Astrovision (also known as Astroplus) is your number one source for legitimate DVDs, music CDs and…read moreaccessories for your music. These days, it's very easy to simply download movies and music, despite the internet speed. Most people prefer to just be patient and wait the couple days for the download to complete, since it's free. Personally, some music CDs are worth getting, since the crisp and sound quality of some artists just sound better off of an original CD than a substandard pirated copy. The same goes for DVDs, as some people who get DVDs off the street are just getting a potato camera quality, compare to the clear copy you'll get from Astrovision. I also quite like their selection of headphones and speakers - they'll carry some of the more affordable brands like Feels, to higher-end brands like Philips and Harman Kardon. The sales people all know their stuff, and they can recommend the best accessory (or music taste) for your needs. Did I mention some of them sing karaoke part-time?

No, the store or stores here are not named Unnamed. They simply sell DVDs which are illegal, but…read morewhich the city silently tolerates because it gives employment to a lot of people. I was walking in the Quiapo area a few days ago. While there, a guy approached me and asked me if I wanted to buy "BluRay quality" DVDs. I really wasn't all that interested, but I have been wanting to watch the Netflix series Daredevil. Since Netflix is not (yet) available in the Philippines, and because I don't want to download the series, I've been looking for a copy, legal or otherwise. The guy said they may have a copy, and that I should follow him. This didn't feel right. I mean, it was broad daylight, but his asking me to enter one of the old buildings in the area didn't feel too safe, but I went anyway. I was surprised. I had known that the Muslim section of Quiapo used to be the place to buy cheap DVDs. Here, on the other side of Quezon Boulevard, was a glass door that had no number and no signage. In I went and discovered store after store selling nothing but DVDs. The place was air-conditioned and was not wanting in customers. To cut to the chase, I got my copy of Daredevil for P40. I also got a copy of The Flash as well as Agents of SHIELD. I couldn't take photos, of course. Not at the risk of bodily harm. But I was able to take a shot outside. I may or may not go back one of these days.

Summertime entails a lot of free time for me. This means I can finally catch up on the movies and…read moreTV shows that I missed during the busy months of working. Not only that, being the gamer that I am, I can now check out the sequels of the games that I have finished over the previous breaks and holidays. For all of these, this place is my one-stop-shop. It provides every music and movie lover with audio and video needs for optimum enjoyment. They don't just sell albums and movies but they also have accessories such as earphones and speakers to enhance the whole listening and watching experience. I really appreciate the staff here. I usually get my earphones from this store and they are really keen on asking for your needs and budget so they can suggest the item that would suit you. They are honest and unbiased in endorsing products. They don't just say that everything is good just for the sake of sales. They are also aware of the specifications and features of items so they can better help you in making the right choices. So the next time I'd need a new pair of earphones and speakers, I would just keep coming back to this place and so should you.

Recently, my dad was gifted with speakers that for some reason, he just didn't want. And lucky…read morelittle me ended up being the recipient of those unwanted speakers. These speakers made me very happy for many years. They were small but immensely powerful in sound. Wherever I brought them, friends would always comment on the high quality of the audio. They had fallen down and I've held them with less than dry hands and they never broke until years after. Thus, I testify to this brand and highly suggest that you check them out if you're looking for new speakers.

I stumbled into the Lagusnilad underpass one rainy afternoon last month, dodging puddles and trying…read moreto cut through from Taft to City Hall. Wasn't even looking for books--just wanted dry feet--but there it was, this cozy little chaos of shelves tucked between the clothing stalls. The smell hit me first: old paper, a bit of dust, and that unmistakable comfort of a real secondhand bookstore. The guy behind the counter (think his name was Aj?) looked up, smiled like he'd been expecting me, and asked what I was in the mood for. No pressure, just genuine curiosity. I ended up spending almost an hour there, flipping through worn paperbacks and hardcovers that felt like they'd lived interesting lives. Found a beat-up but complete set of Garcia Marquez short stories for P250 and a pristine copy of "The Shadow of the Wind" that I'd been hunting forever. Prices were ridiculously fair--nothing over P400--and the selection is surprisingly deep for such a small space: classics, Filipino lit, sci-fi, even some niche non-fiction. They've got everything neatly sorted by genre now (huge improvement from the early days I've heard about), and if something's buried in the back, they'll dig it out without making you feel like you're inconveniencing them. What really sealed it for me was the conversation. We chatted about favorite authors, he recommended a couple of newer Filipino titles I hadn't heard of, and even held a book I wanted for a few days when I realized I didn't have enough cash. Super chill, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about books--not just selling them. I've been back twice since, and every time it feels like visiting an old friend who happens to run the best hidden bookstore in Manila. If you're anywhere near Intramuros or Taft, duck in--you won't regret it. Absolute gem. Five bright, dusty, book-scented stars.

I was commuting alone, on my way to San Agustin Church (Intramuros) to attend my very first school…read moresanctioned rally. From the LRT Central Terminal Station, I needed to cross Padre Burgos Avenue, so I instinctively followed the foot traffic that led me to the Lagusnilad underpass. Inside were a number of stalls selling clothes and other knickknacks. But something else caught my attention as I was passing by - a small secondhand bookstore! As a certified bookworm, I was pleasantly surprised. The makeshift shelves added character to the store. Some books were arranged by genre, while some were just randomly piled up one over the other. I imagined that getting one from the bottom would be like playing a game of Jenga. They have a wide selection of novels, textbooks and even some magazines that won't burn a hole in your pocket. I saw works by Oscar Wilde, Dan Brown, George R.R. Martin. Since I was in a middle of a commute and it wasn't practical to carry a heavy bag of books, I couldn't buy all the stuff I wanted. I settled for a Dual-language Book of French Stories (by the likes of Voltaire, Camus, etc.) for only P100. I later found out that this humble store had a Facebook page. They post their new acquisitions and even accept reservations. How neat is that? For me, I discovered a real hidden treasure when I literally found "Books from Underground" (that's the name of the book store).