What I very much appreciate about SOMA Stores is that it promotes local designers and brands. It's…read morepure heaven for the eccentric and anyone who's on the look out for alternative clothing or anyone who just absolutely loves fashion. Every now and then, they change their line up to accommodate other brands and designers. They cater to folks who could be a cross between edgy and trendy, too. I think I just fell in love with absolutely almost all the black and white pieces I saw there during Manila Fashion Festival. It houses some of the more known brands such as Proud Race, The Artisan, and Slaves Øf Liberty to name a few. They also host art and music events which you have to attend as well! Not only do you get to meet the artists but you meet like-minded people in and out of the industry.

Local indie brands and designers are finally getting a tastes of the limelight thanks to SOMA…read moreStores at Green Sun Hotel. It's basically a treasure trove of local finds--from clothing down to accessories and is every bit modern. I generally like shopping more well-known retail brands in bigger malls, but there's something about shopping at a place like SOMA that makes the purchase feel a bit more worthwhile and worth the buck. It could also be that the designers and brands featured here (Artisan Clothing and Proud Race just to name a few) have super edgy aesthetics that nothing you ever purchase will have a similar replica walking down the mall. But depending on the brand's consignment agreement, they may either operate on bi-monthly or quarterly terms, or shorter three to four day stints. Support local and don't forget to bring your cash (mostly because they don't accept card and debit payments)!

As a child, I've always liked going to Papemelroti, and getting hooked on their specialties: brown…read morepapers, inspirational posters, occasion gift ideas, organizers, and that overall vintage feel! Through the years, I've seen Papemelroti transform and develop into something better. They adapt to the current trends, such as those inspirational quotes that look straight out of Tumble. I recommend taking a look at their quality box organizers, notebooks with gorgeous covers, vintage-looking clocks, and other novelty items that make great gifts to the people you care about. Drop by Papemelroti if you wish to buy beautiful notebooks, wood posters of inspirational quotes, gift your mom and dad those "Best Mom/Dad in the World" plaques, if you just want to find inspiration to design your own things, or just to rewind your stressful life through their aesthetically-relaxing products. Find out for yourself, they have so much more!

Ever read Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic? Where she describes how entering new shops makes her feel…read moregiddy and how new purchases smell amazing to her? That's exactly how I feel, but not for clothes. For stationery and school supplies. True, there are lot of bigger office and school supply stores around that I can buy generic paper products. But Papemelroti is this nook of *themed* stationery that has a uniform look but different styles and content. PROS: One of the best things about this shop is their social responsibility by using environment-friendly materials and practices. They're also very family- and values-centric; You can find their shops everywhere; They could've sold their items in higher prices, with the pa-hipster and old-school trend, but their prices stay pretty competitive and reasonable; Most of all, their art and design is attractive! Since I was in high school, they've had this sort of trademark look that you know is Papemelroti. CONS: It might be the mall or the frequent customers that may make them tired, but the staff are hardly even trying to help, especially that one time I was looking for little wooden drawers. They are vigilant in watching out for shoplifters, though. TL;DR: Papemelroti has wonderfully cute, inspiring, and affordable items for the paper product-shopaholic in all of us.

Pop-up events in Manila are surely getting more interesting. Once such event was The Gourmand…read moreMarket, a food fair that really got the whole town buzzing and eating. Situated in the small park in front of Bonifacio High Street Central, The Gourmand Market was truly a fete of fantastic flavors. Numerous stalls lined up the park, offering delicious goodies that one can't find anywhere. Most were independent fare, cooked lovingly from the home, perhaps a quality that made whatever they were serving even more special. Standouts include a bagnet-filled wrap, chorizo quesadillas, mangga and suman flavoured ice cream and so much more. Perhaps what was even more interesting is the whole atmosphere of fun and revelry that was buzzing about the whole weekend. This is only the second installment of the series and I certainly hope that the organizers continue this event. Heaven knows that Manila needs more of it. To be updated with the market's schedule, follow @thegourmandmarket on Instagram.

Whenever there's a food event, I always try to go to it! I mean come on, who doesn't love pop up…read moreevents right? When I first heard about this, I was really glad to see that this management being Gourmand Market really set up the place to look bespoke! It actually reminded me of Brooklyn, with the barrels turned into tables, light bulbs turned into lights, and the plants everywhere. I love how this event wasnt just a food place - I also got to see stalls selling plants (like cacti). It's such a fun time going around trying the different food from sweet to savory to sweet again. I got to buy a bag full of bagels from LES Bagels, cookies from Brothers Bakers MNL, and iced tea from Stellina's. The place and the food stalls are small so it's not hard to walk around again and again. It's really a nice place to bring your family and friends!

If you're the type who takes DIY and product personalizing to a higher level, or you just want to…read moreexplore the business of making couple shirts, mugs, button pins, then head to Odeon Mall. That's an insider tip from someone who makes a business of making customized shirts and corporate giveaways. Odeon Mall looks like an old, abandoned building in Recto. It's where merchants go to buy office supplies and equipment. I like coming here with my brother and driver because of all the interesting things we see here, at cheap costs. The place is filled with stores selling different kinds of paper and stationery products and machines. We bought our first equipment here for our t-shirt business. Before going there, we knew nothing about operating the machines and getting the right materials, but the sales people trained us for an hour after we purchased the product. We also bring our items there if it ever malfunctions or if it needs cleaning.

I wish I could rate Advocafe higher, as I am impressed with their advocacy to help indigenous…read moretribes thru the production and distribution of coffee. Having said that, the latte I had was overroasted and kinda ruined the "honeymoon". Now, having said THAT, Advocafe can be a strong player in Manila's coffee scene. They just need to raise their game a few notches higher. And I do believe in their advocacy. It's a most worthy mission, to be sure. It's just that, at the end of the day, your products better sell to be able to help their beneficiaries. A mission can only take you so far.

Advocafe is really close to my sister's office in Malate, and this is where I would usually wait…read morefor her to get off from work. I love the concept behind Advocafe's socially responsible and development-driven business model: they take coffee, agricultural products, delicacies and sundries from small producers from all over the country and sell it to their patrons with the promise of giving back to the community. They have scholars and beneficiaries that reap the benefits of customer patronage, and I think they are doing something noble by promoting local products that benefit the small producers and cottage industries instead of large and greedy conglomerates that care about nothing but their own profit. They have a wall with portraits of their scholars, the majority of them coming from indigenous peoples tribes and groups like the Aetas, the B'laans, the Mangyans and the T'Boli. The cafe is quiet and usually not so busy, which is a shame because the baked goodies are great. I would usually get a couple of their cookies with their coffee, which is brewed from local beans from the Cordilleras and other coffee-growing localitie. I was also intrigued by their "pinaig na mais" which is coffee made from toasted corn. It is a coffee alternative that has an intense coffee taste, which is quite surprising. The aroma is a bit off-putting, though, as it smells a little "mapanghi" but this traditional Davao drink is good when paired with their carrot cake. They have a small corner where they display their freshly packaged breads and pastries. They also have an eco-store that sells stuff like tablea, ground coffee and my favorite, the coco sugar that I have recently embraced as a vegan substitute for refined sugar (which is actually not vegan as the bleaching process uses bone char or charred cattle bones, SURPRISE SURPRISE!). I hope more advocacy-driven shops will pop up in our city because I am all for feeding my caffeine addiction with responsible, ethical and locally produced coffee.

Our family has always been a proponent of the "Buy Filipino" movement. As much as possible, we try…read moreto look for local alternatives to imported products. However, this doesn't mean that we will just buy locally manufactured products even if they are substandard or irrationally expensive. We want to elevate the quality of goods made in the Philippines, so we would not let our family be taken advantage of by companies that support bad practices. Community-made goods, such as those sold by Mangyan Village Products, are some of the things that we support and encourage. It's really inspiring to see that top businesses, such as Ayala Corporation, are helping and providing opportunities for our indigenous communities to showcase not only their heritage but their craftsmanship as well. If you ever find yourself in Glorietta 3, visit the Mangyan Village Products outlet on the second floor. Here, you will find intricate hand-woven baskets, plates, bags, bracelets, and even drinking cups made from dried nito grass. There are also beautiful beaded bags. I gifted my sister a beaded blue clutch bag from this kiosk. She and everyone in her office loved it.

Okay, it's been nine months since I first reviewed Pioneer Street Market, and yes, the place has…read moreshaped up nicely. There are more than a dozen food concessionaires in the compound, and they are amazing. We now have hipster coffee, roast beef, homestyle tapa, paninis, peri-peri chicken, shawarma, tapas, sate babe, burgers, and so much more! Ang saya-saya! I just hope that people flock here as I would hate to see this go. The response from the public has been awesome though.

I work just in front of the Pioneer Street Market so I've ventured here several times, and I have…read moreto say that this is every organic person's haven. Inside Pioneer Street Market in an array of fresh goods. From colourful fruits to leafy vegetables, all-organic baking needs ingredients to healthy juices, PSM has it. They have several stalls inside that sells these plus a bunch of other healthy eats you health buffs will definitely enjoy. Right outside Pioneer Street Market is a mini-garden shop where they sell a few plants. This instantly caught my eye because I've been meaning to try planting and find out if I've got the green thumb or not. I saw a few plants that I had to stop myself from buying. There was the Plant Candle Top, Bonsais and my personal favourite, the Milflores. And the best part is that they're relatively cheap! (Well, I actually don't know how much plants are but for 120pesos per pot of Plant Candle Top, I think it's a steal!) Pioneer Street Market during the weekdays don't have a lot of stalls or they're not as filled up unlike their weekend markets. So if you do plan to visit, I suggest stopping by on a Saturday or Sunday so you're sure you'll find something to purchase.

I had accidentally placed an order online noticing that their prices were double of what I could…read morefind on Amazon. I contacted them immediately to cancel my order and they refused to refund it to my original payment method and only to store credit even though the item was literally just purchased and no processing or shipping was done. I told them I'd refuse the package as well but they shipped it regardless. Extremely shady business practice

Rustan's makati is my favorite place to get my luxury finds- bathroom floor mat, coffee machine,…read morecocktail dress, candles, neck pillows, etc.. I also enjoy the 4th floor lounge for Clarins facial treatment.