Unprofessional, disrespectful and rude! If I could rate them 0 stars I would, the attendants was…read morevery rude. my friends and i entered and started browsing and talking about comic books we liked when all of a sudden we heard the attendants behind the counter say "wala yan, magpapalamig lang yan" (they're just here to cool off, they wont buy). we got annoyed, paid for our comic books and just left. we've bought from this branch multiple times before but we're never going back there again.

Believe it or not, Filbar's has been around since 1979. I remember going here with my dad and my…read morebrother -- both comic geeks -- when I was very young. It made such an impression on me that I found myself going there years later to feed my own nerdy needs. To categorize them just as a comic book store would be a big mistake. While bulk of their products do include comics from big wigs like DC, Marvel, Vertigo and more, they do have so much more than that. Graphic Novels are among the many things you'll find here. We'll technically speaking, it can fall into the comic book category as well. What I love about Filbar's is that they carry works by local artists. I was extremely impressed that they have Arnold Arre's collected works for Mythology Class and it's priced at less than P500. For someone who has pored over every page of Mythology Class in my college days, this is really a gem of a find. When famous Pinoy inker and local graphic novel legend Gerry Alanguilan came out with Elmer in 2011, this was my first place to look for a copy. Thankfully, I did get my hands on one. They also have a lot of comic-inspired shirts, posters and bags. Of course, they have collectible toys, too. I've been looking into collecting Funko POP lately and of course, they would be my top pick for sourcing my first ever piece. I can't wait to get my hands on that Dancing Groot Funko POP. Filbar's keeps the fangirl/geek in me alive!

I found this place just by wandering around Trinoma looking for a suitable gift for myself (yeah,…read more'cause I deserved it). I took a look at the store and decided to see what they had. I really couldn't contain my glee at seeing The Big Bang Theory and Chuck shirts! I'm a huge fan of both shows, even if Chuck is already finished (*tear*). However, the prices were rather expensive for a student like me. I mean, who would buy a simple T-shirt for more than P1,000? Okay, fine, I succumbed to the temptation. In my defense, they had a Buy 1 Take 1 promo! Up until now, I'm still waiting for them to have a promo such as that again. By the way, they don't limit themselves to TV Series shirts. They also have other collector's items or gift items such as playing cards and poker sets, telescopes, Swiss Army knives, etc. So if you like those kinds of stuff then maybe you'd like to drop by!

This is the home of the Philippine Pokemon League. Yes, Pokemon League. Yes, you can battle…read moreregistered gym leaders and earn badges Pokemon League. If I was actually any better at metagame and/or still had my deck I'd-- *cough* ANYWAY. Courtside not only houses Pokemon tournaments but other card tournaments too! Magic the Gathering, Cardfight!Vanguard... I think they hold tournaments for Weiss Schwarz but I can't be sure. Either way, this is a pretty popular spot for both trading card game players and collectors as well as the occasional figure collector. They don't have the same stock of Japanese figurines as GreatToys but they do have American toys which definitely fulfills another niche. This particular branch is a little tiny though so if there's a tournament going on, I suggest waiting until it's over so you can browse the card binders in peace. As expected, they have a pretty good stock of cards from differing editions as well as a "bargain bin" and a bunch of rares on display so it's worth taking a look to see if they have that one thing you need to improve your deck.

Neutral Grounds is your go to place for everything geeky (not in any derogatory sense since geeky…read moreis cool nowadays anyway :p) Their main products would be collectible card games, the most popular ones would be Magic: The Gathering, Legend of the 5 rings, Vanguard, the different Gundam card games and a multitude of other Japanese games. They also have a huge stock of Board games and also the Warhammer 40k miniatures set. I'm pretty sure that I might not be able to enumerate all their products but I believe that they have most of the collectible card games and board games available in the market. The Neutral Grounds chain has lots of branches too, but mostly around Manila. One of the good things about them is that they have event for the popular games, especially for Magic and Warhammer 40k. They have lots of support for Magic players and provide numerous events for them weekly. However, they have little support for the lesser known games, I would like it if they promote the new up and coming games more than the popular ones in order to draw in a wider range of crowd too. Still is a good place to get your Board or Card games and their prices are pretty much standard of the market value.

As I find myself growing older, I seem to start straying away from solo games, and looking for more…read morechallenging, more social games. Neutral Grounds carries all the answers to my concern, and then some. Back in college, I used to be heavily involved (and in debt) with Magic: The Gathering. Collecting cards to form the best deck that will win you the game in two turns was a challenge, both in rarity and in price. This particular branch carries some sets that go way back into the late 2000's. Needless to say, they also carry card sleeves and accessories to aesthetically enhance your deck, and show off at tournaments. MTG aside, Neutral Grounds also has some of the latest tabletop games that are great for party games, if you want to keep it low-key, but still interesting. My recent favorites are Settlers of Catan and Dominion. Neutral Grounds also carries the expansions to these games, so that you'll never have to play the same exact game twice. This branch also has a couple of tables that allow the younger generation to play the most trending card game now, Vanguard. Although I don't see myself learning this game anytime soon, I'm certainly glad that there's still quite a following for the latest card games, and I hope that the next generation will continue to invest in these kinds of games.

These guys have been pretty good with preorders and preorder bonuses lately and that's always a…read moregood thing. While Datablitz has been a key player in the legit gaming market in the Philippines, I never really thought preorders were a thing that happened here. Same with limited edition sets and *some* form of merchandise but thankfully, they seem to be on top of it. We're not quite there yet but we're getting there. They're no Gamestop either. Some things are there one minute, gone the next and you can't guarantee that they have the exact game with the exact region you're looking for the minute you step into the store. But they're willing to put in reserves and will contact you the minute it gets stocked. Sure, Datablitz may not be the only place to get games and anything you might need but they're a pretty reliant source. The staff is approachable and more than willing to answer any questions you might have before making a purchase, no matter what it is you're looking to buy.

There are several levels of fandom, as I've seen. There's the new fan or the fan that can still be…read moresaved. They usually like the new stuff, whatever's popular. Then there are those beyond saving who like stuff that's so obscure, the only place they can get their fix is from Facebook sellers and online stores. Guess which one I am. Anyway. Comic Alley is pretty much any Filipino anime fan's entry level store. Waaaaaaaaay back in the day, they used to sell posters, wall scrolls and Chinese manga. Nowadays, it's mostly necklaces, plushies and posters and usually of whatever's popular. The more obscure series are rarely represented let alone have anything noteworthy. Yet, I suppose for what it is, you can still find some pretty decent things. Their jackets are nice and they do still have some pretty sturdy bags so I suppose not all is lost. They don't sell manga anymore though. If you're looking, best to head to a bookstore for that. If you want gachapon, jackets and/or bags... you might find something you like here if your fandom happens to be in vogue that season. My one gripe though is the staff. While they're friendly, they can be a little *too* friendly. Sometimes, you just want to browse the shelves by yourself but I can't seem to do that in peace with one of the attendants hounding me every minute asking me what I'm looking for.

Comic Alley is one of those places where you can get a lot of mainstream anime items. They usually…read morecarry pieces of jewelry, notebooks, watches, bags, stuff toys and the like. What I really like about them are items you can use for cosplay. For instance they have that Akatsuki jacket from the Naruto Shippuden series, which can be a basic piece for the full costume. I love the unique Chikara hats like the Chopper and the Kuma hats. They even have a mushroom one for Mario Brothers. I've been looking for one forever and even had to make my own for my baby when we did a family cosplay of the Mario, Luigi and the toadstool. I also got the Mario and Luigi hats from them. I love that this kind of store exists here given how much Filipinos love anime and cosplay. I think they could push the boundaries even more with complete cosplay costumes and accessories and inclusion of the more obscure anime series.

For all of your gaming needs in Manila, the only name you need to remember is Neutral Grounds. They…read moreare the sole accredited distributor of Magic: the Gathering cards as well as other games. They have miniatures like Warhammer, Dungeons & Dragons, and Star Wars, other card games like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Weiss Schwarz, and a very nice selection of new and classic board games. Their store in Eton Centris is the most comprehensive because it is their main branch. When you go inside, you'll be face with two huge walls of games. In fact there's a ladder there just in case someone wants one of the games at the top of the shelf. If you make your way to the back, there's a pretty big playing area where you can play with your friends. If there's tournament scheduled for that day, you can join in on the fun as well!

Any self-respecting chef, cook or avid home cook should know where to get fresh herbs. As many…read morepurists would say, there is just no comparison between fresh herbs and dried, bottled herbs. Forget McCormick. With EDSA Garden House, you can fill your kitchen windowsill or home garden with fresh and healthy herbs that will keep giving you awesome and fresh leaves to flavor and season your food. I have no skill whatsoever in gardening, and I may as well have a "thumb of death" because plants seem to die on me all the time. I cant be bothered to till my own small garden at home, so I usually just get potted herbs and line them up outside. The plants from EGH are so healthy and thriving that even my nonexistent green thumb can keep them alive for long. I absolutely love EGH because everything is so orderly. If you're a bit OC like me, you will delight in the way that they arranged their plants as if you are shopping in a supermarket for herbs. I have also recently discovered the wonders of cold pressed juices and smoothies, and EGH is one of the most stable and constant source of of wheatgrass which is helpful in detoxification and lots of other healthful cleanses. When I need to add more enzymes in my diet, I go to EGH to get my wheatgrass stash.They also have ashitaba, which is slowly becoming the next superfood. If you want to find rare herbs, you will find everything here. If you also want to start your very own herb garden, you will find everything that you will ever need from this mecca for gardeners: from pots to fertilizer, from garden soil to environment friendly bug repellants. Their employees are ever so helpful, and i like learning new stuff about herbs and plants whenever I am here.

EDSA Gardenhouse is a place where you can get a lot of garden tools and equipment for a very good…read moreprice. They have the most variety of plant pots I've seen. They also sell garden shears, plant mix, plant trays, fertilizers, seeds and whatever else you would need in your garden. You can also get herbs here! They have lavender, mint, oregano, thyme, sweet basil, purple basil, sage and so much more. Sometimes they have eucalyptus!They don't always have everything though. Make sure to call ahead. This place is a good source to get Ashitaba. They sell Ashitaba seedlings for PHP 150 and they also sell more established plants to make sure that you won't kill them with your black thumb. If you stop by the counter, Ashitaba tea from Taiwan is also available for sale. When driving from the south, make sure to take the second U-Turn and not the first U-Turn after the intersection or else you'll miss the shop entirely and will have to do another round.