almost four hundred bucks, which is hella expensive, but I guess it was because they were pre-chosen designer and branded articles. I guess they were worth a look regardless--no doubt they'd go on sale at some point in time. Still it'd be better to just sift through the bigger stores with more varied, cheaper stuff. Arm yourself with a bottle of water, some wipes, and alcohol, and make your way to Anonas. You're sure to find something here. If not, ask when their next batch of arrivals come in (some might have a text "mailing list" or they'd just give you a mobile number), or ask if they're online. Some of them have legit, updated Facebook pages!

I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in…read moreprivileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out. I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in privileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out.

Who doesn't enjoy weekend markets? It's always fun to be in an open space surrounded by several…read morefood stalls selling yummy, delish dishes and other fun vendors selling all things quirky, kitschy and sometimes even useful? Greenfield Weekend Market is one I truly enjoy visiting. I've gone here more than a couple of times and all those I really had a ton of fun. I once went when my boyfriend set up a special FIBA viewing event just last year. The turnout was incredible and there was just something so encouraging about watching with a bunch of your kababayans as your national team play their hearts out on the court! Definitely a cool experience for me. The only setback with Greenfield Weekend Markets would be the availability of seats, tables and blankets. Most food stalls let you borrow their picnic blankets if you purchase something from them or if you're lucky enough, you can get a table. To be safe, you can also just bring your own picnic blanket. Anyway there's nothing like sitting on grass, drinking beers with your friends and just enjoying the clear skies.

I really am thankful for weekend night markets especially right after seeing a movie and would love…read moreto go on a food trip. I got to fully enjoy Greenfield Weekend Market with my friends right after seeing The Hunt featuring Mads Mikkelsen when it was shown at Shangri-la Mall during the Cine Europa or the European Film Festival which is held every year. I got to try out that scrumptious and savory buffalo wings while enjoying a live acoustic band. I want to try especially the pastas but I can't fit them all in my belly. Ugh. There's actually a lot of food that you can choose from just like the ones in Banchetto or Mercato but there are a few stalls in here that you can't find in others. They also let people set up mats for a nightly picnic. There are also stalls in here that sell paintings, plants, and vinyl records so it's not just food that they cater to.

I don't really like splurging on clothes, since I move around a lot and I find that packing a ton…read moreof clothes into boxes is such a boring and arduous task. I am very content with the tatters that I have been wearing since college, but whenever my old t-shirts and sweats bite the dust, and I find that I have been repeating outfits far too often, my first choice would be to shop in the Taytay Old and New Public Markets. Local residents and buyers from neighboring cities alike flock to the "Lumang Palengke" and "New Taytay Market" to snap up really cheap clothes. I have been told by a friend that there are plenty of RTW and garments factories around Taytay and Cainta, and the factories often sell overruns and rejects in the "bagsakan", which then distribute the wares to the "tiangge" sellers in the old and new market. People have their different opinons about which location is the best, but I find that the New Public Market, near the McDonalds in the highway leading to Angono, Rizal , sell more menswear and casual clothing. The suki buyers swear by the quality and the durability of the stuff from the tiangges, and I couldn't agree more. I have bought several sweaters, t-shirts and hoodies at such ridiculously low prices. I once walked out of there with 13 pieces of clothing, which I bought for roughly P800 only. How is that not a good deal? All you need is a trusty pair of shoes, lots of patience and a bit of your haggling skills so that you can get great discounts from the sellers.

Kalentong Market in Mandaluyong has the cheapest and freshest products you can buy in the city. The…read morebest time to go shop for your weekly needs is before dawn where all kinds of products arrive from different places of the country. You can have the best deals on vegetables at Aling Emy's. And you can get information on the best meat, fish and fastfood stalls, best deals on clothing and many other things from the hospitable owner for free. The market is not as crowded and stinky as other markets in the Metropolitan. It has an adjacent airconditioned mall "The Marketplace" just perfect to cool you down after rigid negotiations getting the best deals. Parking lot is not available so it's best to come by a tricycle or let your driver pick you up after pouring your hearts out to shopping. What are you waiting for? Pick up your woven basket and your purse, put on your rain boots and some make up, tie that hair into a bun and get ready for an exciting and satisfying experience at Mandaluyong Kalentong Market.

St. Francis is like a mini-Greenhills Shopping Center. Just behind Megamall, you would think that…read morethey won't draw too large a crowd since they are up against a giant mall. Each floor have it's own specialty so to speak. You can find a lot of cheap buys and it's a good alternative if you don't want to brave the traffic in Greenhills. They have sections for electronics like mobile phones and laptops. A lot of the stalls sell second-hand phones but buy with caution since they say that this is where GSM (Galing Sa Magnanakaw) phones end up. A lot stalls also sell pirated DVDs whether of movies or pc games. It's illegal for sure but a lot of people still patronize them. Can't really blame them with the pricey original ones. But I'm not here to deliver a homily, just telling you what you can find here. There are stores that sell clothes, toys, shoes and jewelry. Just like your department stores but in a less organized manner.

To be honest, St. Francis Square Mall is one of the sketchiest places I have been to. It is just…read morelike a tiangge minus the unruly crowd and the stress-inducing environment. The moment you walk into this place, you'll immediately be approached by vendors, storekeepers, and all kinds of dealers. They'll try to sell new gadgets, like laptops and cellphones, gadget accessories, fake Swarovski bracelets, and even pirated DVDs. If you're not a fan of places like these, don't bother going here. But if you're a smart shopper who can easily outmaneuver sly and cunning vendors who will try their best to force their products down your throat, then this place might be perfect for you. You can buy a lot of good things here if you know how to haggle and negotiate with smart vendors. I was able to sell my very old Nintendo DS here for 4,000 pesos. It took us more than 30 minutes to settle for a final price, but it was definitely worth it. If you're not the type of person who likes to negotiate and interact with very sketchy vendors, St. Francis Square Mall actually has a department store and a small clothing shop for buyers looking for cheap finds. All of the products here have fixed prices, so there's no need to haggle.

Among the Cubao area ukay-ukay stores, and even among those in the metro, this one has to be one of…read moremy favorites. Most ukay-ukay shops are the same - a whole lot of clothes lined up in low racks in the center, shoes on the walls on the sides, and bags in the back. While this place is fairly standard in that regard, what I love about this place is they have another section for Toys and Hard Things (their words, not mine). That's where the fun begins. I've found and bought all sorts of things there, just because they're so cheap. Among my prize finds there are a 1964 Yashica J rangefinder, complete with a leather everyready case, and a Php80 Nikko Metronome. Both were pretty dirty and needed some dolling up, but otherwise functionally fine. Even though its a bit far from where I live now, I always make it a point to visit. Maybe next time I'll find a Grand Seiko.

Hit up Dapitan Arcade on a random Saturday morning last month looking for some cute plates to…read morespruce up my dinner parties, and holy crap, I walked out like a kid in a candy store. The place is this chaotic maze of stalls bursting with everything--gorgeous ceramic plates in patterns you won't find in malls, stacks of mason jars for peanuts (grabbed a bunch at like ₱40 each), quirky little gnomes, funky lighting, and even those trendy gold-rimmed teacups that make instant coffee feel fancy. Prices are stupidly low, so my ₱800 budget turned into three full bags of treasures I didn't even know I needed. Haggling was half the fun--smiled, asked nicely, and knocked off a good chunk every time. Yeah, it's hot, a bit crowded, and smells like the wet market next door, but that's part of the charm. Left feeling like I scored big and already planning my next trip for Christmas lights. Absolute treasure hunt heaven. 5 stars, no contest.

If you're a person who loves cheap finds, gets kilig when you see unusual stuff, and doesn't mind…read moresweating when you're bargain-hunting, the Dapitan Arcade is a place that you should visit. Situated along Dapitan St. and Kanlaon St., the arcade is a collection of small stalls and kiosks that sells glassware, murals, ceramic plates, lighting fixtures, decorations, and a multitude of home furnishings at very affordable prices. There are some stuff here that will make you say, "hmm.. I don't really need this thing but it's cute and inexpensive, might as well get it." By the time you leave, you'll have two hands worth of shopping bags. I frequent Dapitan Arcade whenever I need ceramic and wood plates, mason jars and other glasses, and other things that I might need for my cooking and plating. They have a lot of plate designs that are not available elsewhere. When I use them for plating my dishes, it makesmy food feel more sosyal, meaning I can charge more haha. The very trendy mason jars are available here. The normal size ones go for around P50.00. They sell per piece and by bulk. The latter will always get you an ever better price. As early as September, the arcade takes on a more festive look because they start selling Christmas decorations and lights. You want to have a miniature Santa Clause swinging from a light post? Or a robotic St. Nick jiggling his merry booty to some Christmas tunes? Well, they got 'em. And a whole lot of other fun stuff too! When you visit, make sure to bring your "kapal" face so you can ask for discounts. Take away: unusual finds and good deals. Your P1000 pesos will go a long way here!

If you are looking for a place where you can freely tap your creative self, then Saturday X Future…read moreMarket is the place for you. 98B's market started out as a small hole in the wall type of bazaar, inviting small creative entrepreneurs to sell their pieces to the community. Zines, vintage pieces, and pretty much a mishmash of everything can be found on the area. Happening on designated Saturdays of the month, the place has always been flocked by a crowd of art loving people. Only downside is the fact that it might be a bit hot inside, but either way, it's worth the visit.

Saturday x Future Market is a monthly event that gathers entrepreneurs and local artists together…read moreto showcase their works, pieces and of course, sell their items to the public. I heard about it through my husband who wanted to check it out. I must admit, I did not expect much from it, considering that it was in (old) Manila... a city I don't frequent at all, but I was pleasantly surprised to see what they had there. The venue was simple. It was an open-aired space with bare concrete walls. It was not too hot, considering we were there at 10am. The vendors and artists were laid out on the floor, showcasing their products in a bazaar-like system. I enjoyed looking around since there was a huge variety of items such as house things (i.e. pillows, crates, plates), rare books and old magazines, leather goods, hand-made jewelry and trinkets, to name a few. Most items were made by the vendors themselves, while others were either pre-loved or rare finds from different countries. The other nice thing about it was that the vendors/owners/artists are so involved that they openly engage with their customers and share how their products are made, their inspirations, their style or simply where they gathered the items from. You see a sense of community here, where the vendors and customers, alike, are just naturally friendly. The Saturday x Future Market is not just your typical bazaar, but also an experience on it's own. I'll definitely be back next month!

I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.