Hit up Dapitan Arcade on a random Saturday morning last month looking for some cute plates to…read morespruce up my dinner parties, and holy crap, I walked out like a kid in a candy store. The place is this chaotic maze of stalls bursting with everything--gorgeous ceramic plates in patterns you won't find in malls, stacks of mason jars for peanuts (grabbed a bunch at like ₱40 each), quirky little gnomes, funky lighting, and even those trendy gold-rimmed teacups that make instant coffee feel fancy. Prices are stupidly low, so my ₱800 budget turned into three full bags of treasures I didn't even know I needed. Haggling was half the fun--smiled, asked nicely, and knocked off a good chunk every time. Yeah, it's hot, a bit crowded, and smells like the wet market next door, but that's part of the charm. Left feeling like I scored big and already planning my next trip for Christmas lights. Absolute treasure hunt heaven. 5 stars, no contest.

If you're a person who loves cheap finds, gets kilig when you see unusual stuff, and doesn't mind…read moresweating when you're bargain-hunting, the Dapitan Arcade is a place that you should visit. Situated along Dapitan St. and Kanlaon St., the arcade is a collection of small stalls and kiosks that sells glassware, murals, ceramic plates, lighting fixtures, decorations, and a multitude of home furnishings at very affordable prices. There are some stuff here that will make you say, "hmm.. I don't really need this thing but it's cute and inexpensive, might as well get it." By the time you leave, you'll have two hands worth of shopping bags. I frequent Dapitan Arcade whenever I need ceramic and wood plates, mason jars and other glasses, and other things that I might need for my cooking and plating. They have a lot of plate designs that are not available elsewhere. When I use them for plating my dishes, it makesmy food feel more sosyal, meaning I can charge more haha. The very trendy mason jars are available here. The normal size ones go for around P50.00. They sell per piece and by bulk. The latter will always get you an ever better price. As early as September, the arcade takes on a more festive look because they start selling Christmas decorations and lights. You want to have a miniature Santa Clause swinging from a light post? Or a robotic St. Nick jiggling his merry booty to some Christmas tunes? Well, they got 'em. And a whole lot of other fun stuff too! When you visit, make sure to bring your "kapal" face so you can ask for discounts. Take away: unusual finds and good deals. Your P1000 pesos will go a long way here!

As soon as night settles in this place comes alive…read more I only was able to get video of the night life here, but it's a really cool market to find deals on shoes or clothing or just about anything. Half the market is street food vendors-- a variety of things from kwek-kwek, day old chicks, balut, corn on a stick, etc... you get the drill.They also have things like vendors with congee and noodles. There is such a condensed variety of foods here. I found a lot of what was being sold fairly reasonable or cheap, but it was really cool just seeing the market in action. It's not a place just to go sightseeing, however. I can't stress how packed it is and you can easily lose your group if you blink. It should also be noted to keep your bags and valuables close to you, I imagine this would be a good place to pick-pocket. While I don't know of any reports related off the top of my head, I just believe it'd be better safe than sorry since it's a practical sensory overload being in the thick of it. In a nutshell, it's gritty and people aren't overly friendly, but they're there and it's an interesting place to explore. If I was a local, I might not venture here a lot, but every once and awhile it would seem like a good place to find a deal.

Street Market in Manila Philippines…read more This is the largest street market in Manila. When i hear people say "mura" (cheap) I immediately think of Divisoria where you can haggle for the final price. The place is dirty and crowded and hot but it was fun seeing the many vendors and browsing through the many merchandise. We had our cousin come with us and she was the one who haggled for us LoL! I actually found some cool items here including clothing, and knock off "authentic replica" stuff. LoL! We also found a classic mahjong set for mom and a nice embroidered "barong Tagalog" (a traditional Filipino attire) for my brother-in-law for P450 which equals to $8. Oh man, we tried some street food too like corn on the cob, melon juice and Calamansi juice. I could shop and eat here all day. The place is huge. There are banks accessible around if we wanted to exchange currency. All cash here so bring enough. I guarantee you will not leave here empty handed. Review #3289

NIGHT MARKET MORE LIKE NIGHTMARE MARKET!!!! If I could rate…read morethis a zero star, I would the smell was so bad there's little kids running around barefoot and screaming and crying the smell mixed with the food and all the animals makes the smell so bad I was crying from how bad the smell was and from all the loud noises we were stuck there for half an hour, trying to find a way out of this market. Please don't go here at your own risk.

If you are looking for a place where you can freely tap your creative self, then Saturday X Future…read moreMarket is the place for you. 98B's market started out as a small hole in the wall type of bazaar, inviting small creative entrepreneurs to sell their pieces to the community. Zines, vintage pieces, and pretty much a mishmash of everything can be found on the area. Happening on designated Saturdays of the month, the place has always been flocked by a crowd of art loving people. Only downside is the fact that it might be a bit hot inside, but either way, it's worth the visit.

Saturday x Future Market is a monthly event that gathers entrepreneurs and local artists together…read moreto showcase their works, pieces and of course, sell their items to the public. I heard about it through my husband who wanted to check it out. I must admit, I did not expect much from it, considering that it was in (old) Manila... a city I don't frequent at all, but I was pleasantly surprised to see what they had there. The venue was simple. It was an open-aired space with bare concrete walls. It was not too hot, considering we were there at 10am. The vendors and artists were laid out on the floor, showcasing their products in a bazaar-like system. I enjoyed looking around since there was a huge variety of items such as house things (i.e. pillows, crates, plates), rare books and old magazines, leather goods, hand-made jewelry and trinkets, to name a few. Most items were made by the vendors themselves, while others were either pre-loved or rare finds from different countries. The other nice thing about it was that the vendors/owners/artists are so involved that they openly engage with their customers and share how their products are made, their inspirations, their style or simply where they gathered the items from. You see a sense of community here, where the vendors and customers, alike, are just naturally friendly. The Saturday x Future Market is not just your typical bazaar, but also an experience on it's own. I'll definitely be back next month!

When you've had your taste of ukay, every so often you'll be itching to venture out and ukay new…read moreold stuff, very much like the itching you get after you've tried on several articles of dusty clothes. It's all worth it though, when you find those few things you've worked hard to find among the sea of secondhand somethings you'd had to wade through. This particular building in Anonas houses a good bunch of ukay-ukay stores and has always been one of my go-to places to thrift, after the spots in Cubao had to close and be replaced by the condominium sites. It's really accessible to the Anonas LRT Station and a lot of the stores have air-conditioning, which is great to have when you plan to be covered in grime at the end of the day. Most of them are fashion stores, carrying clothes, bags, and shoes, but a good few would have beddings, toys, and a couple of appliances or books here and there. One of the stores only specialize in toys and collectibles, while its neighbor only housed shoes and bags. It's my personal strategy to go for the least accessible places as they'd probably have cheaper stuff, but most of the stores in the higher floors had a more limited selection, more expensive clothes, and limited air conditioning. One of the stores had tops and dresses that went for almost four hundred bucks, which is hella expensive, but I guess it was because they were pre-chosen designer and branded articles. I guess they were worth a look regardless--no doubt they'd go on sale at some point in time. Still it'd be better to just sift through the bigger stores with more varied, cheaper stuff. Arm yourself with a bottle of water, some wipes, and alcohol, and make your way to Anonas. You're sure to find something here. If not, ask when their next batch of arrivals come in (some might have a text "mailing list" or they'd just give you a mobile number), or ask if they're online. Some of them have legit, updated Facebook pages!

I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in…read moreprivileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out. I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in privileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out.

I love thrift shopping because the delight of finding something at a discount is like adrenaline to…read moreme. I always get excited when I look at surplus shops because I am sure that I will come out of bearing high quality stuff that I bought at a fraction of the cost than if I were to buy them from the mall. One of such surplus houses and flea markets is Subic APEX US Imports which can easily be found along Quezon Avenue. I was looking for a low bedside table and I saw that they had furniture on display. I went here looking for a table, but came out with not just a side table, but also a tea set, several cute porcelain plates, a veru useful thermal bag and a hiking pole. You can go wild with all the selections from this place, and if you are a whiz at haggling, here is where you can practice your skills to get the best deals out of the merchandise. The stuff is relatively pricier than most thrift shops, but I would gladly pay a bit more if it meant that the stuff I was getting were in great shape and in good working condition.

Each time I pass by home décor and fine jewelry store, Firma in Greenbelt 2, I always do a double…read moretake. Consistently well-designed and always remarkable, Firma's store tableaus are always a source of inspiration. They are always a good introduction of what's in store for its visitors. Filled with lovely (and very expensive) pieces for the home, Firma's selection leans more towards an Asian or Eastern sensibility. (It's also noteworthy to point out that Firma is the brainchild by the same duo that own AC+632 in Greenbelt 3, a home décor store with a more European sensibility). It's always a pleasure for my to pore over Firma's selection of fine trays and china, sculptural home décor items and incredible fine jewelry made by local artisans. Aside from the décor and jewelry, there is also a selection of quirky hats and handbags for the lady or gent with offbeat taste.

My mum's an interior designer so she'd always take me with her when I was a little kid (until now…read moreactually, haha) whenever she'd go canvas for items in furniture or home accessories stores. It has actually turned into a special mother-daughter time. Firma to me is a unique furniture store...unlike any I've seen because of the amazingggg, must-see store displays that change every month or every other month (Seriously, I need to know who does those. I want to hire them to design some of the rooms in my future home!). They are art masterpieces on it's own. I also love the very homey vibe you feel when you enter the store. It's like you're transported to a beautiful, exotic, old-world Eurasian country. The only thing missing is a wise, old Chinese man greeting you by the door as a bell chimes. Their home accessories are quirky but glamorous and you can also find some vintage items there. If you love statement jewelry, you will LOVE their display of gorgeous wildlife, nature and sea inspired pieces. They're like gems you'd find in a treasure chest. I only find the store a bit small. I wish it were bigger as I'd love to see more stuff from them. I've bought bohemian-y jewelry from them before and they have turned into everyday jewelry for me and I do get a lot of compliments from wearing them. I love stopping by the store every time I'm in Greenbelt.

I was taking a break from recording voice over clips for my work at a nearby recording studio when…read moreI chanced upon this surplus shop along Filmore. Now, I should really stop going to thrift shops because I am very close to developing a habit of picking up cute knick knacks that will eventually make me qualify for an episode of Hoarders: Tea Set Edition. I like styling props for food shoots, and there are no better props than porcelain, ceramic and glass dining and tea sets because they give so much character to the food spreads that I love designing. I am also a sucker for textures and patters, and bamboo mats, woven baskets lacquered serving trays and bento boxes are staples when shooting Japanese or Asian food.Their selection of used glassware, plates, ceramics and kitchen implements are rife of cute pieces that are around P40 apiece. I was able to get a cute wabi sabi Japanese bowl that I have used many times in shoots. If you have the patience to trawl and sort through shelves and shelves of stuff, you may find really unique pieces that you can use when entertaining. The only drawback is that most of the pieces are one-ofs, meaning you can't buy them in a set because some pieces are missing. Here, they also have furniture and used office supplies like shelving units, file cabinets and desks. The goods here are relatively cheap and are in considerably good quality.

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.