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 don't know about you, but there's something magical about living near an ukay. A beloved…read morerestaurant or an outlet store might be really nice, but a chance to thrift at any given moment? Seems like a sweet deal to me. It's probably the crazy talking, but it might also be the high of having visited this new ukay along Aurora just near Robinsons Magnolia, called--and this is a beautiful mouthful--"Bargain for Millionaires Fashion Style." The name's funky fly and fresh, although it does makes little sense as a bargain for millionaires would unlikely be a bargain for most everyone else. But it certainly pulls you in, right? The place is new and pretty amazing, stark white and spacious despite being full of clothing. The AC was at full blast when I came into the store, which already kind of won me over. They also had a good arrangement of clothes, and even seemed to be organized by color almost on each rack. Though I did take a look at the prices in general, and they're a bit of an expense compared to most other ukays. P200 for a top is not cheap by ukay standards, as is P300 for denim, though they had slightly better deals upstairs. Yes, this place has two floors of ukay, both of them air-conditioned, though the second floor slightly less so. I wish them all the success and will probably be coming back numerous times in the future. If you're bored by the stores in Magnolia, come here instead!

If you think about the name Surplus Store, I'm sure what comes into your mind is an image of…read more.. actually, no one thinks about the Surplus Store. Especially if you're the type who needs for things to have brands on them, this place will be that store in SM you never bothered to enter. Not me, though. I actually love places like these as they ACTUALLY have good stuff. This branch in Megamall is the one I've gone to with the most pieces that caught my eye. If you're looking into upgrading your wardrobe with more basic, staple pieces, stop by this place. Best things to get here? PANTS! Maong your whole closet away! Also they have a lot of selection of shorts, basic tops, cover ups... For those going abroad to winter countries, you can find winter jackets, scarves and gloves here at prices way lower than those designer brands who offer them. I mean, if you're not the type who will purchase these at an ukay-ukay for around 30% of what they cost, then this is your best bet for cheap winterwear. You know what this place is also good for? Holiday shopping! I buy a lot of things here for my family. I normally don't have a lot of money, and I can get a lot of good pieces here with a decent brand at a really good price. This place takes a chunk of names out of my Christmas list. TIP: When purchasing anything, do keep in mind that this place sells export overruns, to there may be something wrong with what you're purchasing. Most of the time it's just inconsistent sizing, but sometimes it may be a deformed button, a button hole that needs to be punched out, etc. Mostly nothing serious, but do inspect your purchases before heading the checkout to be sure.

You know a store is dirt cheap and good when my father loves taking me there. Shucks, it's the only…read moreplace that my father agrees with and the man is a penny pincher when possible. There's nothing wrong with being practical after all. The Surplus Shop is a great place to buy overruns. Overruns, for he benefit of the unknowing, are basically extra copies of shirts or whatever article of clothing that seems to have been overproduced. Companies try to reduce the cost of production by selling the excess (typically last season's stock that didn't sell) at an extremely low price. Surplus Shop is a shop that basically buys thee in bulk from other brands and takes the risk of selling them to the consumers. You'll get to see a lot of good brands being sold at a really low price. If you're brand conscious but on a budget then give this place a try. You can thank me later.

My former office friends will kill me for putting this store here on Yelp but I just cannot keep…read morethe awesomeness that is Fadrack from the world. If you're an ukay-ukay (thrift store) person, then you will absolutely love Fadrack. Located at the 2nd level of Starmall Shaw, Fadrack has been a favorite fashion haunt of me and my colleagues. But don't be so quick to judge. Fadrack may be a thrift shop but it's one of the classiest ukay stores I've ever been to. The store is air-conditioned and unlike other ukay stores, clothes here are put neatly on clothes racks. None of those open balikbayan boxes with clothes piled over each other. The staff members of Fadrack make sure that their items are displayed properly and that you can manoeuvre inside the store without tripping over a pair of shorts lying on the ground. Of course the items are either a hit or miss, typical of any ukay shop. But if you're lucky enough, you may find an overrun Zara vest or an authentic Hermes scarf. If you're a patient and resourceful shopper, I'm sure you'll be able to find items here that you can take home. Fadrack, however, prices quite expensively. I guess because it is located in a mall, it needs to compensate with its prices. But they do hold seasonal sales and when they do, you can get up to 70% discount. Not bad, huh?

Segunda Mana in Greenfield District is the 16th outlet opened by Caritas Manila. This is a charity…read morestore that sells used items, non-moving inventories from other companies, and also new products from donations made to Caritas Manila. Proceeds from the sale of these items go to the various charities of this Catholic foundation, which include scholarships for the less fortunate. Most of the items that are sold here are office shoes, gowns, business attires, and bags that still have value but are not exactly ideal giveaways to victims of calamities. Books and new VCDs and DVDs are also available for as low as ten to twenty pesos apiece. There are also bottles of colognes and organic detergents that were made by Caritas Manila's supported communities. This store, which is leased on donation by the Greenfield District to Caritas Manila, also serves as a drop-off point for charitable donations. So if you're not able to find anything you want from the store, you can instead help out others by bringing your donations here. If you are busy or you are giving away big items that are difficult to carry, you can always call the store and they will be willing to pick up your donations anywhere in the Metro.

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.