You know those days when you feel like you need to buy something and you don't know what it is?…read moreHere comes Japan Home Center. A place where you can, literally buy anything you need. Filled to the brim with all sorts of weird knick knacks that only the Japanese can think of making. Did I mention it's cheap too? With most items averaging P88, you can end up with a basketful of items that you never thought you needed. Although the quality of items isn't great, you definitely get what you pay for. They have all sorts of colorful kitchen devices which I personally love. Rubber spoons and spatulas, chopping boards, funky dish rack holders, and that's only in the kitchen section. They have everything from stationary school supplies, cheap toys, home decorations from lamps, to frames, to mats. It is literally a one stop shop if you need to do a quick and cheap home accessory refill. I love the novelty store feel to it, making shopping there, hilariously therapeutic.

Formerly called Meisic Mall, this is the place we go to if we find the streets of Divisoria or 168…read moreMall too crowded. And since they're not in a prime spot like the stalls in 168, the stuff here are relatively cheaper. It was my tita (the Divisoria queen) who introduced us to this mall. She said she shops here more often than in 168 because of the reasons I mentioned above. We took after her advice and we are now "suki" in several stalls. My mom loves the stall at the ground floor selling different home and bath items such as towels, blankets, handkerchief and some undershirts. Ms. Mel, the owner knows us and lets us leave our shopping bags at her store and we pick it up when we're ready to head home. On the second floor, there's a stall selling baby clothes and items like Busha socks and cloth diapers. And on the third floor is a small stall selling the cheapest party favors and decors. Those are my prized finds.

Being the owner of my own small business has thought me to be extremely thrifty and it all started…read morewith the search for a simple packaging need: a pack of brown paper bags. In any high-end shopping mall in Makati City, the cost for a pack would be triple in comparison to the same pack sold in wholesale shopping mecca, Divisoria. Since a penny saved is a penny earned, I would rather choose the item that costs less. To make my trip to Divisoria in Manila worth it, I would buy what I need in bulk. Because Divisoria is a crazy maze, finding a particular thing might prove quite daunting. So, I am going to let you in on a little secret. For all your packaging needs, your one-stop shop is Meisic Mall, which was formerly called 11/88 Mall. If you are in need of simple supplies such as brown paper bags of various sizes, different shapes of clear cellophane bags with sticky seals, plastic ziplock bags, ecobags of every shape and color (which you can even order made-to-measure and silk-screened with a logo of your choice), one-colored or patterned paper gift bags, all sorts of adhesives, and so much more - Meisic Mall is your wholesale packaging paradise. Now, hurry and shop now! You can thank me later.

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.

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.

Times are hard, they say, and in this country, perhaps even more so. But where do the people go for…read morevery affordable deals? In the outer reaches of Metro Manila, there are Savemore grocery stores, part of the SM Group of Companies, which try to cater to the masses by providing basic needs such as food, cleaning materials, and even basic appliances, at lower costs. Indeed, when one compares these shops to the prices of other cities in Metro Manila, such as say, Makati, then one would be surprised by how much considerably lower the prices of these commodities are. If you're looking for a bargain in generic products, you may discover a Savemore near you, without even realizing it! There you would be able to purchase shampoo, toothpaste, fruits and vegetables, meats, nuts, and other products which are standard grocery fare at rates that may even be up to 25% cheaper than the standard prices elsewhere.

If you need new furniture or designer items for the home, this is the place to shop. LRI Design…read morePlaza is one of my favorite places in the world. One, because this used to be an office building where my former company was housed and where I met my husband. They then converted it to fully be a design plaza where you'll find some of the most interesting stores where you can get items for the home. I love the hardwood floors and the winding staircase, it's like you're shopping in an art gallery. They have several design studios and interior design companies in the building. There are about 35 showrooms including popular ones like Luzon Rattan, Philux and Heima. I love the contemporary, quirky furniture in Heima and the classic pieces of Luzon Rattan. Walking through this building makes me feel like such an adult shopping for grown-up furniture (and not getting it from a department store). Please, if you have a new home or getting your own place for the first time, do yourself a favor and stop by LRI Design Plaza to get a glimpse of what quality furnishings are like. By the way, when you're done shopping there's also a wine bar and an Italian restaurant at the ground floor which offers really good food.

I know I'm supposed to be talking about individual stores, but really, the LRI Design Plaza…read moredeserves its own entry. It is easily the most impressive furniture center in the city. Leave the cheap knock-offs and the chipboard furniture to the malls; the LRI will have none of that. Instead, prepare to be dazzled, amazed, intimidated, and overwhelmed by the incredibly chic, tasteful, understated, but quite expensive furniture from an impressive number of shops in the building. I'm not kidding about this; I once saw a rather handsome armchair go for about P450,000. For that price, I can buy two used cars. I mean, WOW. Having said that, if you have incredible taste and a matching wallet to boot, LRI is the place for you.

My girlfriend moves around a lot. She's incessantly searching from her dream home, so much so that…read moreshe's moved three times since I met her two years ago. That's a lot of moving for such a tiny little girl, but I think she's settled down now because Storm the dog is now in the picture and does not take kindly to being forced into a car. Every time she moves though, we make sure to head over to Japan Home Center to get her stuff for the new place. Japan Home Center is the IKEA of the Philippines - whenever I walk into this place, no matter how much I promise myself that I'm only going to get what I came for, I always end up buying all sorts of stuff. One time, I went in looking for batteries, and came out with a toilet plunger, cookies, shampoo, and a bike lock. I forgot the batteries. And given their prices, you wouldn't really care what you buy. It's not gonna hurt your wallet either way.

Patrick is right, this place is the IKEA of the Philippines, minus the weird instructions and the…read moremissing screws. I always like browsing through their selection even if I have nothing specific in mind that I have to buy, and I always end up leaving with my arms full of various bric-a-brac. Seriously, I bought a bunch of chopsticks once, and I didn't even know how to use 'em. This place is great for those who just moved, or are looking to populate their apartment. They also have great miscellaneous items you didn't know you needed. Try not to blow a hole in your wallet though - all their items might be priced the same, but that can stack up pretty quickly if you're not careful.

I bought an appliances in the supermarket. Ang gugulo magtrabaho ng mga staff. Isa lang binili ko…read morepero 5 sila mag aassist sayo kunwari para di utusan ng manager, nagtatago. Then, parang tinatamad pa makipag usap ang ilan sa kanila to explain to you the appliances.

If you're a foreigner traveling to the Philippines or someone who just decided to migrate here, you…read moreshould know that one of the biggest chains of malls would be that of SM. Owned by business magnate Henry Sy, SM malls have become the easiest landmark for any part of the Metro. Even where you think SM won't be, there will surely be a branch! One of the reasons SM malls are patronized by the masses is because of how many the stores are inside. True to their tagline, they do really have it all! Personally, I love taking a trip to their grocery stores. But because Megamall (which is the nearest SM mall where I live) is almost ALWAYS too crowded for my liking, it's been such a blessing that they've put up SM Supercenter in Pasig. Hypermart, as I fondly call SM Supercenter, is basically an extra-big grocery store that also has a few stores inside it. Think Target or Costco. Its grocery is legitimately packed with everything you want to see in a grocery. International brands? Check. Local manufactured goods? Check. Mini appliances corner? Check. Everything you need to survive a zombie apocalypse?! CHECK AND CHECK! What I love about Hypermart is that it's not big enough to attract customers who are just there to check out what's new in Forever21 or H&M but they house enough stores that cater to a jam-packed errands day. They've got a BDO branch, which is open Mondays to Saturdays, a food court and several other restaurants, Watsons, Surplus shop, beauty services shops, massage parlors, Ace Hardware store, etc. They even have an LTO branch inside! Even with Hypermart, SM still stays true to their mantra. Hate to say it but Henry Sy's done it again. So if you're looking for a (literally) one-stop shop on your errands day, you may want to venture to SM Hypermart in Pasig to skip the crowds and the hassle.

If you love bargain hunting, this is definitely the place to be. I thought Greenhills was…read moreimpressive, but this place takes shopping to another level. I always considered Divisoria top-notch for deals and variety, and this shopping center did not disappoint. The mall has about six floors packed with countless aisles and shops to explore. The lower floor is not air-conditioned, but as you go higher, the atmosphere becomes more comfortable and boutique-style. Unlike Greenhills, the vendors here don't constantly hound or pressure you while shopping, which made the experience much more enjoyable. The prices are already relatively cheap, so there's not much need to bargain aggressively. I didn't even make it to the top floors because there was just so much to see. I'm already looking forward to coming back and exploring more.

168 Shopping Mall (MANILA Philippines)…read more There are 7 malls in Divisoria and this is the shopping mall we spent the most time. This is an indoor mall with three levels and over 300 stalls/stores. It is air-conditioned inside for shoppers' comfort. When you hear Divisoria it is synonymous to cheap bargains and you can haggle the price and get it more cheap. They have everything here, especially off-the-rack clothing, purses and shoes, novelty items, gadgets... well, almost, everything. I tried to look for a Sacramento Kings jersey but they didn't have it LoL! They also have food stalls. Mom was able to buy a Filipiniana (aka 'Maria Clara'). It was a fun shopping experience here. Cash is king so have some handy before coming to Divisoria. I guarantee you'll find something and you won't be able to leave empty handed, that's for sure. Review #3293