So let's say you want a memorable gift for someone or maybe an eyecatching centerpiece for an…read moreevent. Have you ever considered candy? And not just any candy. There's actually somewhere in the metro that makes hand pulled, hand rolled rock candy. And it's not going to break your bank either. You can get a small jar for 100php or a bigger jar for 175php. For that much, you get a bunch of small, 3-5cm large candies with individual designs. These were pieces cut from one long roll. It blows my mind that these guys are able to make designs like cars and letters and hearts and even little Captain America faces out of rolls of colored, flavored sugar. No molds, no guides. Just rolling and kneading. Blows. My. Mind. The flavors are great, too. My personal favorite is (no prizes there for guessing) the salted caramel. Not only do you get that pure sugar flavor from the caramel but you actually get little flecks of salt from time to time. I found myself cracking the jar open multiple times in the day. Just a heads up though, if you want to use these as centerpieces then make sure they're kept away from hot lights. They don't keep in heat very well. Keep them on a table in the jar a few days, they'll still be okay but they might end up kind of fused together.

I'm a sucker for sweets with a little something extra, and Twisted Candy gives you that. It's…read morealmost just regular hard candy, sure, but it comes in a lot of different flavors, and comes in these little cute designs that are just made by hand at the store itself. It can be pretty mesmerizing to watch these guys just throw around the soft candy into ropes and bang it out into these itty-bitty buttons of fun. They even do personalized designs, which I think is pretty cool. I buy these for my brother when I'm thinking of getting him a treat, since they look so appealing even in their plastic bags. My brother goes through dialysis almost daily so he has a lot of food to avoid, so he appreciates a little special something when he does actually get something he can eat. I do think they're a little on the pricey side though, since a hundred bucks would only get you a small bag. But I guess it's fair with the work that goes into them, and just the variety of fruit and other sugary flavorings they come in, which makes you want to try everything! Luckily they have the variety packs for you to do just that.

I miss this place! I wish it's still open!…read more This is our go to gift shop back in the days

A visit to Greenhills will never be complete without going to Regina Gift Shop…read more When I was a kid my parents would remind me that it's a gift shop meaning I went in to buy gifts for other people. I believed that lie until I was about ten. I guess that was to prevent me from buying all the awesome goodies this shop has to offer. Sorry, parents. I'm buying gifts for myself. They have everything! And I really mean everything. They have all my childhood candies next to a stand of plastic balloons. You know, those little tubes which you squeeze until this substance comes out which you blow into with the use of a little stick. There's a shelf with plates, spoons and forks and knives, cups and lunchboxes. And in the center, you'll find notebooks, stickers, pens, art materials, cellphone cases and the occasional sex toy. Speaking of toys, they do have toys for babies and children and adults who collect toys. Not into those things? They have bags, clothes and hats too. I remember being dragged here by my mom whenever I needed a costume for school. "You're only going to wear it once anyway. But it at Regina," she'd say. Don't get me wrong, their clothes don't break after one use. They have cool socks and hats. And sometimes if you're lucky, they have sell Christmas stockings. I can't remember everything they sell at this shop. So it would be great if you have a look for yourself. You won't be disappointed and you'll leave with lots of loot.

I was in grade school when I first saw a Candy Corner open at my school. It was for me, one of the…read morebest places to go to. They sold almost everything a kid with a sweet tooth could possibly want. It was also one of the most expensive stores, considering my meager allowance at least, on campus. I would sometimes save some of my money to buy a lot of the candy that I wanted. Times have changed, but Candy Corner hasn't It's still a small stall that has a lot of the stuff that you would rarely, even if you could, find at your regular grocery. Look at what they have to offer and even if you have only one tooth in your mouth wanting something sweet you'll most likely end up salivating over everything that they have. Price is fair I would say, I mean, this place isn't the sort of thing that would leave a normal person with an empty wallet.

My dad loves kiamoy--that sweet, sour, salty dried plum often found in Chinese stores and in Aji…read moreIchiban. As a growing teen and now as a still growing adult, the idea of picking candy out of an array of different treats to be put in a bag and weighed to exactly a hundred grams or hundred bucks is a trip, and I do still like to have a jolly good time at Aji Ichiban. Though they've lost a few brances, I'm glad this one in the less dense Shoppesville area in Greenhills has survived, probably because it's across the all-important Mercury Drug. I stop by here on occasion and go for gummy anything, like their blue-white gummy sharks and sour colas. A lot more "traditional" products are also worth getting here, like White Rabbit chews and haw flakes--those red, sweet, round dried fruit wafers that I've always had as a kid. Sometimes you'll even be surprised by what they have. Sour candy is my weakness and this one time they had this sour lemon drop candy that I bought and loved and which I still long for sometimes. Bring them back, Aji Ichiban!

For those with a sweet tooth, various small candy shops have emerged with their plastic stalls…read moreloaded with all sorts of delights that make a mouthful of sweet, sugary goodness possible. While I have grown out of splurging on too much candy, I still delight myself whenever I see a Candy Corner; I remember myself from before, so much in love with their delectable, sweet smelling, uniquely shaped candies that are so much the favorite of the young, hyperactive metabolism that can't wait to get all of that sugar down and exhaust it by running around and playing a lot, burning off so much of it and giving the adults a harder time before the eventual sugar crash and nap time. Ha, those were the days. Some things never change, I suppose; we still have these Candy Corner shops with the friendly women in aprons giving children what they wish to have to soothe their sweet tooth, and occasionally for the adults as well, who never really grow out of it.

A friend of mine posted on instagram a photo of candies she brought from Made in Candy but I really…read moregot disappointed when she told me that it was only available in HK. Thank God that on the next day, Made in Candy posted on their FB page that they're gonna launch their first branch in Manila at SM Megamall. Funny thing is, a few days or weeks after, I went to Megamall because I can't wait to get a taste of those very pretty candies but again, the place is still under construction. You have no idea how much I've wanted to get a taste of those candies that looked like unicorn gems. When I finally got a hold of 'em, I brought the lychee flavoured pack at work and it was gone right away. I just wish I brought another pack all for myself. The other one that is sold in a small jar, I brought it for our team building the next day. Another funny story is, my friend Shalla asked to take a photo of it then suddenly, the strong wind toppled the jar from the billiard table. It was a mortifying but a funny moment. Because of what happened, I dubbed it as Shalla taking the game Candy Crush to reality.

As a kid, my mom would always get mad at me for eating too much candy. She told me that…read moreoverindulging in sugary snacks like candy can lead to certain health complications. She lectured me on how it can cause Type II Diabetes, morbid obesity, tooth decay, heart disease, and even cancer. Just try to imagine the torture that I have been through as a child. I remember hiding all of my candies and sweet treats under my bed to make sure she doesn't see any of it. Now that I am an adult (kinda), I can already eat and buy candies as much as I want. My favorite go to place for great-tasting candy is definitely Made in Candy. I discovered Made in Candy several months ago. I was tempted to check out this wonderful place, because there were a lot of people outside the store. They were trying to watch the candymen create sugary masterpiece. Each candy has a complex design etched into it. Looking at these designs will definitely make you appreciate Made in Candy's quality products.

There are stores with names that have next to nothing to do with what it sells or the services that…read moreit offers. There are stores that are named after the owners. There are stores that a good description of what they are. Then there are stores that basically tell you what you should do which is what Pick & Mix does. Pick & Mix is another store that molds itself after Candy Mix. I can't say that there's anything wrong or bad about it. Nor can I say that there's anything good about it either. The thing here is that it's nothing entirely new or original. It's been done before and I see no real rhyme or reason why I should give this more attention or preference than anything else. Anyway, it's still a nice place to get candy though so don't give it a pass simply because it's not something new.

Sasmuan Delicacies is the perfect place to go to if you're looking to buy pasalubong for your…read morefriends and loved ones. I consider it as the home of the best-tasting Filipino sweet treats. They sell polvoron (powdered milk candies), yema, pastilyas, pili tarts, and many more. I often go here whenever I want to eat something sweet after lunch. I don't normally order desserts in restaurants because it's too expensive, so I often look for desserts in different food stalls that can satisfy my sweet tooth. Sasmuan Delicacies is best known for their milky and great-tasting polvoron. They use local and pure ingredients to produce their polvoron. They have a variety of flavors to choose from that everyone will surely love. They have Butter, Choco, Cookies and Cream, Ube-Pinipig, and many more. This polvoron just melts in your mouth and won't leave you gasping for air. If you're looking for sugary treats to satiate your craving for sweets, then head over to Sasmuan Delicacies.

Aji Ichiban is the kind of store that really makes me feel in Asia. It's a candy store, but the way…read moreit's organized (like those traditional Chinese stores we see in the movies) and the products they offer make it much more interesting. Everything is displayed on acrylic cases, so you just choose what you want (you can try first) and the amount (usually scoops) and the attendant puts it inside a little plastic bag. My favorite product there is their dried ginger dusted with sugar. I always buy it when I have a sore throat or a cold. It's natural and it really makes me feel better :) They have other types of ginger, but this one is the best for me. I highly recommend it. Pair it with a cup of hot tea or hot chocolate...instant comfort and relief!

Oh, Aji Ichiban, another store from my childhood. My mother used to buy me sweets from there, and…read moremy favorites were the chocolate filled marshmallows that are, sadly, not there any more. Anyway, Aji Ichiban is a snack food store that has lots of food from all across Asia and America. Have you ever heard of a store that has both Japanese-style Seaweed and Skittles? Yeah, this would be it. The have food that ranges from Beef Jerky to Dried Plums to Gummies to Chocolates. The selection may sound random, but it's really fun to see what they have in store! However, it may sometimes be a little pricey depending on the food item. It'll be up to you to decide if it's worth it or not.

Rocha's puto is really special and delicious. Actually it is one of my favorite places to get puto…read morein the world. The puto is chewy and cheesy. I could probably eat a whole box in one sitting. If you are in Marikina, I highly recommend buying a box or two! Next time I'm in Marikina this is a must visit for me.

First day of school. You will expect the students to talk about academic issues. But, surprise,…read moreRocha's Puto at Kutsinta made its way into the conversation. My classmate asked me where I was from and I answered Marikina. Quickly, she remarked: "I've been there. Dumayo kami to try Rocha's Puto and Kutsinta. You're famous for that, di ba?" And all the while I was thinking Marikina was famous for shoes! But, maybe, the palate makes a greater impact on the memory than the feet. Oh well, this is one time I am happy to be wrong. The puto of Rocha's is really quite good. Flavorful but not overly sweet. Soft and fluffy and never buhaghag. This rice cake from Rocha's is becoming a staple at meals served for family celebrations. So, next time, if you are going to a potluck party, you now have more options than just spaghetti, pancit or pizza. Visit Marikina and buy Rocha's Puto and Kutsinta. Marikina, the puto and kutsinta capital of the Philippines? Not bad.