So it's been 17 years since last went to the Philippines, and I didn't know what to expect…read more What a pleasant surprise it was when my parents and I checked in to the Airbnb and we find out that the Venice Grand Canal Mall was just across the street. I spent a lot of time here. As soon as you walk into the mall, it doesn't feel like you're in the Philippines anymore. The canal was nice to see during the day and at night. You can even take a gondola through the canal. They also have an area where you can feed pigeons seeds. They have a lot of the stores and the restaurants that we have in the US. I was joking around saying that I traveled 7200 miles to eat at a Denny's in the Philippines. Lol. And you know I had to hit up the Uniqlo here! Will I be back? Of course. Especially if I stay at the same Airbnb. I'll see you when I see you Venice Grand Canal Mall!

The Venice Grand Canal Mall is a large lifestyle center located in Taguig, Philippines…read more The Venice Grand Canal Mall should be viewed within the context of a master planned development. Encircling this mall are apartments, condos and office towers. The mall offers a lot: a supermarket; bookstores; fast food and casual dining restaurants; a multi-screen movie theater; spaces for dance and play--and a lot of retail shopping. You can also buy tickets for a gondola ride or rent a swan boat. This location provided an opportunity for me to people watch; examine products and brands unfamiliar to me; and to price compare goods in the PHL, versus back home. It was interesting.

Market Market!It's been around for quite a while, even before BGC was developed. I visited the…read morePhilippines many times when I was younger, and back then, there wasn't much around. Seeing Market Market now shows how the Philippines has become more modern. It's a lively place where families can gather for special occasions, with various stands offering good prices, though I remember thinking the prices were quite reasonable. Interestingly, when you travel to the provinces or countryside, souvenirs and treats can be cheaper than here. Market Market has a nostalgic vibe, blending modern shopping with Filipino charm. Cheers to an OG spot with good food, great vibes, and a place that has stood the test of time!

Market! Market! Was such a cool place to shop. It was a mixture of big mall and small town Filipino…read moreshopping outside. I loved that you could buy WHATEVER you needed all in one location. The selection of Filipino treats outside was AMAZING. Everything was reasonably priced. I was able to get a quick haircut for $6! Unheard of here in the states! While I was getting a haircut my family was able to enjoy a late dinner snack. It was an amazing place to visit.

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! :)

Design. This mall…read morehas many good stores like Muji, bench even a grocery on the first floor. For some reason, the escalator placement makes visibility awkward in this mall. The food court on the 4th is good. Seating can be tricky at rush hour. Diversity is great when you want options for dining. Great restaurants outside and din Thai Fung right across the street.

They have a little bit of everything here. Shopping, grocery, restaurants, fast food as well as…read moremovie theatre.

A very nice mall. Very large. Great selection of restaurants. Loved walking in it. Although…read morethere's still some empty spaces. Enjoyed our trip there.

At Naughty Nachos The chicken is so spicy #foodporn…read more#burger #fries #unliwings #chickenwings

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.

There are a number of pharmacies in the Market! Market! area, but I still go to Metro Pharmacy…read morelocated in front of Metro Supermarket at the lower ground floor of the mall. Why? Because there's usually less people and no long queues of customers there. A big area of the pharmacy is allocated for non-prescription health and wellness section which sells vitamin supplements, protein shakes, and other herbal remedies. This is also where you can get over-the-counter medications, personal hygiene products, and even special haircare items. I like the fact that this pharmacy is quite strict with prescription medication. The pharmacists at the enclosed counter ask for prescription, dosage, and other important details to make sure that they dispense the right medication. They also suggest generic alternatives in case you are interested in saving money. Since the pharmacy is under Metro Gaisano, you can also get rewards for your purchases if you have a Metro Rewards card. This pharmacy is open daily during mall hours.

It is never a good idea to visit Metro Department Store (and Supermarket) in Taguig City during…read moreweekends or paydays because you will get lost in the throngs of people shopping here. In fact, just before the start of the school year, the place was too busy as shoppers try to get the best deals for school supplies, uniforms, shoes, bags, and other school essentials. The first level is allotted for men's fashion and accessories, beauty and health, and the Metro Jewelry sections. Women's fashion and shoes can be found at the second level, while the toys and kids' section is at the third floor. Furniture, décors, and other home essentials can be found on the fourth level. The fifth and last level is designated as the section for appliances and sports and fitness equipment. Aside from unbeatable prices for jewelry and home essentials, what I like about Metro Department store is their big and clean dressing or fitting rooms. Plus, with their Metro Rewards Card, you get rebates from the things you buy.

BGC Bonifacio Global City will always be my first choice whenever I visit Manila, and Bonifacio…read moreHigh Street is most defintely a highlight. This reminds me of Las Ramblas in Barcelona, where wide pedestrian walkways/parks are between several retail. service and restaurants, and where people can stop and rest at benches, stairs/tables right at the center. There is literally a chain, or blocks fn these walkway/parks so we can walk through one, cross a street, the enter another. It's very family oriented. We saw several families playing in the park. It's also very pet-oriented where several people were walking (or carrying) their dogs. It's one big social. The choices of dining are endless, and one can take-out fast food, or stop and dine inside a restaurant. For US residents, it's almost like being in the USA because of the amazing number of US-based restaurants. Best of all, as a female senior citizen I felt perfectly safe walking by myself.

This place is so overhyped lol. Wasn't really amazed since I've already been to other Asian…read morecountries with MUCH huger shopping districts and more developed infrastructure. Just a hype spot that's oversaturated by people obsessed with spamming their social media taking posing photos in this place. People here are not friendly, wouldn't recommend for families.