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.

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

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.

Okkaaaayyyyy, Thjs place was overwhelming, crazy and fun! Located in the lower level of…read moreGreenhills, this was the place to bargain. BUT, buyer beware. You can get approached, followed, semi-harassed for "designer bags" LOL Bring cash. Bring your game face. When I walked in, I showed interest automatically on merchandise and it was over. We had a group of sellers who stalked us and when we finished with one stand, they hounded us and got into arguments who saw us first. The best thing is to NOT acknowledge or say anything UNLESS you're ready to make a deal with a specific stand. I'm sure everyone has different experiences but we definitely were profiled as foreigners. Bargain regardless. We landed seats inside a designer bag stand with an entertaining seller, Barbie. She was charismatic and sooooooo funny. We definitely wanted to give her some business and we walked out with 6 bags. So if you're ever visiting, look and ask for "Barbie" I was able to get a fair price on mini barrel men and women. We gave them as favors on our wedding anniversary (LOL) but we didn't get to keep a pair for ourselves! The place can get really hot and stuffy, and in some areas, the stands are close together. Bring a hand held fan, it will help.

This place is, nicely put, a riot of color and noise. Small booths number in the hundreds, offering…read moresmall selection of goods to tickle your fancy. The tiangge is bargaining central, so do your best to get those prices down even by a little bit. Clothes dominate the central area, with most shops specializing in a few types of ladies' wear. Stuff for guys and kids are to be found here and there, but are comparatively few and far between. One wing that runs between Theatre Mall and Shoppesville does bags and rubber shoes of questionable authenticity. The large second floor is home to small stalls that will buy your gadget, sell you a second-hand or brand-new one, or fix any hardware or software problem it might be encountering. Items and service here are very much on a caveat emptor basis, so you have been warned. Stories abound of dubious practices, including the swapping out of parts and the selling of second-hand items as brand-new. When shopping in the tiangge, expect to be bumped into frequently, as the crowd is always dense and the lanes between stalls can cause encounters too close for comfort. Watch your stuff, especially phones and wallets, and check to make sure that your bag is closed (or keep it in front of you while you walk).

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.

Each time I pass by home décor and fine jewelry store, Firma in Greenbelt 2, I always do a double…read moretake. Consistently well-designed and always remarkable, Firma's store tableaus are always a source of inspiration. They are always a good introduction of what's in store for its visitors. Filled with lovely (and very expensive) pieces for the home, Firma's selection leans more towards an Asian or Eastern sensibility. (It's also noteworthy to point out that Firma is the brainchild by the same duo that own AC+632 in Greenbelt 3, a home décor store with a more European sensibility). It's always a pleasure for my to pore over Firma's selection of fine trays and china, sculptural home décor items and incredible fine jewelry made by local artisans. Aside from the décor and jewelry, there is also a selection of quirky hats and handbags for the lady or gent with offbeat taste.

My mum's an interior designer so she'd always take me with her when I was a little kid (until now…read moreactually, haha) whenever she'd go canvas for items in furniture or home accessories stores. It has actually turned into a special mother-daughter time. Firma to me is a unique furniture store...unlike any I've seen because of the amazingggg, must-see store displays that change every month or every other month (Seriously, I need to know who does those. I want to hire them to design some of the rooms in my future home!). They are art masterpieces on it's own. I also love the very homey vibe you feel when you enter the store. It's like you're transported to a beautiful, exotic, old-world Eurasian country. The only thing missing is a wise, old Chinese man greeting you by the door as a bell chimes. Their home accessories are quirky but glamorous and you can also find some vintage items there. If you love statement jewelry, you will LOVE their display of gorgeous wildlife, nature and sea inspired pieces. They're like gems you'd find in a treasure chest. I only find the store a bit small. I wish it were bigger as I'd love to see more stuff from them. I've bought bohemian-y jewelry from them before and they have turned into everyday jewelry for me and I do get a lot of compliments from wearing them. I love stopping by the store every time I'm in Greenbelt.

Silahis is the best store I've found to buy souvenirs and handicrafts from all regions of the…read morePhilippines. It's set in a spacious old-Spanish-style house with 4 floors, so you can stay there during a whole day and you won't be able to see everything! Just amazing! There you can find solid wood furniture, colorful textiles, typical baskets, ceramics, collections of antiques...and of course the beautiful jewelry! Prepare yourself to get crazy with the mother of pearl items. They are my favourite ones and really represent the Philippines! In my opinion, a mother of pearl necklace or earring is a very nice gift :) Actually, all the items there at Silahis are great gift options. It's just hard to choose! What I like about this place is that it's organized in a way that customers can know exactly the origin of the products. There's always a tag explaining, for example, that the traditional textile you loved is from Zamboanga. I like this kind of information. It's nice to see how diverse the country is! if you need an interesting souvenir that really represents the Philippines, I wouldn't think twice. Silahis is THE place. Just make yourself sure you have plenty of time to spend there. You won't regret it.

This store is a jewel to me not because of the antiques, Philippine souvenirs, and the likes. To be…read morehonest, the prices of these are kinda steep knowing that you could get them at a cheaper cost at some nearby stores. What makes me go back here every time I get the chance to pass by Intramuros is their collection of vintage, and old books at the 2nd floor. Being a book lover and a researcher of anything that speaks of the glory past of the Philippines, the book collection in Silahis is a haven for me. Some books can go as low as P100 for three different titles. Some are rare-to-find books and though the price is rather steep, you would actually spend for it knowing the rarity of the book. When I Go here, I usually spend an hour or two here in this book store. You can actually open books, browse through it, decide if you're gonna buy or not. One thing you should have is PATIENCE. The books are rather stacked differently. The store usually arranges the books according to the author and/or by topic of interest. But don't fret, this hidden gem is really hidden. There's not much people that spend time here. So, I have unraveled one of my Manila's top secrets here. For book lovers, go here na.

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.

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.