Antique galore! Jewelry , Furniture, Objects Art they have it all. And they also do restorations…read more With friendly terms and prices.

This collection is vintage this item was secured and im looking for a buyer who can accomodate the…read moreitem

I don't know why, but I love the smell of old furniture. For some it smells like mold and termites,…read morebut I enjoy the aroma of aging wood and the earthiness of it all. I suppose I sound like an old man recounting how "they don't make it like they used to", but I genuinely just like the atmosphere of those browns and greys. Jo Liza is a personal favorite because of it holds plenty of secrets that take more than one visit to explore. On the surface it looks just like any other antique store, but the building is muuuuch bigger than it seems. There's even an Evil Lair-worthy banquet hall with a large wooden table that would probably be illegal to make today. I consider winding through Jo Liza's corridors while brushing my hands on the different surfaces and textures a cathartic experience, and the guard there has probably give me the evil eye more than a handful of times. It's like a museum you can buy. I just hope they don't come with ghosts.

I love history. A lot of people find it boring, but I for one enjoy reading or hearing about it. I…read moredunno, there's just something about history that my brain seems to enjoy enough that it's a subject a read up on every now and then on my spare time. As a lover of history, one of my favorite kinds of stores are antique stores, and this is what Yamasawa is all about. I saw this place from a distance. Even from a bit of a distance I could already see the swords and samurai armor the store had on display. Being a history guy and having a fascination for Japanese culture I decided to get a little bit closer. When I walked in, I saw that the store was selling all sorts of collectible trinkets and baubles. They have the sort of items that a person could collect and possibly add to their home as a decoration in order to make it look a little bit more sophisticated. Nothing says a man of refined taste or culture than a person who has a collection of interesting antiques. A lot of their items are from Japan, but some are from various other countries like the Philippines or China.

The items in this establishment are without a doubt impressive and top-notch. As a military…read morecollector, it's everything you could ask for. However the service I had in particular was incredibly poor. I visited their Robinson's Manila branch back in 2010, and was confronted by an incredibly rude and stuck-up sales lady who was less than accommodating. The heated point of my visit came after the lady refuse to let me & my mother see one of their German EK1 Iron Cross up close. When my mother asked why she would not let us inspect the medal, she gave us a VERY illogical and down right insulting excuse, sighting and quote "'Muka kang suplada kasi". Flabbergasted by what she said, my mother immediately objected, telling her "Excuse me, that's no excuse to deny us service, Is that how you treat your customers!?" my mother exclaimed in full English, to which the sales lady replied sarcastically "Excuse me, PO! No need to speak all English dito, lahat tayo Pilipino..." That really struck a deeper nerve into us. The argument ensued further between them, my mother demanding to speak to the owner of the shop, but to no avail. We unfortunately left telling the lady that we would report her to the mall authorities to which she again sarcastically replied "Sige! Go right A-HEAD!". I believe we reported to the concierges/ information desk at the lobby or to a near by security guard, but the details escape me. However a few months later, we attempted to contact the owners of the shop directly through their contact on Yelp and Yellow-pages, but the contact number provided was either busy or not in service. So my mother and I simply let the issue go, utterly disappointed at the event & lack of justification. It's a shame that a beautiful shop like that housed such unsavory employees at the time. Whether or not that particular employee is still there, I can't tell. Furthermore, whether or not their service has improved, I can't say either. I haven't been back since the incident, although I wish to do so one day. And it turned out, I wasn't alone. A friend of mine who lived in the area once stopped by the shop to browse as I did. When he had asked to look at one of the helmets, the same employee simply gave him the price and a "menacing & sour look." I am telling my story now in hopes that no other customer may experience the same travesty that I and my mother had encountered on that traumatizing day, and to speak out for those who may have encountered a similar experience. And furthermore, as a hope that management of this establishment may look at their employees carefully as to not carry a wolf-in-sheep's-clothing amongst their staff. So in summation, again, "Yamasawa" has fantastic military items and antiques, but it is my hope that their employees & customer service has since improved since my visit some 8 years ago. So take that with a grain of salt.

UVLA is one of my favorite stores to visit in Cubao Expo. It is one of the many antique shops in…read morethe compound but it has a bit more of a quirky twist to it compared to the rest of the antique shops in Cubao Ex. It is where i bought my skeleton pipe made out of resin. It's got a lot of old toys and collectibles that would make a great addition to your home or the perfect gift to give a special friend. Some items you will find here are collector's items from Disney like music boxes or cartoon figures from their iconic films. Band merchandise can also be found here like Beatles posters, lunchboxes, mugs, and much more. You can also find merchandise with iconic actresses like Marilyn Monroe. The rest of the store features home furniture that will take you to another era and perhaps leave you nostalgic which will make you buy something. Maybe it becomes harder to let go of the thinga here because they are all waiting for someone to take them home and treat them with the proper care they deserve.

The owners call it a "nostalgia store from Cubao X". True to their words, UVLA Store sells…read morepre-loved vintage items; but not exclusively though. The whole shop is an air-conditioned treasure trove of all things old and lovely, and some local artworks and prints thrown in. That's where I got my sticker set designed by Yas Doctor, one of my favorite artists. I like that they put a jar of candy near the entrance so you have something to munch on while spazzing over all the finds you can... well, find. If you're a lover of toy figures from the previous century, you can go there. If you're an avid matchbox collector, they got you covered. The prices, though, depend. They got postcards that you can get for as low as Php 40, or maybe even lower, and then the newer art stuff they offer are priced around Php 100. The sticker set I got was around Php 150, which was well worth it.

Tribu Kalokalo is a tiny hidden gem taken straight from Bohemia, right next to the indoor entrance…read moreof SM Marketplace in A.Venue. Tribu Kalokalo is a pleasant surprise in that it feels like a popup convenience store for fascinating ethnic trinkets such as large dreamcatchers, pipes on rope necklaces, large precious stones (replica or authentic, they'd look really pretty as room decorations), faux animal skins and bohemian garments like scarves, hats and all kinds of beaded jewelry. If you'd like to score some Boho swag without breaking the bank, stop by this humble little stall.

Whenever I find myself inside the Prizmic & Brill showroom in Greenbelt 5, I can't help but feel as…read moreif I were transported into an incredibly luxurious African safari camp. The brand leans toward having a heavy, masculine aesthetic with their line of home furnishings made out of leather, wood and nickel fittings. Known for their beautiful one-of-a-kind trunks and valises, it's always a surprise for anyone to find out that Prizmic & Brill is produced locally. While talking to the shop assistant, I found out that all of Prizmic & Brill's pieces are fabricated in their factory in Pampanga and their pieces are shipped around the world to high-end clients and shops. It's always a great thing to find out that Filipino craftsmanship can truly compete in the global stage. And looking around the Prizmic & Brill showroom is a true testament to that.

If you've read my other reviews, you would know that I'm crazy about furniture stores…read more Sometimes...or rather, at all times, whenever I find myself in one, I'd imagine my future house and what pieces would go where. I have a very active imagination, you see. Prizmic & Brill is one of those stores that I'd want to buy from when I have my dream home. As a kid, I absolutely loved The Mummy movies. They are still a favorite to this day. I loved the set, the props, the costumes and the idea of being in a wild adventure in the deserts of Egypt. Walking into the store feels exactly that way - like I'm part of the movie and I'm revisiting my childhood. I also wanted to be an archaeologist growing up but I never got to pursue it and was also afraid of getting cursed, haha. Their furniture has this (a term I seem to use often now) old world and sophisticated, masculine feel. They use hardwood, rattan, glass, brass and leather for their pieces. And the quality of the craftsmanship is A+. I also found out that their furniture is made in the Philippines! Definitely another Filipino gem to be proud of.

Before our college library started churning out back copies of the National Geographic for free to…read moremake space for "newer" publications, I used to go here to purchase back copies that go as far back as the 60s and 70s. All these vintage finds always added color to my apartment. And when I was feeling particularly hipster, I'd painfully cut out awesome photos from these issues to add life to a flat collage. But Angel Spirits Thrift House has so much more than back copies of magazines and old books. I've seen vinyls as well, mostly hand picked, as well as gorgeous antique furniture and decor piling up inside and outside the shop. I've always wanted to shop for my home decor here once I actually get a place with character.

1335Mabini is a shot in the arm for a portion of Manila that needs a bit of art and culture in its…read moreeveryday cycle. 1335Mabini is a multidisciplinary space for contemporary art, with over 700 square meters devoted to art, art, and more art. This gallery supports artistic creation through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and their own artist-in-residence program. The Gallery is situated in the old Casa Tesoro, a name more synonymous with Filipino souvenirs and stuff. At any given time, 1335Mabini will be exhibiting contemporary art exhibits bordering on "Far Out" and "WTF" (Oh come on, you know what I'm talking about), as well as a performance piece or two. I remember watching a female artist do "macho man" dance moves during a performance two years back. You know, gay bar stuff, but by a woman. It was weirdly unnerving, but then that was the point of the whole thing, right? Manila is not lacking for art galleries and art shops, but they're very cookie-cutter and safe with their exhibitions and whatnot. If you want your art to push the bounderies, you have to check out 1335Mabini. You will not be disappointed.