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.

Believe me when I say that you can really find anything you'll need inside BF Homes. For a quick…read moredose of shoe shopping, a lot of women here head to Step-Rite. They're a local brand and manufacturer of shoes, and they've really made quite a name for themselves here in the south. They have a lot of styles available, but I do believe they're more known for their sandals/slip-ons. I've purchased several pairs of shoes here while growing up. School shoes, slippers, wedges, espadrilles... Their styles lean more towards classy than trendy. They have a pretty good variety most of the time, and they often have sales!

When you live in BF Homes, you don't have to go too far to get anything. Need clothes? Shop at…read moreRuins. Want dinner? Eat at Bamba Café. Want to get drunk? You have over 40 bars to choose from. In this dining neighborhood, everything is accessible, even a perfectly good pair of shoes and you can find it in a little shop called Step Rite. I've been here several times before on different occasions and it's mostly when I'm too lazy to drive to the mall. They've made buying shoes more than just a fun activity; they've made the whole experience easier. They have a good selection of shoes, parking is never a problem and the shop is right along a Thai restaurant and a cake shop. Shoes here are well made and I've been using my pair for quite some time now. This shop has been around for years and it's there for all the right reasons.

Basketball shoes and workout clothes can be pricey. Good thing there are outlet stores that offer…read morethose things at a marked down price. MJ46 is actually a compound with different outlet stores inside it. Of course Nike occupies the biggest area, but you can also find other sports brands like Adidas, Palladium, Vans and New Balance. The Nike store inside the compound has a wide selection of shoes, even the ones that are already hard to find. When you do see some cool kicks, pray that they have them in your size because stocks go fast and what's usually left are the reaaally big sizes (if your shoe size is 14, lucky you). It's pretty hard to find this place because it's a secluded area inside a really big subdivision. Parking is also a bit challenging when you get there. But don't worry about bringing the kids. They have a play area to keep them occupied while you explore our own happy place.

Sneaker stores have been popping left and right around Metro Manila for the past 3 years now. The…read moresneaker culture following has been running high, whether you're in high school, college or already a young professional. For guys, shoes might be the only thing they can showcase to display their fashion prowess. Unlike us girls, guys tend to focus on their shoe game more than anything else. Most sneakers stores start small considering that big retail shops like Nike, Adidas, Planet Sports and Toby's have been in the business for quite some time now. These newly opened stores have to overtake these sports giants' resources and following. One of the most recent sneaker concept stores which first popped up in Katipunan is Sole Academy. For those who are not familiar, Sole Academy is a sneaker store which carries mostly lifestyle shoes from brands like Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Asics and Puma to name a few. They have been consistently bringing exclusive pairs here in Manila that's why in the sneaker community, Sole Academy has been one of the best and most reliable stores. It's only right they use the tagline "Best in Class" to stamp their mark in the sneaker market. When I say consistently bringing in the exclusive pairs, I mean weekly releases of shoes that most sneakerheads dream of. Currently they have 3 stores: Katipunan, Alabang and the recently opened High Street branch at the Fort in Taguig City. Sole Academy is also known for hyping up shoe releases with parties, which is probably the reason why they get all kinds of good words from their consumers. Hey, nothing like word of mouth as legit marketing strat, right? The price range of their products are between 3,000 pesos to 10,000 pesos, depending on the brand and model of the release. They also offer an online store so for those who are quite far from their branches, you can order online and have your dream pair delivered to your door step. Aside from shoes, they also have other products like shirts, caps, shoe cleaners, bracelets and other products that are "in" with the sneaker community. Just a tip, do mind checking their online store from time to time - they offer exclusive discounts to some of their products if you purchase online.

Love this place! The staff was super friendly and did everything they could to accommodate us. I…read morehighly recommend this place a must visit for all sneaker enthusiasts. Thanks again Sole Academy.

Nike doesn't need any explaining. One of the world's largest supplier of athletic shoes and sports…read moreapparel sponsors many athletes and sports teams around the world, that's why we all know nike and that's why many of us like nike. After watching shia labeouf saying 'Just do It' for over a minute, I somehow felt like visiting the Nike store last time I was in SM Aura. They don't carry all brands here (e.g. Nike Golf, Nike Pro, Nike+, Air Jordan, Nike Blazers, Air Force 1, Nike Dunk,Air Max, Foamposite, Nike Skateboarding), they mainly focus on running shoes. I just love how Nike showcases all their shoes on the wall. It makes it so easy to have a look at the shoes you like and this makes for a great shopping experience. The staff lets you browse around without bothering you, but are there to help you if you want to try on some shoes. Just a great experience, so go and visit, just do it!

#SwooshLove is one of the ways I like to describe myself. I might not show it often to my friends,…read morebut I love frequenting blogs that show the latest shoes by the sporting apparel giant that is Nike. My brother loves it just as much, and even says "Nike" in place "Just do it" to us siblings when he's asking for a favor (not the best way to ask for a favor, by the way). Nike has got the most popular sporting or working out apparel in the Philippines, if not the world. I literally can't go out without seeing at least one Nike product, be it a shirt, cap, pair of shoes, bag, etc. Aside from their workout apparel, people have been buying casual wear from Nike as well, particularly their SB and Janoski selections. Their shoes are of incredibly high quality and last years with proper use. While I like this branch (it's right next to an Adidas and New Balance so there's plenty to look at and compare), there are plenty of outlet stores out there, so find one and join the #SwooshLove movement!

The size of this mall always means that this can be a great spot to hang out with friends and…read morefamily. I mean, there are so much things you can do to plan out some activities. There are arcades, boba spots, cafes, archery, bakery class, digital art museum, nail salon, hair salon etc and even a sports arena that holds concerts too. We came across a couple of artists promoting music and there was a stage and sound set-up in one of the big spaces. I got to say though, the most recent time I came here I was very grossed out by the strong smell of the ice skating rink!!! It feels as if there isn't enough cleaning done on those ice skate rentals and it totally put off me and the rest of our group from entering in to see the prices. I don't remember the spot stinking so much pre-COVID so that's very unfortunate. It's across from one of the food courts in the mall too. You can eat food of various types!!! Food court options or literal restaurants. I definitely think coming here for two days is best but you can still explore a majority of the mall in one day. I like the security for checking bags upon entry when going into the different buildings. Expect a ton of banks, restaurants and stores. A BIG PLUS. If you are struggling to find a store, ask one of the security personnel inside. They immediately know the directions on where to go and were super impressive in their knowledge!!! The staff here in the Philippines are very courteous and professional. Always a good visit to come here especially to enjoy the AC also.

Lives up to being one of THE malls to visit in the Philippines. Over three levels of dozens of…read morestores, from affordable to high end luxury. The space is so large I stumbled on a basketball tournament happening in the mall to public spectacle! Walking it in one day was doable but most tourists tend to take two days at minimum to see the entire property. There is little to no service within the mall itself and Wifi is spotty so bear that in mind when strolling around. Well maintained and with a gorgeous view of the bay!

What's better than an Adidas store? What's better is an Adidas OUTLET store. Yes, Adidas can be…read morepretty pricey and you would definitely need to shell out a lot of money for cool new kicks or a hip sports jacket, but why not check out an outlet store and see all the (still) cool and hip stuff that are sold with great quality? I for one, am definitely thankful for this store. I have not one but 4 members of my family who are Adidas addicts. I can see why because they certainly have great stuff but it's personally not my style so I buy other and cheap workout gear that won't burn holes in my wallet and pockets. An outlet store won't so every time there's a birthday or it's Christmas, I always visit this branch. They have great discounts (up to 70% off during sale season) and you can even call them beforehand to ask if they have a certain model you want.

The name of Winnerka Fashion must be a play on the Tagalog and English words 'winner' and 'ka.' In…read moreother words, you're a winner. Cute. Stores like this used to be called boutiques. I don't think anyone uses that word anymore. Makes the user seem so passe and out of touch with the times, which is a no-no especially in the world of fashion. It's a neat and small store that's comfortably air-conditioned. From what I saw, the main products are casual ladies clothes, not too expensive and not too cheap either. My wife and daughters would be most happy to at least give this place a look see, I'm sure. But I was alone when I happened to pass by and just peeked inside out of curiosity. I am no expert at women's fashion so I can't really say if the clothes sold at Winnerka are hot stuff or meh-worthy. In my eyes, they looked mighty fine. I'm going to let the ladies in my life decide for themselves if they will become regular customers or sukis of this new story. Sooner rather than later, I am certain they will at least pay it a leisurely visit.