At present we are only in the planning stages of building our PI vacation home…read more Occasional visits to one of the Wilson Depot stores in Laguna near Cavinti proved to me their great customer service. Armed just with a floor plan sketch and measurements for doors and windows I was able, with the help of sales people on the floor, to find and identify all the windows and doors for our soon to be built home. I felt no undue pressure or the addition of the dreaded "foreigner tax" many of us expatriates experience. True professionals. Once started we intend to return for plumbing and lighting fixtures. Salamut po to all the helpful employees.

This review is for the Wilcon located at 1231 Chino Roces Ave, Makati, Metro Manila…read more I would have loved to add their other location, but it is very disappointing to be the first to write a review, and it never gets posted. Hence, I just added my review to this location. I was referred to Wilcon by my contactor Madrigalejos Construction Services. Wilcon was one of the two places that Joseph Madrigalejos referred me to for bathroom and kitchen fixtures. I dealt with Adrian, who represents Grohe and Joseph, who represents Kohler. It took me a long time to decide what bathroom fixtures I wanted to purchase since the Grohe prices were much higher than the other brands. I ended up purchasing Grohe, instead of Kohler, only because Adrian was able to find something in stock that wasn't even being displayed, which was less than what was on display. The following week, it was time to change the kitchen faucet. Grohe had something on display, but the store didn't have it in stock. Adrian contacted me once they had it in stock. It was very convenient to just find Adrian because he is usually on the first floor by Grohe's display. He and another employee showed me what was within the box I ordered. Then, a different employee carried the item to the cashier. I was in and out within 15 minutes. I admire Adrian's customer service. He'll definitely be someone I'll be looking for if ever I need additional fixtures.

Ace hardware a great place to get your basic hardware need met. Staff is always professional and…read morehelpful at all of the locations I have visited.

I buy supplies for almost all of my home projects at this Ace branch. The staff compensates for…read morewhen they don't know all of the product information by being earnestly helpful. The managers are always ready to face and assist the customers. This isn't the biggest branch, but they aren't as flooded with people as the nearby MegaMall so you can expect more attention and assistance if that is important to you. Also, they tend to have stocks available for in-demand obscure items that have a quicker turnover rate at busier branches. Besides the store itself, parking and getting to Hypermarket is much easier than fighting your way to Megamall.

I've always enjoyed furnishing my apartment or house wherever I moved to or even helping out…read morefriends who couldn't really be bothered to design and spruce up their place. In Manila, we have many opportunities to find some home furnishings and custom-made items. However, its also tricky to find well-made and interestingly designed pieces that are of good value for money. When a friend of mine decided to get her own apartment in Makati, I was happy to help her hunt for design pieces as well as furniture for her apartment. One place we checked out was Perch just across the Legaspi Active Park. The quaint but interesting showroom of Perch showcases some well-curated local-custom made and imported off-the-floor pieces. Many of the designs are contemporary or modern-classic. Each one has character as well as a customizable aspect. If you're a design fan, you will probably recognize some modified versions of classic chairs, couches, tables, and other fixtures. Its a cool place to start dreaming and its also useful to talk to any of their friendly staff who are more than happy to help you find what you are looking for to add functional yet beautiful pieces to your home or office.

True Value is a convenient one-stop-shop for all my handyman/DIY needs. Ever since I was a kid, my…read moredad would always bring me with him when he would buy light bulbs, tools, plumbing supplies and other things for our house. I've been to a lot of hardware stores so I can say I'm exposed to these kinds of places. What I love about True Value is that they are conveniently located in malls that I frequent, my favorite being Power Plant Mall, Rockwell. I don't have to make an extra stop just to buy one light bulb. Besides their location, I also love them because they have so much more than hardware/home supplies. They also have some appliances, cleaning tools, pet items and random home accessories like blinds, garden fixtures and even various plastic and glass containers. They also have a good selection of brands from local ones to rare American brands (particularly in the home cleaning department). I frequent True Value too much that my friends tease me that I spend more time there than I do at clothing or shoe stores... :) I actually think it's true!

True Value is filled with so much great and functional finds for the home or for personal use…read more Whenever I need lightbulbs, handyman tools, outdoor furniture or any sort of furniture for that matter, I make a point to visit this store. Going inside the store is quite an overwhelming feeling though because there is literally so much stuff on display. Sometimes, I actually forget why I'm there in the first place and get side-tracked looking at something else I don't particularly need. It's best to go there with a goal in mind. If you're not entirely sure what it is you might really need, you can simply approach any of the sales attendants and they will point you to the right direction.

Glad they built this place with more of an upper middle-class vibe. It feels very secure and super…read moreclean. When you glance outside, you do see a bit of a less fortunate area nearby-it's a reminder of the stark contrast, which is a bit sad. I think those who developed this mini city could do more to support the communities around them, but it's a safe and vibrant spot. Pet-friendly, everything within walking distance, and if you're visiting Manila, BGC is definitely worth staying in. For a quieter vibe, consider staying closer to Manila Bay, but be prepared to grab a ride since not much is walkable unless you're near the mall. Still, BGC really has a lot to offer and is a great base for exploring. No service requested but the Value at some of the hotels or airbnb are affordable!

The urban planners did a really nice job developing this area. It's a welcoming, clean, and modern…read moreenvironment. It's a pedestrian friendly area and thoughtfully designed. It's sensory overload and it would be wise to spend at least 2-3 days exploring this area to absorb everything that's going on. If you're looking for restaurants, art, retail and culture you'll find it here. It's a spacious open space for the community to connect with one another. While walking around I noticed families, friends, co-workers, and international travelers gathering and spending time in this area. It's a lively place to see and be seen. We took a rideshare to Market Market then walked over to Bonifacio High Street. We arrived late afternoon so it was still light out. I saw the Bonifacio High Street marker on 11th Ave and took note of the logo and artistic structure. It reminded me of rice terraces. Then after walking some ways I noticed the elevation started to change slightly, going down steps and ramps. It's nice they considered ramps for people with mobility restrictions. I saw people exercising/jogging. In this heat? Yup. It was shocking to me but I guess they're used to it. I come from a city with mild temps. If it goes above 85 degrees for 3+ consecutive days we freak out and call it a heatwave. Side story: When we took the bus up to Baguio, a lady from Colorado sat next to me. She said she stayed at the Grand Hyatt Manila a couple blocks from High Street. She said she really liked staying there. She convinced me that I need to stay at that hotel in BGC the next time I visit. We dined at Vikings, The Alley, BGC and one of my fam members had a Philippine phone number to make a reservation online since they didn't accept international phone numbers. The food was okay. Medley Buffet at Okada was better. I was shocked when we got the bill though. It was so cheap/affordable. The US dollar goes really far in the Philippines. It's no surprise my retired family members live that snowbird life. Must be nice! ;p By the time we left the restaurant it was dark out. We walked outside and there were a lot more people out. I guess once people clock out of work, everyone just hangs out here. We needed to get back to our hotel located outside of BGC and it was hard finding a rideshare pick up spot. We ended up near the 3D LED screen on 5th Ave. Rideshare kept denying our request, which was the only time it happened on our whole trip. It was pretty frustrating but I can only assume it was because it was so crowded and everyone was trying to hail a car. Eventually we connected with a driver but it took 3 tries. I guess the lesson to take from this is to find the nearest hotel and get picked up there, otherwise you might run into the same problem as we did. Or better yet, just book a hotel in BGC and enjoy the sights and sounds of this desirable neighborhood.

This place has been creating quite the buzz all over social media. I was introduced to this venue…read morewhen I attended Pecha Kucha Manila, a popular, international event that translates to "chit chat" in Japanese which is also being held all over the world in various cities. This year's Pecha Kucha was held here at A Space. A Space is a relatively new co-working space and events venue located near Greenbelt. Aside from a co-working space for startups, freelancers and entrepreneurs, they also have an art gallery which doubles as an event space for larger groups. It's a great space that gives off a vibe that's conducive for working both independently and collaboratively. It's also a nice place for events that are more on the casual, intimate and laid back feel. The whole space is designed like a modern loft with an industrial touch. I know they offer more than just events spaces and co-working spaces, as I've heard that they also do coffee, and they do partner up with other startups and entrepreneurs for all sorts of projects and events, so you can expect to hear more about this place in the near future.

I first encountered A Space during a pechakucha event. Just across Greenbelt, this place at first…read moredoesn't look like much, with a building façade that is more or less common in the area's surrounding the mall. A quick trip up the elevators, however (say hi to the guard first), will show you that what the brown building hides is a fun, quirky concept more than anything else. As narrated by the founder, A Space is supposed to be less office, more haven where ideas and innovation are given ample room to grow. Everything is thematic, and each theme is conducive to developing a different aspect of your abstract concept. Hell, there's even a space called "Frank", for frank and straight talk, complete with a larger-than-life image of everyone's favorite straight-shooting badass, Jason Statham. A veritable first for me, my visit to A Space had me, honestly, wrestling with the concept after years of being hammered in a traditional corporate set-up. But I guess A Space is effective at its intended use, as the more I ruminate, the more the concept makes sense to me. As an added bonus, go ask "Paeng" to tell you his best Filipino joke.

Quarry Bay is a one-stop-shop for those looking to do some repairs or DIY at home. For someone like…read moreme who often just needs one or two things from the hardware store, I find Quarry Bay to be very convenient. Unlike going to the bigger home depots (where I tend to get overwhelmed with things), I know that when I go to Quarry Bay, I can simply get what I need for a reasonable price. They have almost anything and everything from carpentry materials to tools to plumbing items. We just recently bought bags of sand, cement, some angle bars and steel matting from them for our mini-project at home. They even have paints, drilling machines and light bulbs. The only downside here is that their store is very cramped and quite warm, but then again, it's not like you'll spend hours there anyway. You get what you need and you're out. They're still the most reliable nearby hardware store for me. I have never gone out of there empty handed.

Are you bored of the usual lights, lampshades or chandeliers for your house and looking for a…read morechange? If yes, then visit the Fellix store in Greenbelt. I stumbled upon this store last Saturday when I was shopping things for my home. Once you enter the shop, you are just mesmerized by the different designs and variety of lights. Fellix Inc. brings in a new and fresh concept of lighting fixtures under the Taiwanese brand QisDesign. You can choose designer LED Table or Floor lamp and Suspension or Wall lights. Each of their lights is stylishly designed and would just elevate our homes to a next level of beauty. They have the different themes like Coral ball LED Suspension light, Piano LED Table lamp, Crystal LED light, Flamence LED table lamp, Hatha LED table lamp. Each of these lights draws inspiration from nature, humans, yoga. All the lights have sensor pads and operate on touch. Each of their products is handcrafted and they are energy saving lights. My personal favorite is the colorful Aurelia LED table lamp (I really have to save a lot to buy them) which is inspired by the moon jelly fish having a dome like shape reflecting a three light configuration. These lights are really high end and the cheapest one cost's 5000. But I want to own one of this at least once in a lifetime!!