Gift Gate is a store that basically sells a lot of items that are colored in pink. It's main mascot…read moreis a Kitty that I'm sure many of those born in the 90's would recognize but those after the millennium would not. Back in the old days Gift Gate was well, a nice place to get gifts for your loved ones, particularly kids. They sold stationary, toys, pencils, pens, you name it it had it. I gave this one four stars because of the sense of nostalgia. I have a great suspicion that buying something here and giving it to a girl who grew up in the 90's might appreciate the sense of nostalgia that this would bring them. Not only that, but items from Gift Gate aren't that expensive. It's a nice place for people who are working on a tight budget, but want something that has a little bit of thought and sentimentality to their gift of choice.

I'm glad I came here for souvenirs before heading home. This store in the Mall of Asia (MOA) has…read moreFilipino food, art, clothing, history, and culture. It's thoughtfully designed and clean. I think it's valuable to visit a unique place like this as there's lots of rare finds. It was pretty busy. I had to maneuver around a lot of people while browsing. They had a lot of merch that I wanted but I knew I didn't have a lot of space in my luggage. When you check out, just know green shopping bags are sturdy and good quality. I regret buying the brown shopping bags. I noticed they smelled funny when I unpacked my luggage when I got home. I ended up recycling them. I wish I had more luggage space. I wish I had more time in this store. I guess it gives me a reason to come back here on my next vacation.

Bought a pair of 12.5 mm South Sea Pearls earrings and was charged $720 US dollars for an imperfect…read morepearl earring. They took advantage of the fact that I am in US purchasing the item. Even their website shows 15mm priced less for a round white pearl.

I miss this place! I wish it's still open!…read more This is our go to gift shop back in the days

A visit to Greenhills will never be complete without going to Regina Gift Shop…read more When I was a kid my parents would remind me that it's a gift shop meaning I went in to buy gifts for other people. I believed that lie until I was about ten. I guess that was to prevent me from buying all the awesome goodies this shop has to offer. Sorry, parents. I'm buying gifts for myself. They have everything! And I really mean everything. They have all my childhood candies next to a stand of plastic balloons. You know, those little tubes which you squeeze until this substance comes out which you blow into with the use of a little stick. There's a shelf with plates, spoons and forks and knives, cups and lunchboxes. And in the center, you'll find notebooks, stickers, pens, art materials, cellphone cases and the occasional sex toy. Speaking of toys, they do have toys for babies and children and adults who collect toys. Not into those things? They have bags, clothes and hats too. I remember being dragged here by my mom whenever I needed a costume for school. "You're only going to wear it once anyway. But it at Regina," she'd say. Don't get me wrong, their clothes don't break after one use. They have cool socks and hats. And sometimes if you're lucky, they have sell Christmas stockings. I can't remember everything they sell at this shop. So it would be great if you have a look for yourself. You won't be disappointed and you'll leave with lots of loot.

Ugh. Too many cute things in one place…read more I am not into cute things, but I made a deal with my nieces that I have to pass by this shop whenever I'm here, take a picture of their new things and send or show it to them. And sometimes, being a good aunt means enduring a trip to Tickles to look for cute stuff for my two adorable nieces. Everyone keeps telling me, "The stuff there is so cute!" Yes, so cute, but the price of their stuff isn't cute. A notebook there goes for Php200 up when I can get the same one in Landmark for Php100 or less. Their bookmarks are also more expensive than the exact same one in Fully Booked. I suggest, before you buy the cute things you see here, scout around other places 'cause they just might have it at cheaper prices and better quality. The only thing I will ever splurge on in Tickles is stuff for my pet. They now have these really pretty beds for dogs and cats. And my poor cat won't have to sleep on an old pillow on the floor every night. There are times, I also find myself buying their stuffed toys to give my cat as a present so it won't be bored at night.

If you have very little self-control for purchasing cute things, make a detour! But since this…read moreparticular branch is right smack in the middle of Greenbelt 1 and 5, which makes it VERY. HARD. TO. AVOID, then you (or at least your wallet) will be doomed. Tickles is one of those places that are just difficult to resist. It's like a cute child doing a very convincing "paawa face", holding on to your legs, begging for ice cream. Through the years, this place has been constantly getting better and better at stocking the quirkiest and cutest finds, and at reasonable prices. You can count on Tickles for that last-minute birthday present, or for when you're looking to fill that existential void with cuteness in the form of adorable animals printed on pencil cases, pillows, bags... or everyday things with faces on it, soft plushy things for your desk. And, it's actually not just all cute stuff, but also quirky, functional things like statement aprons, wallets, bags... Ack! Oh and they have stuff for the most special people in your life--I'm referring to our companion animals, of course! They have these colorful beds for your dogs/cats, so they can sleep in style, unlike their slaves (us).

Oooh this is one of the most kawaii shops I've been to. Clipper is, more or less, a gift shop where…read moreyou can find countless novelty items, all with a quirk on their own. They have everything from stationery to toys, bags, plushies and pillows. They even sell earphones and memory card readers. The assortment of goodies have one thing in common: they're all so cute. Honestly, I don't think I ever found a non-kawaii item there. Well, their cash register isn't kawaii, but I don't think it counts! Lol. You see, I'm a huge Rilakkuma fan and this is one of the few places in Manila that sells Rilakkuma-themed stuff. The stuffed toys aren't genuine (and I never bought them) but the stationery and other knick-knacks were fine. Besides, it's not like there are many San-X shops in Manila. Speaking of which, they also sell Sentimental Circus-themed goodies. I saw pens, pluggies, keychains and phone cases. So yes, if you're a fan of an obscure (but kawaii) character, you might wanna check this place.

I was immediately attracted by the swarm of cute character pillows on display and after looking…read morearound I realized that Clipper is definitely one of the cutest gift shops out there. If you're looking for a gift for you're quirky, odd, bubbly, or creative friend (or anything in between) you should check out Clipper. They've got a bunch of options from stationary supplies and clocks to pillows and water jugs. Everything here is made to look adorable and hard to resist. With cute pastel designs or the use of animals and others that'll just make you go "awww!!" at everything you see. Clipper is also really affordable and for some reason because the designs are so attractive you could get your friend a sharpener for P40 and they'd love it because of how adorable (and useful!) it is. So basically Clipper gives you everything you want in a gift: 1. cute and unique, 2. useful! and 3. affordable!

This flower shop is a hidden gem along Doña Soledad Avenue Better Living Parañaque! Operating for…read moremore than 20 years, it has never lost its artistic (yet affordable) touch in flower arranging! Thank you for being our community's source of flowers for any occasion!

Giving flowers as gifts has always been uncomfortable for me, and I suppose this is true for most…read moreguys. I mean there are times when flowers or bouquets to be precise are called for. Like for a junior-senior prom, or when someone is getting married, or when there's a milestone like an anniversary, or even when someone is sick or is hospitalized. I'm glad that there's this place along Dona Soledad Avenue that makes giving flowers or flower arrangements easier. Bouquets & More is also a gift shop, but they only have what I would call girly gifts. You know, the feminine stuff. Like stuffed bunnies and all that. Not that there's anything wrong with giving girly gifts to girls, but I don't think any guy would enjoy receiving any kind of stuffed animal, not even a stuffed superhero doll. As for flowers, I'm thinking that maybe I would appreciate flowers if I ever get hospitalized. The flowers would certainly enliven the drab rooms and walls of most hospitals. I think it's also fine to have a bouquet laid at the graves of loved ones, during death anniversaries and all. As a centerpiece on a dining table during special occasions, too, I guess. It's just nice to know that in this part of town, there's this one store that can let one get flowers for any occasion.

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.

This was the High End Mall, before all the other High End Malls appeared. And to this day, it…read moreretains a lot of the class and style that defined it as THE mall of choice of Manila's elite. Rustans is special because they were handpicking and curating the vendors and suppliers for a sensible, classy experience even before curation became a thing. And that's probably why Rustans has remained relevant. While other malls and department stores are content with featuring whoever and whatever, stepping inside Rustans was an experience in itself. If you had the scratch to spend on a place like this, you could step out of there in style. The men's section in particular gives you the whole "Manly and Classy" vibe that is just almost impossible to find nowadays. An amazing, amazing place.

THE place for beginners and experienced crocheters and knitters alike! They have a wide selection…read moreof yarns to choose from and some that are hard to find even online. When you buy a skein they can spin it into a non-knotting ball (its helpful, trust me). Special orders are easy! Maybe because the crochet/knit crafting scene is small in Manila, there are too few local yarn shops. There are many online stores but, it is still good to have a feel of the yarn before you pruchase it. Also, having a shop that has a steady flow if the one particular yarn you need for projects is important. So, Dreams Yarnshoppe is my go-to yran shop! The shop carries a fine selection of designer yarn and brands not available at big box stores. The store is tiny but stocked and the employees are helpful and knowledgeable knitters. This store carries high-quality yarns made of natural fibers instead of mostly acrylic yarn. Cotton, bamboo, and all the new blends are here to feel. Sock yarn, striped yarn, and all the notions and patterns you could hope for. Even if you like to buy online, there is something about touching your materials that is helpful. Plus, they have lots of sample projects to inspire you!

I recently learned how to crochet, and I've since become obsessed with it. If you're surprised,…read moredon't be - I'm actually a billion years old, with the personality of a five year old. Plus, crocheting is great! I decided that this year, instead of hand-making my Christmas Cards, I'd make everyone scarves instead. Because really, who doesn't like a giant, fluffy scarf? If you said nobody, you'd be spot on. But to the point - after a ton of research, I found out that there were only three physical stores in Manila that sell yarn/crocheting needles: National Bookstore, Carolina's Lace and of course, Dreams Yarnshoppe. After having visited the first two and being thoroughly disappointed, I decided to venture out to Glorietta 5. And although Glorietta is a maze to navigate through, the Dreams Yarnshoppe made it well worth the effort! Although tiny, this store has most things you'd be looking for as an crafts person. If I had a cat (eww, but I've got a point, I swear), it would have had a field day because this store is basically catnip. SO MUCH YARN. SO MANY COLOURS. So many sizes! After being repeatedly met with sad, dull looking 4 ply yarn and tiny cotton crochet hooks, this store made it seem like I'd hit the jackpot. I ended up buying 4 skeins of yarn and 2 sets of Susan Bates crochet hooks (10 hooks in total) for PHP 2960 i.e. $65. Which, if you think about it, isn't cheap. Each skein of Lion Brand Homespun bulky yarn was PHP 495 ($11) which is about $4 more than it retails for in the US. The skeins of Big Wheel by Cascade Yarn were PHP 490 each, but that's approximately how much they retail for. The two sets of crochet hooks were marked up by $1 which, in the grand scheme of things, is negligible. Pros: + Yarns of all different plys (4, bulky, super bulky) + A ton of different yarn fibres (merino, cashmere, acrylic) + A great selection of colours + Crochet hooks that range from 1-11 mm, in a variety of materials (aluminum, wood and plastic) + The women working at the store were extra knowledgeable about the amount of yarn I would need to crochet a scarf and helped me buy yarn accordingly + Friendly service + They also sell DMC embroidery thread (although, if you really need some you should go to the dedicated store - DMC Creative World at SM MegaMall) Cons: - Expensive for Lion Brand yarn - Bright fluorescent lighting in the store. I really dislike fluorescent lights. - CASH ONLY Word to the wise: STAY AWAY FROM THE WOODEN CROCHET HOOKS! I was unsure about which kind of crochet hooks to buy, so the ladies working at the store let me try the different kinds of hooks with the yarn I was already buying. The yarn kept catching on the wood crochet hooks due to tiny splinters. They've also got a local/cheaper alternative to the Susan Bates aluminum crochet hooks; the prices aren't too different, but there's a world of difference in the quality, so I went with the Susan Bates ones. P.S. If you're considering making scarves for everyone this Christmas, you might want to reconsider because of the significant impact it's going to have on your wallet ($20 per scarf).