I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.

This ukay ukay has very good prices. I like the style of the clothes that they sell here. Whenever…read moreI am here, I end up going home with a few clothes. I have gone here on regular days and sale days. They have 50% off days at the end of the month. You need patience, but it is worth it. Good luck and happy shopping!

If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.

Segunda Mana in Greenfield District is the 16th outlet opened by Caritas Manila. This is a charity…read morestore that sells used items, non-moving inventories from other companies, and also new products from donations made to Caritas Manila. Proceeds from the sale of these items go to the various charities of this Catholic foundation, which include scholarships for the less fortunate. Most of the items that are sold here are office shoes, gowns, business attires, and bags that still have value but are not exactly ideal giveaways to victims of calamities. Books and new VCDs and DVDs are also available for as low as ten to twenty pesos apiece. There are also bottles of colognes and organic detergents that were made by Caritas Manila's supported communities. This store, which is leased on donation by the Greenfield District to Caritas Manila, also serves as a drop-off point for charitable donations. So if you're not able to find anything you want from the store, you can instead help out others by bringing your donations here. If you are busy or you are giving away big items that are difficult to carry, you can always call the store and they will be willing to pick up your donations anywhere in the Metro.

A self-confessed ukay ukay addict dared me to check out this place, saying that I would be shocked…read moreat what they have. I wasn't expecting much. to be honest. I know that some of these thrift shops are better than others, but how much better can one be over the rest? Since I had some time to kill, I decided to give it a shot. Guess what? My ukay ukay junkie was absolutely right. I won't comment on the branded ladies clothes, shoes and bags that she raves about. I admit knowing next to nothing about women's wear and accessories. But I do know enough about men's wear to recognize a bargain when I see one. There were Levi's jeans as well as other brands of denim pants and trousers. The price? An unbelievable three for P100. I had to take a second look at that price tag, but there it was. That comes to P33 per pair of pants, doesn't it? The best thing about denims is that the more worn they look, the more comfortable they feel. Jamzel's Ukay Ukay is a small shop, but man do they have a lot of terrif bargains. They have rubber and leather shoes that all look newish and sell for a low P200 a pair. If you have no qualms about buying and wearing pre-owned clothes, head for this store pronto!

Another thrift shop that I frequently go to, not that I'm cheap, but I'd like to see it as bargain,…read moreor a talent of finding branded beautiful used clothes in mint condition aAnother thrift shop that I frequently go to, not that I'm cheap, but I'd to see it as bargain, or a talent of finding branded beautiful used clothes in mint condition and d working it out. I was able to see great finds in this store, you just have to be patient in checking each garment one by one and aisle by aisle. It's like finding needle in a haystack once you find it, it feels great. I was able to get two Jag pants for only Php 100.00 each, a Fendi vest for Php120.00, several knitted cardigans and shirts for only Php25.00 each, Liz Claiborne and three winter clothes jackets for only Php100.00 each. They have new stocks every month but I advise waiting for a few weeks after the delivery because new stocks are priced higher, so be patient and wait until they have the sale sign out, clothes jumps from Php150.00 to Php 25.00. Ukay digging is fun, try it.!

I only learned about this place just this weekend when a former colleague-turned-friend asked to…read morehang out here. I've always liked Maginhawa but it's just really complicated to go to for someone who doesn't own a car so admittedly, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea. I still agreed to go, though since it has been a while since we last saw each other. Since I wasn't familiar with Maginhawa, I decided to take a cab and Waze it. YAY, WAZE! It was situated right in front of the famous Artsy Cafe. WUMS (When Uan Met Sally) Cafe had a conjoined store of all things kitschy! They have bracelets, necklaces, boho-inspired garments, boho bags and a ton more! If Phoebe Buffay swung by this place, she'd probably live here. Too bad though, most of the items are pretty expensive. Think a bracelet for 1,000 bucks or more. On to the cafe part. Okay, first off, I love Mumford and Sons, and I feel like if they ever made a Mumford and Sons-esque cafe, it would be similar to WUMS. It just had that very down-to-earth, hippie vibe that I love! Just walking into their small cafe and seeing the interiors, I knew I was going to love this place. I got to try their French Onion Soup and to be honest, there wasn't anything special about it. I'd still prefer Friday's French Onion Soup any day. Their Margherita Panini, however, was pretty good. I also loved their frozen house blend iced tea. Overall, this place is a delight to have been discovered. If only it weren't too far from me, I'd probably visit this place more than a few times in a month.

I just love this place…read more I live about a block away from this place and I would pass by it ever since it was still being constructed. I watched it evolve from an empty garage to a construction site, and now, a really hip and cool place to eat, to shop and to hang out with a couple friends over good food and wine. I love the artistic vibe and the very artsy inspirations that went into the design and the concept of the store. It combines a lot of intricate Byzantine frescoes and paintings with distressed furniture, lots of bronze and wrought iron, and lots of soft textures from the silks and the clothes that are being sold. They have antiques and flea market finds from all over the world that you can buy and add to your collection of curios at home. This antique shop/vintage store/gift shop/knick knacks paradise/cafe/restaurant (whew lots of slashes there) is a fun and quirky neighborhood joint that will have you coming back for more. I am a big fan of the squash and sweet potato soup, which is just the right consistency and creaminess. Squash soup is simply my favorite, and I love how they do a good job with that here. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is just lovely. I would recommend it for a date with a special someone, or if you want a cute space for a meeting with a client. I will surely come back for more!

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.

I think in terms of men's fashion, there is a shift from the casual and the indifferent, to the…read morestructured and refined. The idea that men can also be fussy and sartorial about their fashion choices says a lot about how our attitude towards dressing up has changed, with many of the boys having a renewed interest in classic and timeless pieces that just set one apart from the crowd. It doesn't have to be anything striking - the fact that you are dressed in quality clothes that fit well already make you a standout in a city where people go for functionality over aesthetics. Boys can be "maarte" too, and in a good way. That just goes to show that we value self-branding and presentation now as much as the girls do. Shops like Signet in Legazpi Village will pave the way to a more fashion forward Manila. This multi-brand store carries a number of different brands and styles for the modern gentleman. If you like to splurge a little on a few basics, such as a pair of body-hugging Selvedge jeans, or really cool socks to match your power suit, or even fun every day footwear that highlight both comfort and looks, Signet has imported brands that must be in every man's closet. Looking for that Picasso-esque Breton tee for an effortlessly fashionable look? Signet has different brands that have a great fit for every body type. The overall aesthetic is gunning for a strong homage to vintage and classic styles that give the modern gentleman such a polished, refined and nonchalantly classy look. Savoir faire at quite a price, but it's all worth it. I chanced upon this store because I was intrigued by the really classy facade. I love the window display - simple yet elegant. I was waiting for a meeting so I went inside and had a chat with Kevin, one of the shopkeepers. He is very well-versed about his brands and he also gave me a few recommendations as to what brands will suit my lifestyle better. Their store is all about investment pieces that will age well, and though I'm not in a hurry to part with my hard-earned cash even for really nice clothes, it's nice to know that I now know where to shop.

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! :)