If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.

I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.

It was so long ago that I gave up my phase in ukay-ukay shopping. I would spend so much money on…read morenew ukay finds it became an epidemic. But now through my commutes and long walks, I have started to notice more and more ukay-ukay shops in the older buildings of Cubao situated along EDSA. Most of the time I walk in and browse for a bit. I find something cute but am usually turned off by its price (Php 80 for used shorts seems absurd to me) because for a time I was ukay queen and I believe I still have it in me to find scores at rock bottom prices. On my way to the MRT, I passed by Passerby and saw a tempting sign Php 25 for their old stock. With only over Php 70 left to get home, I ventured forth. I found a rack with Php 10 dresses but none really caught my eye. That's how I shop now, no longer impulsive but very reflective before buying anything (except beer). So I moved on to the Php25 section with skirts and shorts not expecting anything. Then I found a gorgeous high-waisted white silk skirt with a black tie-dye print and canvas harem pants up to my calves which fit perfectly. All for just Php 50! What a score. Their newer stock can be extremely pricey though so watch out.

I only learned about this place just this weekend when a former colleague-turned-friend asked to…read morehang out here. I've always liked Maginhawa but it's just really complicated to go to for someone who doesn't own a car so admittedly, I wasn't too thrilled about the idea. I still agreed to go, though since it has been a while since we last saw each other. Since I wasn't familiar with Maginhawa, I decided to take a cab and Waze it. YAY, WAZE! It was situated right in front of the famous Artsy Cafe. WUMS (When Uan Met Sally) Cafe had a conjoined store of all things kitschy! They have bracelets, necklaces, boho-inspired garments, boho bags and a ton more! If Phoebe Buffay swung by this place, she'd probably live here. Too bad though, most of the items are pretty expensive. Think a bracelet for 1,000 bucks or more. On to the cafe part. Okay, first off, I love Mumford and Sons, and I feel like if they ever made a Mumford and Sons-esque cafe, it would be similar to WUMS. It just had that very down-to-earth, hippie vibe that I love! Just walking into their small cafe and seeing the interiors, I knew I was going to love this place. I got to try their French Onion Soup and to be honest, there wasn't anything special about it. I'd still prefer Friday's French Onion Soup any day. Their Margherita Panini, however, was pretty good. I also loved their frozen house blend iced tea. Overall, this place is a delight to have been discovered. If only it weren't too far from me, I'd probably visit this place more than a few times in a month.

I just love this place…read more I live about a block away from this place and I would pass by it ever since it was still being constructed. I watched it evolve from an empty garage to a construction site, and now, a really hip and cool place to eat, to shop and to hang out with a couple friends over good food and wine. I love the artistic vibe and the very artsy inspirations that went into the design and the concept of the store. It combines a lot of intricate Byzantine frescoes and paintings with distressed furniture, lots of bronze and wrought iron, and lots of soft textures from the silks and the clothes that are being sold. They have antiques and flea market finds from all over the world that you can buy and add to your collection of curios at home. This antique shop/vintage store/gift shop/knick knacks paradise/cafe/restaurant (whew lots of slashes there) is a fun and quirky neighborhood joint that will have you coming back for more. I am a big fan of the squash and sweet potato soup, which is just the right consistency and creaminess. Squash soup is simply my favorite, and I love how they do a good job with that here. The service is top-notch and the ambiance is just lovely. I would recommend it for a date with a special someone, or if you want a cute space for a meeting with a client. I will surely come back for more!

A self-confessed ukay ukay addict dared me to check out this place, saying that I would be shocked…read moreat what they have. I wasn't expecting much. to be honest. I know that some of these thrift shops are better than others, but how much better can one be over the rest? Since I had some time to kill, I decided to give it a shot. Guess what? My ukay ukay junkie was absolutely right. I won't comment on the branded ladies clothes, shoes and bags that she raves about. I admit knowing next to nothing about women's wear and accessories. But I do know enough about men's wear to recognize a bargain when I see one. There were Levi's jeans as well as other brands of denim pants and trousers. The price? An unbelievable three for P100. I had to take a second look at that price tag, but there it was. That comes to P33 per pair of pants, doesn't it? The best thing about denims is that the more worn they look, the more comfortable they feel. Jamzel's Ukay Ukay is a small shop, but man do they have a lot of terrif bargains. They have rubber and leather shoes that all look newish and sell for a low P200 a pair. If you have no qualms about buying and wearing pre-owned clothes, head for this store pronto!

Call me a cheapskate, but I don't get the appeal of department stores when you have plenty of…read morethrift shops around that offerr really good clothes at many times less the price of new clothing. I am a firm believer in ukay-ukay shopping, especially for utilitarian articles of clothing that would otherwise bleed me dry if I bought them brand new in the mall or in the department store. I find that shopping for items such as jackets, hoodies, jeans and even dress shirts are best done in flea markets and ukay shops, because these thrift stores have the best quality stuff, and it doesn't hurt that they are so ridiculously cheap compared to their spanking new counterparts. I love JCB Hong Kong Surplus in PHILCOA not only because it is near to my place, but also because it is one of the more fairly-priced ukay shops around. Some ukay shops jack up the prices of their stocks just because they have high-street labels, but that sucks because that is kinda the point of ukay shopping: to get high street brands for way less. Here, everything is well within the reasonable ukay price range. For instance, I was able to get a really nice Superdry polo shirt which looked brand new for only P200. I was also able to get an H&M hoodie for only P300. You will find great stuff if you have the patience to wade through their stocks, which is not that hard to do because everything is neatly sorted and displayed on hangers. The branded stuff are a bit more pricey than the obviously cheap ones, but they are quite a steal. They organize their stuff with such an efficient system that it's almost like shopping in a department store. The changing room is clean, and has a nice mirror to check yourself out with after you try the clothes on. Just make sure to thoroughly wash everything first. Some people overzealously wash their ukay finds in scalding hot water, which is a baaaad idea as this could shrink some delicate textiles. A good and thorough scrub using regular detergent and colorsafe bleach (for disinfecting), especially in the collars, armpit or crotch areas should do. If you are in need of quality winterwear (I bought a nice windbreaker to use on my next Mt. Pulag climb), activewear (I was able to get several dri-fit shirts that were actually marathon singlets; also, orignal football jerseys that wick moisture pretty darn fast), and really good denim, you should go to this ukay store in PHILCOA. It's pretty obvious how obsessed I am with this store, eh?

When you've had your taste of ukay, every so often you'll be itching to venture out and ukay new…read moreold stuff, very much like the itching you get after you've tried on several articles of dusty clothes. It's all worth it though, when you find those few things you've worked hard to find among the sea of secondhand somethings you'd had to wade through. This particular building in Anonas houses a good bunch of ukay-ukay stores and has always been one of my go-to places to thrift, after the spots in Cubao had to close and be replaced by the condominium sites. It's really accessible to the Anonas LRT Station and a lot of the stores have air-conditioning, which is great to have when you plan to be covered in grime at the end of the day. Most of them are fashion stores, carrying clothes, bags, and shoes, but a good few would have beddings, toys, and a couple of appliances or books here and there. One of the stores only specialize in toys and collectibles, while its neighbor only housed shoes and bags. It's my personal strategy to go for the least accessible places as they'd probably have cheaper stuff, but most of the stores in the higher floors had a more limited selection, more expensive clothes, and limited air conditioning. One of the stores had tops and dresses that went for almost four hundred bucks, which is hella expensive, but I guess it was because they were pre-chosen designer and branded articles. I guess they were worth a look regardless--no doubt they'd go on sale at some point in time. Still it'd be better to just sift through the bigger stores with more varied, cheaper stuff. Arm yourself with a bottle of water, some wipes, and alcohol, and make your way to Anonas. You're sure to find something here. If not, ask when their next batch of arrivals come in (some might have a text "mailing list" or they'd just give you a mobile number), or ask if they're online. Some of them have legit, updated Facebook pages!

I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in…read moreprivileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out. I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in privileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out.

This ukay ukay has very good prices. I like the style of the clothes that they sell here. Whenever…read moreI am here, I end up going home with a few clothes. I have gone here on regular days and sale days. They have 50% off days at the end of the month. You need patience, but it is worth it. Good luck and happy shopping!

The best thing, really, about Shoppesville is that it's freaking confusing! And I love that about…read moreit to be honest. I miss the labyrinthine structures of old Virra Mall and the old Glorietta, and though they've managed to somewhat give Shoppesville a facelift just like the rest of Greenhills, I'm glad the layout hasn't changed at all and you still feel as if you're "ineengkanto" when going around. And who doesn't appreciate the feeling of playful spirits leading you around in a this concrete jungle? The nice thing about getting lost in Shoppesville is that you find stores you never would have discovered have you stayed in the "safe" zones of the arcade. Cheap shoes, locally designed shirts, and leather care businesses can all be found in this area if you just let yourself go with the flow of this mall. The rather unfortunate part about this place is that things have really gotten expensive. Okay, so Greenhills has gotten a upscale over the past few, but that doesn't mean you can just hike up your prices like that. Stop trying to be Zara, Shoppesville. Accept the skin you're in.

Shoppesville has been around for quite a while, and its age tends to show in the design…read more Interior-wise, this mall has been slowly renovated over the years, but it still retains its charm as an air-conditioned alternative to stalls in the tiangge outside. Most stores do maintain at least one tiangge stall, though, so don't be surprised if you see the same item. Clothes are the highlight of Shoppesville, taking up the majority of store focus. Most are found on the top floor, where you can take your pick from an abundance of tops and bottoms for any gender or age. The suki system can apply here, so discounts are possible if you regularly patronize a particular store (or if you tend to buy a lot). If you're looking for gaming consoles and related items or collectibles, the Shoppesville Plus area (also on the third floor and appearing to be a sort of mini-mall in itself) is the go-to place. People in search of brand-new cellphones, laptops and the like are advised to head to V-Mall instead, while preloved versions are available in the second floor of the tiangge. The back area houses a number of shops offering collectibles of varying types and rarity, many of which are sourced from Hong Kong and Japan. Shoppesville is quite clean and the air-conditioning can handle even the most hot of days. There are a few food stalls here and there, but no food court to speak of. Security doesn't seem to be an issue here, as there seems to be quite a few roving guards. The stalls are small, so it actually doesn't take that much effort to check out all the stores.