Life as we know it is a ticking clock composed of highs and lows and in the middle of it all is…read moreeverything that happens regularly in life: errands. It ranges from herculean tasks such as paying off tuition fees, overhauling a car or renovating a house. Or it could be as easy as doing laundry, replying to an email or in my case, getting fresh batteries for my watch. Armed with my mental list of things to do, I made my way to ARB Time Watch Center with ironically no time to spare. The shop, conveniently located at the ground floor of Market Market was manned by a certain fellow named Eugene. His fingers, steady and solid, capable of winding and twisting showed no traces of incompetence, quite expected for a man who has been keeping the business ticking for the last 10 years. It took Eugene less than 5 minutes to replace the batteries and it was so far, the easiest errand of the day. And because I had some time to spare, I walked a little slower and breathed a little deeper hoping that my next task would be as easy as the one that had just passed.

Klinik Watch and the owner Mark is the most experienced and knowledgeable watch technician I know…read more Over the last few years I have taken my watches to him for full watch assembling, servicing, dial restoration, relume, polishing (superb) and repairs. Another service they can provide betterthan most is the sourcing of parts for vintage watches, I have managed to restore and bring back to life a few watches I couldn't fix elsewhere and sent friends to him when they needed watches fixed who have also been impressed with his service and honesty on pricing...you wont go wrong at Klinik

I've recently found myself taking a little bit more interest in horology. I have no idea why it…read moretook me this much time, hahaha punny right, to get into watches. Nowadays, when I pass by a store that sells watches I can't help but stare at some of the brands and models that they have put up on sale. Chronos is a store for the rich. I'll avoid beating around the bush. Some of the brands that you'll see here are Longines and Omega. For the benefit of those who are not into watches I have to say that these are really expensive brands. I mean, a brand new Omega Speedmaster Professional costs somewhere around one hundred ninety thousand pesos. Those of you horologically inclined might want to stop by this place and look at some of their more amazing pieces up for display and salivate as I do when I look at them. If you have the money, go ahead and by something.

Rado, Tissot, Seiko and Tag Heuer live here - the good stuff. A nice respite from the fashion…read morewatches that are everywhere else in the mall. Small, but a good selection, and they have authorized service personnel here, too.

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.

This mall has an outdoor and indoor portions the indoor food stall has a ton of local snacks…read more Totally worth trying if you are in the area

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!

My lobster and I discovered this place quite by accident a few days ago. It was situated just next…read moreto Waltermart Munoz's Mr. Quickie, and while I was getting the keys to my new apartment duplicated, my lobster wandered over to the I-Time Watch Service. He's been looking for a reputable watch repair service since his beloved Orient watch stopped working and he didn't have the time or the moolah to have it repaired in the service center in Ali Mall. The old man behind the counter gazed through his bug-eye lens at my lobster's watch, grunted, opened it up, then got to work. We came back an hour later with the watch good as new (they even cleaned it!) and my lobster looking so happy. All for five hundred pesos, too.

gumagawa po ba sila ng nabasag na glass vessel kasi yung watch ko bigla nalang tumalon yung glass…read morenya hibdi ko alam kung bakit hindi naman sya naipit or what so ever basta natanggal lang sya try ko nga dito kungbkaya nilang gawin

I can see myself retiring in the Philippines as a snowbird. I know people who already do it so I'll…read moreprobably follow in their footsteps. Seattle is too expensive. BGC is affordable as long as you know how to manage finances and budget well. Bonifacio High Street has pretty much everything I would need for daily conveniences and comforts. St. Luke's is near High Street so that takes care of health services. Before my vacation I downloaded their local ride-hailing app and used it after landing in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. I couldn't believe how affordable rideshare was in the PI. This pedestrian zone has local and international businesses. We started at Market Market and walked our way down. Minimal noise pollution from cars. It's a business district for retail, entertainment, art, and dining. We ate at a buffet. I couldn't believe how affordable that bill was plus having a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees helped. Some businesses honor the senior citizen discount too. It's quite the perk when you have dual citizenship. It's a welcoming, clean, and modern area. Security was present and I didn't see any homeless people. If this was downtown Seattle you'd see homeless people yelling at the sky, see them sprawled out on benches, and see them sleeping on the ground. No unsightly overhead power lines. It's a nice pedestrianized open space with wide walkways. The urban planners thoughtfully designed the walkways as there are ramps for people with disabilities. High Street is beautifully landscaped incorporating public art. I loved listening to the water elements. It was peaceful walking around during the day. Not a lot of tree cover but the ground floor tenants have awnings to block the blaring sun. At night High Street switches to a lively environment. Lots of families, friends, and co-workers socializing and enjoying themselves since everyone is off work and out of school. I carried a portable fan, had sunblock on, used my sunglasses, drank from my water bottle, and wore comfy shoes. Leave room in your luggage for a major shopping haul.

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.