I got a styling gig recently that asked for things that we (yes, we) grew up with during the 90s. I…read morewas so inspired by this and reminisced about my early morning trips to the wet market in my Dad's hometown in Imus. Because Imus is just too far and a bit challenging when it comes to traffic, I decided to head to Zapote Public Market and explore what it can offer. It was a wise decision as I found pretty much all that I was looking for - kamias, santol and green mangoes to remind them of running around the village and picking fruits from trees. I also found native products like wooden mortar and pestle, wooden spin tops, rattan baskets, even planks used for doing the laundry. It was awesome as I also found the small packets of chips that we used to eat when we were kids, plus local candies we all grew up munching on. All these, aside from the usual market finds, surely brought me back to my childhood and will surely bring me back here not just for these things but for more.

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.

U.S. Orig Ukay Ukay has to qualify as one of the saddest businesses in all of Dona Soledad Avenue,…read moreBetter Living Subdivision, Paranaque City. Ukay Ukay is a valid business, since everyone enjoys a good bargain, even clothes. I've had office mates who were not ashamed to say that they bought some of their office wear at these second hand shops. But there are good ukay ukay shops and there are bad ones, and U.S. Orig has precious little to go for it except the very low prices. T-shirts, shirts and blouses are sold for the rock bottom price of P50, where others start at P100. At least the others check what they sell and make sure that they are still in wearable state. So sorry but this little store has some junk that no one should wear anymore. Not that there aren't some wearable clothes there. Some are in a not too overworn state. The problem with this store is one of supply. They should look for better sources of better clothes if they want to survive.

This branch of ukay-ukay is quite popular, especially in the Cubao area. From experience, I've…read morespotted really good finds in their Cubao branch, and I'm happy to report that this branch in Parañaque does not disappoint either. Among the ukay joints around the area, Fashion Delite here at Jaka Plaza is the one with thte most variety. There's soooo much that it's actually difficult to browse the racks because there's just so much to choose from. As for prices, don't expect it to be dirt cheap like those Php 5-20 peso types of places where the clothes are already quite questionable in quality. This place often has new arrivals, so you're not stuck with the "pinagpilian" racks for too long. I frequent this place from time to time whenever I am in need of an 'ukay fix' (it's an addiction, really). I've gotten really good stuff here, such as skirts with unique prints on them, shirt dresses, a canvas beach backpack, tops suitable for meetings and printed dresses. But, my favorite purchase from this store has got to be this pair of original, high-cut Doc Marten boots with 2 inch heels for only Php 400. It was beautiful and fit perfectly. It was a great companion while it lasted, as I gave it away when I decided to go vegan, and one of which I wanted to let go of are my stuff that had leather on them.

I don't really like splurging on clothes, since I move around a lot and I find that packing a ton…read moreof clothes into boxes is such a boring and arduous task. I am very content with the tatters that I have been wearing since college, but whenever my old t-shirts and sweats bite the dust, and I find that I have been repeating outfits far too often, my first choice would be to shop in the Taytay Old and New Public Markets. Local residents and buyers from neighboring cities alike flock to the "Lumang Palengke" and "New Taytay Market" to snap up really cheap clothes. I have been told by a friend that there are plenty of RTW and garments factories around Taytay and Cainta, and the factories often sell overruns and rejects in the "bagsakan", which then distribute the wares to the "tiangge" sellers in the old and new market. People have their different opinons about which location is the best, but I find that the New Public Market, near the McDonalds in the highway leading to Angono, Rizal , sell more menswear and casual clothing. The suki buyers swear by the quality and the durability of the stuff from the tiangges, and I couldn't agree more. I have bought several sweaters, t-shirts and hoodies at such ridiculously low prices. I once walked out of there with 13 pieces of clothing, which I bought for roughly P800 only. How is that not a good deal? All you need is a trusty pair of shoes, lots of patience and a bit of your haggling skills so that you can get great discounts from the sellers.

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!

Who doesn't enjoy weekend markets? It's always fun to be in an open space surrounded by several…read morefood stalls selling yummy, delish dishes and other fun vendors selling all things quirky, kitschy and sometimes even useful? Greenfield Weekend Market is one I truly enjoy visiting. I've gone here more than a couple of times and all those I really had a ton of fun. I once went when my boyfriend set up a special FIBA viewing event just last year. The turnout was incredible and there was just something so encouraging about watching with a bunch of your kababayans as your national team play their hearts out on the court! Definitely a cool experience for me. The only setback with Greenfield Weekend Markets would be the availability of seats, tables and blankets. Most food stalls let you borrow their picnic blankets if you purchase something from them or if you're lucky enough, you can get a table. To be safe, you can also just bring your own picnic blanket. Anyway there's nothing like sitting on grass, drinking beers with your friends and just enjoying the clear skies.

I really am thankful for weekend night markets especially right after seeing a movie and would love…read moreto go on a food trip. I got to fully enjoy Greenfield Weekend Market with my friends right after seeing The Hunt featuring Mads Mikkelsen when it was shown at Shangri-la Mall during the Cine Europa or the European Film Festival which is held every year. I got to try out that scrumptious and savory buffalo wings while enjoying a live acoustic band. I want to try especially the pastas but I can't fit them all in my belly. Ugh. There's actually a lot of food that you can choose from just like the ones in Banchetto or Mercato but there are a few stalls in here that you can't find in others. They also let people set up mats for a nightly picnic. There are also stalls in here that sell paintings, plants, and vinyl records so it's not just food that they cater to.

St. Francis is like a mini-Greenhills Shopping Center. Just behind Megamall, you would think that…read morethey won't draw too large a crowd since they are up against a giant mall. Each floor have it's own specialty so to speak. You can find a lot of cheap buys and it's a good alternative if you don't want to brave the traffic in Greenhills. They have sections for electronics like mobile phones and laptops. A lot of the stalls sell second-hand phones but buy with caution since they say that this is where GSM (Galing Sa Magnanakaw) phones end up. A lot stalls also sell pirated DVDs whether of movies or pc games. It's illegal for sure but a lot of people still patronize them. Can't really blame them with the pricey original ones. But I'm not here to deliver a homily, just telling you what you can find here. There are stores that sell clothes, toys, shoes and jewelry. Just like your department stores but in a less organized manner.

To be honest, St. Francis Square Mall is one of the sketchiest places I have been to. It is just…read morelike a tiangge minus the unruly crowd and the stress-inducing environment. The moment you walk into this place, you'll immediately be approached by vendors, storekeepers, and all kinds of dealers. They'll try to sell new gadgets, like laptops and cellphones, gadget accessories, fake Swarovski bracelets, and even pirated DVDs. If you're not a fan of places like these, don't bother going here. But if you're a smart shopper who can easily outmaneuver sly and cunning vendors who will try their best to force their products down your throat, then this place might be perfect for you. You can buy a lot of good things here if you know how to haggle and negotiate with smart vendors. I was able to sell my very old Nintendo DS here for 4,000 pesos. It took us more than 30 minutes to settle for a final price, but it was definitely worth it. If you're not the type of person who likes to negotiate and interact with very sketchy vendors, St. Francis Square Mall actually has a department store and a small clothing shop for buyers looking for cheap finds. All of the products here have fixed prices, so there's no need to haggle.

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!