Cool guitar store - Filipino made by Ramon Jacinto (RJ) . Limited selection of nylon string…read moreguitars though but I really love the game workmanship and beauty of the mahogany wood and appliqués of the steel string guitars that RJ made.

RJ Guitars is the place to go if you are looking for affordable musical instruments. Last year, I…read morechanced upon RJ's birthday sale in Robinson's Galleria with my girlfriend. They had this promo where every hour, from opening until closing, the discount gets bigger. Since we were there near closing, the discount was already at a whopping 40%. She didn't think twice to fall in line and choose among the instruments propped up against the wall. Although the selection was a bit limited because they were almost closing, they still had a few items that were worth lining up for. The line wasn't that bad, by the way, and the salespeople tried their best to help out everyone even if the store was a bit crowded. In the end, we were able to buy a pretty decent ukulele that was imported from Korea for around 3,000 Pesos. For starter musicians, I suggest putting RJ's birthday on your calendar because the sale definitely worth it.

The best part of it: interesting concept and space that allows exchange of creative ideas (ask them…read moreabout it) and the selfie coffees allowing printouts of anything on your coffee. What I enjoyed in descending order: Monte Cristo (french toast with awesomeness), Aglio Olio (good amount of herby base), Hawaiian Spam Sandwich (nice balance of sweet, tangy and salty), Chicken Pocket (though the pocket was a bit thick). What was alright: Carbonara. What was below expectations: Tuna Marinara. They also serve really nice cold drip coffee (must try) and the beans are all locally sourced. And of course from the name itself, they invite artists to play on Fridays and Saturdays and have ukulele workshops on Sundays. Ambience: Great, a side for those who wanna lounge and for those who wanna do some work on the tables Taste: Good, dishes were quite alright, and drinks were good as well Presentation: Great, for a cafe Value: Good Service: Good Overall: Good, the novelty of the Selfie drink is the selling point imo

I stumbled upon this place by accident, so I was really surprised when I saw everyone playing…read moreukuleles in a coffee shop. As a balikbayan from Hawaii, I thought that was cool, and it was also cool that the place was decorated with leis. I got a matcha shake, which was really good! I rented an ukulele (P100 per hour), while I spent some time sharing drinks with a friend. We chilled on these bunk bed looking things, which gave the cafe a really, really relaxing vibe. I like how the ukulele chords are painted on the wall. It's convenient when you're trying to learn. The only downside was the terrible customer service I received from one of the baristas. He was giving off a very snobby attitude. No aloha whatsoever. Still a great place to check out, though!

Manila has a growing community of Ukulele players, groups, and clubs, and most of them congregate…read moreat Ukulele Philippines. One of the last bastions of cool in the increasingly declining Collective, Ukulele Philippines has everything a Ukulele player could ask for. Whether you're a beginner, an enthusiast, or a pro, this is the shop for you. Aside from Ukes and gear, Ukulele Philippines is also an organization that does a lot of Ukulele-related stuff (Obviously). If you're timing is right, they usually do incredible jamming sessions in their shop. It's worth checking out, if only for that. Brilliant place. Almost wish I could play a Uke.

As a teenager, I was preoccupied with the guitar. In my younger days, I even took lessons from a…read morenoted guitar maestro of his time. One of my early jobs was marketing light musical instruments, specially guitars for the Yamaha Music Corp. It was a nice if shortlived gig As some kind of not-so-hot guitarist, I have always looked down at ukuleles as some kind of poor cousin of the classic Spanish guitar. I thought ukes were little more than toys. Cheap toys. How wrong I was. It turns out that there is a ukulele culture in the Philippines and Ukulele Phils sells all types of this instrument from all over the world. The one thing they do not sell are those cheap ukes sold at the tourist shops and in some public markets like Baguio. I was stunned to find out that a simple, good uke sells for around P4,500 if it;s made of mango wood. One top-of-the-line brand Martin goes for a heady P25,000! This makes them even more expensive than the good brands of guitars. I can only wonder why Yamaha doesn't manufacture ukuleles. The place not only sells ukes, but there are also teachers who give lessons at P200 per hour.

According to store staffs, it's a first Gibson guitar store in Philippines. There are famous "Les…read morePaul", "ES335 B.B.King signature model" acoustic guitars, and Epiphone guitars as lower price range products. For guitar freaks it's a paradise! Unfortunately, the retail prices are almost double on Gibson HP catalog prices, and other than that, selected models are all good.

Beautiful mahogany guitars made by Filipino Luther Ramon Jacinto. Love the wood appliqués- reminds…read moreme of Ovation guitars. However, the selection of Classical Nylon string guitars is a little limited.