I am a Cotton On girl. Like seriously, when we go to SM North's the Block and my friends would walk…read morestraight to Forever 21 or Uniqlo, I go for the smaller Cotton On shop. I couldn't leave without at least one thing from that place. During the rare times that I shop for clothes, Cotton On will always be my first choice. So when they opened their store in UP Town Center, I was all "YAY! Nearer branch!" But what I got was more than the jubilation of finding out my favorite store's a few meters away from my place. PROS: This Cotton On branch is a two-floor, sprawling expanse of bright lights and high ceilings filled with pretty clothes for the twenty-something; Their selections have more variety than their SM North branch. They even have a whole section for underwear and lingerie; In a world where clothes only fit for those with perfect curves, I have found my niche in their fit-and-flare dresses. Plus, their name pretty much says it. Cotton On's wares have great fabric quality because it's mainly cotton. Perfect for me who easily itches or sweats; You know the perfect balance of a store attendant who helps you when needed but doesn't hawk on you when you're still browsing? Their staff's like that. CONS: Sales are rarer in this branch, but I don't really mind since they're not that expensive in the first place. TL;DR: This is my favorite branch of my favorite store. Cotton On is one of my happy places.

Cotton On - just saying these words make me smile already. Cotton on is a great store to go into…read moreeven if you are on a budget. If you ever find something you like, it does not feel so bad to buy it, the damage would not be that great compared to buying something in Top Shop or Dorothy Perkins. They have really nice basics - tops, skirts, shirts, etc. Their collection is also really nice, it has something for everyone, whether they are the girly, sporty or artsy type. Their clothes also fit very well, just be careful to follow the washing conditions because some of the items that I have bought fit nicely the first few times I wore them, but gradually, the sides started to droop and the cloth got a bit loose. Their 'ruby' shoes are also super cute! They have nice designs and are usually super comfortable! Overall, Cotton On is a good alternative to the likes of h&m and forever 21.

Greenhills Shopping Center is one of my favorite shopping mall in the Philippines. I've been going…read moreto this mall since the 80's. It's known for its diverse range of stores and products like clothing, cellular phone sales, repairs and accessories, jewelry store, toys, pearls, souvenir items, restaurants, bars, video arcades, religious facilities and the ever popular tiangge that sells imported and local products for bargain hunters. A lot has changed but it is still one of the most beloved malls in the country.

It's been two years since I last visited Greenhills and their renovations have paid off. It…read moredefinitely had a nicer, modern look with a more open feel in the main mall. Restaurant row was more inviting with more sit down choices and better design. Security upon entrance was still the same. Large bags were inspected upon entry. The tiangge section (Shoppsville side) was untouched with rows and rows of stalls selling pearls, clothing, suitcases, shoes and more. Everything here can be haggled over. I was on the search for some local food items but the stall I sought out was closed for some reason. The chapel in the mall was still something unique to see but quite convenient to attend mass. The indoor garden across the way was updated and more inviting than I remember with more seating. Parking here has always been and will likely still be a challenge. Security guards still direct traffic but drop off areas by the mall entrances do get backed up frequently. Definitely enjoyed the shopping experience more than before.

I'm glad I came here for souvenirs before heading home. This store in the Mall of Asia (MOA) has…read moreFilipino food, art, clothing, history, and culture. It's thoughtfully designed and clean. I think it's valuable to visit a unique place like this as there's lots of rare finds. It was pretty busy. I had to maneuver around a lot of people while browsing. They had a lot of merch that I wanted but I knew I didn't have a lot of space in my luggage. When you check out, just know green shopping bags are sturdy and good quality. I regret buying the brown shopping bags. I noticed they smelled funny when I unpacked my luggage when I got home. I ended up recycling them. I wish I had more luggage space. I wish I had more time in this store. I guess it gives me a reason to come back here on my next vacation.

Bought a pair of 12.5 mm South Sea Pearls earrings and was charged $720 US dollars for an imperfect…read morepearl earring. They took advantage of the fact that I am in US purchasing the item. Even their website shows 15mm priced less for a round white pearl.

Sunglasses I bought were low quality, got ruined after a day. I tried bringing it back to have it…read moreexchanged but apparently they have a no-return policy for accessories. Ronald tried to assist me but he was of no help. Disappointed with their service, I thought it was high quality.

I think I just died and went to heaven! I absolutely love this store!…read more H&M, a well-known brand, already had me when they opened their first clothing store. They are right on trend with prices that don't break the bank. They also have basics and styles to suit almost anyone's taste. I just happened to walk by the giant store in SM and realized that there were pillows, curtains and candleholders in the window display. I looked up and saw "Home." I rushed in and didn't leave for an hour. If you're familiar with the American store Anthropologie, this is a carbon copy of it, at better prices. The home decor is mostly shabby chic with many distressed items with a cool retro vibe. They have old-fashioned handmade looking glass containers that can be used for whatever you think up, wooden crates with cracked paint and printed vintage logos, neutral woven rugs and pretty much anything else you could possibly need to dress up your home. Although the prices are not through the roof, they are not cheap. I had to resist buying everything in the store, but managed to walk away with a few throw pillows, some thick glass jars and a cute little wooden crate to put them in. I go by as often as I can just to see if there is anything new. If you need to spruce up your home, this is the place to go.

This place is huge! Lots of restaurants to dine in should you get hungry shopping. I haven't been…read moreback here in ages. So it is nice to see. There is always a big crowd here, either browsing or plain window shopping.

SM City Marikina is your typical Metro Manila mall. It is a decent sized mall with every amenities…read morein it: grocery, movie theater, restaurants, etc. We like SM City Marikina because of its close proximity to the village we stay when we visit Philippines. Traffic has gotten so much worse that all the basic necessities we need can be found at SM City Marikina: grocery, money exchange, some cel phone gadgets, and small 'pasalubongs' back to the US. On top of that, SM City Marikina's architecture and location is aesthetically pleasing. Its cool to see S.C.M. from FVR road, heck even at Katipunan Ave.

While Sta. Lucia of Cyracuse (from which I believe Sta. Lucia gets "her" name) is the patron saint…read moreof the blind, you can imagine that it would be poetic to completely overlook this otherwise hidden gem in favor of the nearby Robinson's Metro East. However, you would be at a loss. Although this particular mall is not as well-lit or up-to-date as it's nearby counterpart, or, indeed, like other malls of better caliber in the other areas of Manila, Sta. Lucia caters to clients from all walks of life who are looking for items of all kinds as well. Here you will find a hodgepodge of items that can be good deals of higher-end products sold at bargain prices, or you may even find older items that are no longer sold at conventional stores anymore, and for a reasonable price. Food stalls are abundantly distributed along the mall and between the stores, and it is surprisingly bigger than it looks from the outside. So don't let appearances or first impressions fool you; being blind sometimes leads to a leap of faith.

I am alway at fond of this mall... There are a lot of variety and range in their store offerings…read more From "tiange" types to local and emerging brands, to popular brands... from inexpensive clothes to designer handbags (such as Pierre Cardin), if you just look and shop meticulously you will find them!

Friday, March 1 90°F 49% Humidity…read more Let's go souvenir shopping! Gift giving (pasalubong) is an important Filipino tradition, and Kultura offers a wide range of products that showcase the country's culture, cuisine, clothing, and craftsmanship. This retail chain is owned by SM and you'll find them inside most if not all SM shopping malls. I went to the one inside SM Makati. What do they have? Apparel - atleisure, polos, footwear, T-shirts, jackets, traditional outfits like filipiniana or barong, Accessories - jewelry, sunglasses, hats, shawls, tote bags, purses Food - dried mangoes, chocolate bars, jams, polvorón (shortbread), cookies, banana chips For the home - placemats, coasters, picture frames, utensils, ornaments, figurines, other diningware I didn't buy too much because it was still early in my trip; didn't want to overpack my luggage because I had two more flights to Mindanao and Cebu. I mostly browsed around to get an idea of what they had and made plans to stop at another location on my last day. But I did get a small bag of YeloYolo cacao cookies, which are as "healthy" as cacao can be. All real plant-based ingredients and an excellent source of fiber, iron, magnesium, protein, and potassium. Halal certified as well. Overall lots of unique gifts you can bring home and share with family, friends and colleagues! Philippines 2024 collection: https://www.yelp.com/collection/DHwKzvo7o_ll8jmXFFU3KA/PHIL-2024

Kultura Filipino is really your one-stop shop for Authentic & Quality Pearls, Barong, Filipiniana,…read moreand Local Souvenir items. It's located in the SM Makati mall on the second floor. Chances are you will find what you need. From a range of T-shirts, caps, magnets, keychains, coffee, cookies, candy, chocolates, chocolate dipped mangoes, handmade items, etc. I could've spent hours in this place.

I really like all the clothing and accessories one can buy here. Its all Filipino offerings…read moreconveniently located in SM. The items are a little pricier than local vendors and shops but traveling alone I feel better spending a few extra pesos rather than to venture past Antonio Arnaiz Av. The clothing is beautiful and the handbags are too unique to not go home with out one.

Kultura is the perfect place to find things truly unique to FIlipino culture. If you're looking for…read morea gift or pasalubong for balikbayans, for sure you'll find what you're looking for here. They have everything from clothes, bags, hats, even liquors! Owned by the SM company, you can be sure to find them in all their department stores or malls, which makes it very convenient and everything's pretty affordable too! I had a few cousins come to visit from America over the Holy Week and in the stress of all the planning I lost track of time to buy them something! Luckily, there's an SM near my house and I ran and found really cute beach bags for their trip to Boracay. I love any business or organization that supports being Filipino so this is up there on my Manila list!