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.

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.

I would never have noticed this place in Quiapo since there is so much going on around you--stalls…read moreof fresh vegetables and fruit and steelware and dried fish and watch your bag! and beads and chains and Wellmanson--and then you just step onto the actual sidewalk for a breather and a break from the beating afternoon sun, look away from the other stalls in the place selling more jewelry and sight the "ukay inside" sign inviting you to come into the 88 Shopping Center. Entering the surprisingly cool, unnervingly perfumed inner caverns of the building you'll find stalls of secondhand clothes of every make and kind, from pants and shirts to shorts and blouses, and all at probably the cheapest price you could get them. A lot of it went for fifty bucks, and some for lower even, and the clothes didn't look half-bad. You have to delve into clothes at ukay every time, and there were a lot of keepers there going for a lot less than you would expect to pay for them! Although the pants went for a little more than they should, I think--P200 and above for denim, though maybe it's because they were men's pants? And because I had to ask for the price instead of seeing it on a sign? Sometimes my somewhat alta facade betrays my desire for cheap things, sadly.

It was so long ago that I gave up my phase in ukay-ukay shopping. I would spend so much money on…read morenew ukay finds it became an epidemic. But now through my commutes and long walks, I have started to notice more and more ukay-ukay shops in the older buildings of Cubao situated along EDSA. Most of the time I walk in and browse for a bit. I find something cute but am usually turned off by its price (Php 80 for used shorts seems absurd to me) because for a time I was ukay queen and I believe I still have it in me to find scores at rock bottom prices. On my way to the MRT, I passed by Passerby and saw a tempting sign Php 25 for their old stock. With only over Php 70 left to get home, I ventured forth. I found a rack with Php 10 dresses but none really caught my eye. That's how I shop now, no longer impulsive but very reflective before buying anything (except beer). So I moved on to the Php25 section with skirts and shorts not expecting anything. Then I found a gorgeous high-waisted white silk skirt with a black tie-dye print and canvas harem pants up to my calves which fit perfectly. All for just Php 50! What a score. Their newer stock can be extremely pricey though so watch out.

I entered the Segunda Mana Charity Outlet at the Lacson Underpass in Quiapo not really expecting…read moremuch. It looked a bit sad, to be honest. Where all the other stores were filled with various dry goods, this little store didn't seem to have enough merchandise to sell One of the two staffers manning the store told me that they were operated by the Catholic charity organization known as Caritas. Most, if not all, the products for sale looked new, some even had tags on them. One of them told me that SM donated some of the ladies bags and shoes. These were the items that SM could not sell, so they donated it to this charity. Other smaller companies with generous owners also gave products such as toiletries. Caritas accepts old and new products that can still be sold, so I asked how to donate. They gave me a card which had telephone numbers 564-0205 and 563-9311. These are the numbers to call for any kind soul out there willing to part with their useful stuff. It's for a good cause, because I know that Caritas helps street children, among others. I plan to donate a lot of stuff which I have at home. Segunda Mana will pick them up, sort them out, and distribute them in their outlets. In fact, I will ask all my friends to do the same. This is one charity that quietly does a world of good for those who have less in life. God bless them,

This ukay ukay has very good prices. I like the style of the clothes that they sell here. Whenever…read moreI am here, I end up going home with a few clothes. I have gone here on regular days and sale days. They have 50% off days at the end of the month. You need patience, but it is worth it. Good luck and happy shopping!

I only learned about this place just this weekend when a former colleague-turned-friend asked to…read morehang out here. I've always liked Maginhawa but it's just really complicated to go to for someone who doesn't own a car so admittedly, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea. I still agreed to go, though since it has been a while since we last saw each other. Since I wasn't familiar with Maginhawa, I decided to take a cab and Waze it. YAY, WAZE! It was situated right in front of the famous Artsy Cafe. WUMS (When Uan Met Sally) Cafe had a conjoined store of all things kitschy! They have bracelets, necklaces, boho-inspired garments, boho bags and a ton more! If Phoebe Buffay swung by this place, she'd probably live here. Too bad though, most of the items are pretty expensive. Think a bracelet for 1,000 bucks or more. On to the cafe part. Okay, first off, I love Mumford and Sons, and I feel like if they ever made a Mumford and Sons-esque cafe, it would be similar to WUMS. It just had that very down-to-earth, hippie vibe that I love! Just walking into their small cafe and seeing the interiors, I knew I was going to love this place. I got to try their French Onion Soup and to be honest, there wasn't anything special about it. I'd still prefer Friday's French Onion Soup any day. Their Margherita Panini, however, was pretty good. I also loved their frozen house blend iced tea. Overall, this place is a delight to have been discovered. If only it weren't too far from me, I'd probably visit this place more than a few times in a month.

I just love this place…read more I live about a block away from this place and I would pass by it ever since it was still being constructed. I watched it evolve from an empty garage to a construction site, and now, a really hip and cool place to eat, to shop and to hang out with a couple friends over good food and wine. I love the artistic vibe and the very artsy inspirations that went into the design and the concept of the store. It combines a lot of intricate Byzantine frescoes and paintings with distressed furniture, lots of bronze and wrought iron, and lots of soft textures from the silks and the clothes that are being sold. They have antiques and flea market finds from all over the world that you can buy and add to your collection of curios at home. This antique shop/vintage store/gift shop/knick knacks paradise/cafe/restaurant (whew lots of slashes there) is a fun and quirky neighborhood joint that will have you coming back for more. I am a big fan of the squash and sweet potato soup, which is just the right consistency and creaminess. Squash soup is simply my favorite, and I love how they do a good job with that here. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is just lovely. I would recommend it for a date with a special someone, or if you want a cute space for a meeting with a client. I will surely come back for more!

If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.

I think in terms of men's fashion, there is a shift from the casual and the indifferent, to the…read morestructured and refined. The idea that men can also be fussy and sartorial about their fashion choices says a lot about how our attitude towards dressing up has changed, with many of the boys having a renewed interest in classic and timeless pieces that just set one apart from the crowd. It doesn't have to be anything striking - the fact that you are dressed in quality clothes that fit well already make you a standout in a city where people go for functionality over aesthetics. Boys can be "maarte" too, and in a good way. That just goes to show that we value self-branding and presentation now as much as the girls do. Shops like Signet in Legazpi Village will pave the way to a more fashion forward Manila. This multi-brand store carries a number of different brands and styles for the modern gentleman. If you like to splurge a little on a few basics, such as a pair of body-hugging Selvedge jeans, or really cool socks to match your power suit, or even fun every day footwear that highlight both comfort and looks, Signet has imported brands that must be in every man's closet. Looking for that Picasso-esque Breton tee for an effortlessly fashionable look? Signet has different brands that have a great fit for every body type. The overall aesthetic is gunning for a strong homage to vintage and classic styles that give the modern gentleman such a polished, refined and nonchalantly classy look. Savoir faire at quite a price, but it's all worth it. I chanced upon this store because I was intrigued by the really classy facade. I love the window display - simple yet elegant. I was waiting for a meeting so I went inside and had a chat with Kevin, one of the shopkeepers. He is very well-versed about his brands and he also gave me a few recommendations as to what brands will suit my lifestyle better. Their store is all about investment pieces that will age well, and though I'm not in a hurry to part with my hard-earned cash even for really nice clothes, it's nice to know that I now know where to shop.

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