A few years ago, due to humongous losses from prolific counterfeiting of Levi's Jeans, the Levi's…read morebrand's main offices, factory, and warehouse in Pasong Tamo Extension closed down. They were at a large lot right across a long-abandoned building, which is now Alphaland Mall. Why is this important? Well, that was where you could go to buy original Levi's jeans and apparel at criminally huge discounts. Not as cheap as the counterfeits, but these were originals, and were worth having. Those days are gone. Or are they? Thankfully, original Levi's jeans, apparel, accessories, and yes, even Levi's Dockers pants and shirts can be had at factory outlet prices, at--- you guessed it, a Levi's Factory Outlet. Ironically it's right at the mall that's across the street from where Levi's warehouse and offices used to be. Up in the second floor of Alphaland Mall is where you'll find the store. The store is staffed usually by a couple of dudes who look like they moonlight as bouncers (and maybe they do!). I was pleased to discover they're the gentle sort, and the curious thing is, these "bouncers" are actually pretty good um... "seamsters"(?) as well (more on that shortly) The store does live up to its "factory outlet-ness" since it's full of different Levi's jeans in all sorts of sizes, colors, and styles, usually at 50-70% off the original price. Some of the sizes may be a tad large for the average person, so you'll have to make alterations... but where? Right at the store, where else! For a measly P100, you can have your pants and jeans' hems shortened to the right length. I'm not sure if they can make more complicated alterations, but you'll be pleased to know that they will do alterations on jeans and pants that are NOT a pair of Levi's or Dockers. All it takes is ten minutes, because usually there aren't that many people having alterations done, which is kinda unfortunate, since they do a decent job for a rock-bottom price. I'm no "fashionista" or whatever you call it, just don't expect the styles to be the latest ones you'll see in mainstream Levi's outlets. You may also have to dig a bit for the size and style you're looking for, but at P1600 to P1900 for original Levi's 501 Button-fly jeans, the effort should be worth it.

Shoppesville has been around for quite a while, and its age tends to show in the design…read more Interior-wise, this mall has been slowly renovated over the years, but it still retains its charm as an air-conditioned alternative to stalls in the tiangge outside. Most stores do maintain at least one tiangge stall, though, so don't be surprised if you see the same item. Clothes are the highlight of Shoppesville, taking up the majority of store focus. Most are found on the top floor, where you can take your pick from an abundance of tops and bottoms for any gender or age. The suki system can apply here, so discounts are possible if you regularly patronize a particular store (or if you tend to buy a lot). If you're looking for gaming consoles and related items or collectibles, the Shoppesville Plus area (also on the third floor and appearing to be a sort of mini-mall in itself) is the go-to place. People in search of brand-new cellphones, laptops and the like are advised to head to V-Mall instead, while preloved versions are available in the second floor of the tiangge. The back area houses a number of shops offering collectibles of varying types and rarity, many of which are sourced from Hong Kong and Japan. Shoppesville is quite clean and the air-conditioning can handle even the most hot of days. There are a few food stalls here and there, but no food court to speak of. Security doesn't seem to be an issue here, as there seems to be quite a few roving guards. The stalls are small, so it actually doesn't take that much effort to check out all the stores.

The best thing, really, about Shoppesville is that it's freaking confusing! And I love that about…read moreit to be honest. I miss the labyrinthine structures of old Virra Mall and the old Glorietta, and though they've managed to somewhat give Shoppesville a facelift just like the rest of Greenhills, I'm glad the layout hasn't changed at all and you still feel as if you're "ineengkanto" when going around. And who doesn't appreciate the feeling of playful spirits leading you around in a this concrete jungle? The nice thing about getting lost in Shoppesville is that you find stores you never would have discovered have you stayed in the "safe" zones of the arcade. Cheap shoes, locally designed shirts, and leather care businesses can all be found in this area if you just let yourself go with the flow of this mall. The rather unfortunate part about this place is that things have really gotten expensive. Okay, so Greenhills has gotten a upscale over the past few, but that doesn't mean you can just hike up your prices like that. Stop trying to be Zara, Shoppesville. Accept the skin you're in.

When I stumbled upon the Daiso Japan store in Glorietta 3 a few months ago, I couldn't contain my…read moresurprise. "Finally!," I thought. Perhaps its area also doesn't do the store a lot of justice since it's in a part of the mall that doesn't really attract a lot of foot traffic (bridge way from Glorietta 4 to Glorietta 2). But I was glad I saw and I so entered the store with excitement. One can't help but feel overwhelmed with the rows upon rows of objects stacked high until the ceiling. From office supplies to kitchenware, cleaning supplies to gardening tools, make-up and skincare, snacks, and everything in between - Daiso really has it all. Perhaps you're not even sure what you're looking for, but for sure, Daiso has it. What's great about the discount store is that everything starts at Php 88. With that in mind, I grabbed everything I needed (and also didn't need), and left a happy (albeit a little poorer) shopper.

I love Daiso! They have things that you didn't even know you needed, but things that you want -…read morebecause it's either really cool, cute, or cheap! This is a pretty sizable outlet, and unlike the other outlets, has a lot of space to walk around and the shelves are organized pretty well. There are lots of kitchen items here - ranging from glassware to plates to cutlery to measuring cups and even kitchen utensils and tools. I also love that there are some cheap Japanese snacks to purchase here. It's not of the absolute best quality, but it'll do for the price that you're paying. If you need to get anything for the office or events, you'll be sure to find what you need here. They have lots of stationary and little gifts and even craft items too! It's really a one-stop shop! Love it.

Looking for really cheap novelty items? Retailed at a wholesale price of P50.00 each, e50 or…read moreEverything at 50 is the store to go to. It is one of those tiangge stalls in Greenhills Shopping Center ideal for cheap gift items, party give aways and locally made products.Their items varies from school supplies, mugs and tumblers, toys, slippers, children's wear and unisex shorts and sando shirts. Although most of their items are made in China, their wardrobe selection are made by our own local sewers. I highly recommend this store during Christmas season, especially for Ninangs and Ninongs whose got lots of inaanaks (godchildren) because they bring out the latest cheap trends and the most worth it gifts items for any age during this time. I shop here every year during this season and I'm very satisfied with the items that I pick for my own godchildren, nieces, nephews and even office mates. I'm even more than happy to hear that they loved it as well. And the best part? I can budget my Christmas shopping at only P1,000.00 with this store! If you're wholesaling, you can contact 09235128141 for details. Also, E50 is usually at big Christmas Bazaars in the metro like Noel's and St. Jame's Bazaar.

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.

Like Japan Home Center, you can find anything and everything you're looking for in American Bazaar…read more But this time, yup, they sell American brands - for a really cheap price! Their price point ranges from 88 pesos to 66 pesos and this store is one of the stores I frequent when I need to restock office supplies, home supplies, gardening supplies or cooking and baking supplies. I'm a big fan of their hair accessories and their hair dyes. Sometimes I also buy their cocoa butter lotion - it's really good. I love how a lot of their products come in big sizes so you really know that you're saving a ton of money for something inexpensive that will last you a long time. Another tip is, if you're having a children's party or a simple party (nothing fancy) and you need props, food supplies and toys, you can definitely see a lot of choices from American Bazaar. Heck, you can buy all your party needs there. Well, except for food and drinks that is.

It's a great feeling when you're in a store and you can truly say that everything in life you'll…read moreever need is all around you, and that is the feeling you get from Japan Home Center. Add in an American Bazaar sharing the same space and you could almost build your own house from the ground up. I kid! It really is a great place though, since they do have just about everything! Japan Home Centre has a lot of supplies and fixtures you could use around the house, and American Bazaar is a little more varied and all over the place in that they have stuff like party and school supplies and lotions and shampoos and whatnot. I buy earplugs here all the time, since they come cheap and do the job well enough, and then end up buying a bunch of other stuff besides. You might get a little confused shopping there though, since the stuff in Japan is priced at P88 and the stuff in American are priced at P66, so be careful. The cashiers here always seem a little slow too, which can be aggravating, but I tend to shop at odd hours, so it's a little more chill then. Who knew that two very diverse cultures could still team up in our current times and give you a great shopping experience? lol

I'm not particularly a fan of People Are People in general, but I always go by The Platform when…read moreI'm at Galleria, which is a lot of People Are People's old merchandise from previous seasons. Why does that make any sense, you ask, to find tired clothing more appealing in a different store? Because there's a medium to huge discount attached, of course! Everything at The Platform is on sale, which is a big deal considering how pricey the stuff at People Are People can go for (and I never understood why). It clearly makes much more sense for them to slash the prices, dump the clothes onto a rack or a display table, and let theircustomers battle it out for the best bargain. As cluttered as the place is, I do find it easier to rummage through the clothes more than in their regular store. Probably because they're arranged by price? I've bought many an amusing graphic tee here for P200 and decent shoes for around P700 and less. If you forage hard enough, you're bound to find some hidden treasure here.