Impulsive buyer ka ba? Kung oo, for sure makakapag-shopping ka nang malala at Japan Home Center!…read moreKung hindi naman, ngayon mo na malalaman kung anong feeling maging impulsive buyer teh! Hahaha! Parang imposibleng wala kang mabili sa Japan Home Center eh. Yung mga borloloy na hindi mo mabibili sa department stores eh makikita mo dito. Take note: super affordable! Yung mga kakikayan na binebenta pasok na pasok sa budget and usually less than P100 lang sila. Hindi mo mamamalayang nakaka-mahigit isang libo ka na pala kakaisip na "Ayy ang mura!" tapos nakarami ka na girl. OR BAKA SA AKIN LANG NANGYAYARI TO HAHAHA Japan Home Center yung kaya kong tambayan nang ilang oras kakaikot lang sa loob tapos nag-eenjoy na akong titigan yung mga kaartehang binebenta nila. Usually kikay pero useful kaya bagay sa tulad kong mapagmaarte....pero wala masyadong pambili! Char!

How can anyone go wrong with Japan Home Center? It's inexpensive, practical, and the Japanese came…read moreup with it. It is like a 99 cents store but instead everything costs 88 Pesos or less. And they sell everything you'll need in the house from cookware to silverware. They have those authentic Japanese bowls used in restaurants to serve ramen or sukiyaki. They also sell candies and chocolates from Japan. My favorite are their school supplies. A whole pack of colored gel pens, folders of all shapes and sizes, and notebooks with cute anime characters and silly quotes are some of the things i check out when i visit Japan Home Center. Some of the really practical things to buy from here also include tissue paper (because it is sold by bulk), laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies. Their products come in big packs so, if youre looking to fill up a house with stuff you'll need, you can try buying from Japan Home Center and getting everything you need without spending a fortune.

Ever since I started working, there was never a year that I did not receive a gift coming from…read morePapemelroti. This just goes to show that this rustic-vintage inspired store is on top of a lot people's list for gift items. I can't blame them, it's on top of mine too. The place sells a wide array of stationery made of recycled paper which gives their items the old fashioned vibe without making it look used or scrappy. They also have small trinkets and thingamajigs perfect for giveaways or tabletop displays. What I usually get from this store is their small boxes of inspirational messages that can brighten anyone's day in a jiff. I would just tie a little ribbon around it and it's good to go. I wouldn't have to spend a little extra for gift wrapping. So the next time a friend or family member celebrates anything and you can't think of a present to give, you can always go back to the basics and give this place a visit.

I may be giving out my age here but this shop used to be my best friend when cellular phones and…read morethe internet are not yet household names. I go to Papemelroti when I need to send a love letter to the girl I'm courting. Yes kids, it's that thing where you use an actual pen and paper to communicate with the girl you like. We really used to do that. And you have to wait for a day or even several days just to receive a response. Papemelroti has stationaries and notebooks made out of recycled paper with cute designs and vintage look. The said stationaries and notebooks also have nice designs and even sayings. They also sell trinkets like brass necklaces and bracelets. They even have little jewelry boxes made of recycled materials. The fact that Ms. Patty, who partly owns Papemelroti together with her siblings, is such a nice person is another reason for me to continue patronizing this store. Yes, the first two letters of Papemelroti is from her name. RO is for Robert, the sibling who is the creator of the designs and drawings you see in their products. Their classic and beautiful items should be more than enough reason for customers to continue patronizing them. If you need another reason then it's nice to know that the crafts and trinkets that they sell are handmade by mothers living in destitute areas. Papemelroti provides them with materials and pays them for the labor. Just keep in mind that everytime you purchase an item from Papemelroti, you are also supporting these mothers who found a decent livelihood because of Papemelroti.

While the brand Daiso claims to be from Japan, most of the items found here are actually from…read moreChina. Not that I'm complaining, because where else will you be able to find kitchenware at 88 pesos apiece! I love how ramdom Daiso has always been and how you really never know what you can find once you step into the store. You can find something as simple as a tissue holder to something as random as a Hello Kitty alarm clock. I usually come here to buy a toy for my dog, stock up on tissue paper or get some liquid soap. You're always sure to get a great deal when you're here. A good tip to know is that some items are really sold higher than their actual value. Practice good judgement when buying and don't be fooled with wholesale prices.

I think Daiso was put on earth to be a plague to mankind, specifically to impulse shoppers like me…read more If you've ever wandered around in a Daiso, the first think you think is, "Wow, I could actually buy something here." But this isn't just a meandering musing, it's an omen of things to come, as when you stepped into Daiso you were already cursed to begin with. The Daiso in Galleria is one of the biggest cheapo stores I've been in (what would you call them? "dollar stores"? "88-peso stores"?) and it's easy to lose your time and money here, as they have everything and varieties of everything here: accouterments, kitchen supplies, toiletries, etc etc etc. If ever there were a zombie outbreak, you could probably hide in and live off of just this one Daiso and be set for a long time in waiting for someone else to save you, because as we all know you need guns or fire to kill zombies, and Daiso doesn't have those. But hey, they do have Japanese confectionery! Take that, zombies!

Ahh the smell of fresh and unsullied notebooks!…read more Okay, I have a confession to make. I love stationery. Papers, cards, letter sets, notepads - everything, as long as I could write on them. I would hoard so many notebooks and to this date, I have plenty of cute little journals that are gathering dust on my shelf but I can't stomach writing on them. Because OCD. They somehow lose their appeal when they have writing on them... But anyway, if you are like me and you grow weak in the knees by the thought of cute stationery, you will go crazy once you set foot in Typo. It is pretty easy to find, as it is near the entrance of the mall. Every square inch of space is crammed with stuff that you don't need but you want to buy anyway. Everything is so kitschy and cool, and their designs appeal to the young and hip (fine..Hipster) crowd. I was looking for cute stickers and I found plenty to paper every surface of my laptop with. They had an entire table of novelties related to pugs, from aprons to pillows. I also love their collection of really cute tumblers and water bottles that look like science laboratory equipment - flasks and beakers that you can use at home to spruce up your boring old kitchen. I ended up buying cute letter decals that I stuck to my wall. I also bought a set of twinkling fairy lights that are battery operated. The tiny lights look great on my vanity, and I use it now as a night light. I am really scared of electric Christmas lights, especially since substandard ones are known to burn entire houses down, so I'm glad that they have batter operated ones that are safe to use.

Oh Typo, Typo... I want to love you so badly, I really do. Your designs are clever and cute. Your…read moreitems are practical and definitely look like something I might want-slash-need-in-the-definite-future. I love stores like you. Sketchpads, notebooks, pencils, ballpens... everything I could ever need for something light is in your shelves and then some. Heck, you'd definitely be the kind of store I'd want to go to since I can't get anything from Etsy. But we have a problem, you and I. A HUGE problem. A glaring dealbreaker of a problem. Your quality. I'm gonna be frank here. It sucks. Now now, I can't say everything's bad. Your mannequins are fine and I love the fact you actually have a jointed hand model. Your stickers and stamps are adorable and clever. Everything's so... Instagrammy. (No wonder why the kids love it, I guess?) But there are some MAJOR dealbreakers for me. Your notebooks for one. The covers are floppy. You'd think a notebook as big as the ones you offer would have covers that give a bit more support. I'd have better support from the cardboard backing of a pad of yellow paper. And the paper. It's... okay. Only okay. One notebook I felt had this really thin, really rough paper which (in my experience) doesn't hold heavier inks very well and one other notebook I felt has smoother, slippery paper that doesn't (again, in my experience with papers of that GSM) catch anything less than a felt pen. And your pens. My mom's friend bought her a Peanuts pen when they were at the store and no less than ten minutes after leaving the mall, Lucy's head came off. Yeah. You heard me. Thick plastic topper. Head came right off. It was just in her bag. And it wasn't even nicely painted either. I understand attempting to make it look like it was hand painted but this was just sloppy. For what that pen cost, I would have expected it to last longer than ten minutes. Your newly released colored pencil/watercolor pencil line rubs me the wrong way too. Maybe I was spoiled by Sakura and Faber Castel but that rough wood grain near the lead just reeks of flimsy lead. You know the kind: sharpen using any method and the lead ends up breaking when you think it's finally sharp? And the PRICE. I could get cheaper things with better quality at National Bookstore... heck, Diovir and Enriquez if I really wanted the good stuff. That ballpen was over 200php. And 250php for a birthday card? No thanks. Would I recommend Typo to anyone? Maybe if they were looking for cute things, yes, though I'd definitely steer them away from the stationery section. Maybe I'm just showing my age but if you want something you can really work with, something that will age with you and wear with you and work the way you want, you're better off picking your next journal from Fully Booked. Grab a ballpen from National while you're at it. If you want something with more style and less substance, go right ahead.

Philippines review #33…read more I'm 7300 miles away from home, in a hotel around the corner and want to wrap a few Christmas gifts. I already have the basic building blocks needed for gift wrapping, but need a few of the little things to bring it all together. Scotch tape, some type of ribbon, scissors, a pen, etc. As I'm walking through the Century City Mall on the 3rd floor, I see this store and decide to go in to check it out. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/office-warehouse-makati-4?select=trHyh_6px_UPckCfddN4fg It's a small store, but boy-o-boy they have a lot if different items stuffed into this small space! You name it, they probably have it. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/office-warehouse-makati-4?select=EP9PyNY1WBPDZtGFEzJA2g I look around the entire store (doesn't take long) and am able to find exactly what I need in a matter of minutes. I head to the check out counter and the one employee manning the store. He has a pleasant, friendly demeanor, which always makes for a better retail shopping experience. OVERALL: While I didn't find the type of store I was originally looking for, this office supply did the trick nicely as I found exactly what I needed and at reasonable prices too.

This is the perfect place for hipsters! From the name itself, you already know that this store will…read moreprovide you with weird, yet stylish gifts, goodies, and fun novelty items. This store is famous for their water-resistant and tear-resistant mighty wallets. It looks like it's made out of recycled papers, but once you get a hold of it, you'll eventually notice that these wallets are hard as a rock. Once, I tried putting it underwater just to test its durability and nothing even happened to it. Besides wallets, they also have things to decorate your room. They have a Stick-It-Easy Clock that you can easily put on any dry surface. One of my personal favorites is their lunch bag that looks just like a disposable paper bag. It is built to keep your food hot when you're travelling or on the go. Just like the mighty wallet, it is also water-resistant and tear-resistant. If you need new decorations for your boring room or apartment, make sure you visit this place. Quirks will find a way to make it look fun and stylish. PS: Prepare your wallets 'cause this place is expensive!

Quirks is a store for people with a bit more personality. You'll never know what to find in here!…read moreSo many random trinkets will tickle your fancy because of its design or functionality. This is a gret place for buying gifts and tokens for friends and family. Sarcasm is highly appreciated here so if you think you have a good sense of humor then come here the next time your looking for a container to hide that stash of grass ;) There also useful products of course. But their design offers something unique and eye-catching. So better than being useful, it will make you happy seeing it and knowing that what your purchased matches your personality! In Quirks everyday, ordinary stuff can take your imagination places and offer you something that regular stores won't.

Whenever I find myself in Greenbelt 5, I always make it a point to visit the Bleach Lifestyle…read moreStore, an inspired retail space specializing in creating edgy and quirky home pieces for the customer who has a penchant for art and design. Working a lot with linens and the process of silk-screening, having a Bleach piece in your home is akin to owning a piece of art. May it be a 15th century French painting on a pillow, cracked white paint on a placemat, vintage signage on an apron - it will certainly be a talking piece and a piece that talks. The store itself is a work of art. Painted in white with wooden accents, it acts like a canvas for the items found in the store. And as usual, it was hard for me to walk out empty-handed. My home is filled with Bleach items - from my bed, to my couch to my dining table - Bleach is very present. So much so that my place already looks like another outpost of the brand. And I like it like that.

I really like Bleach's whole aesthetic and concept. I've always loved their pieces, even back then…read morewhen they were still known as Bleach Catastrophe. They're a clothing and lifestyle brand most known for their distinct, urban style. I actually am having a hard time trying to describe it, but if you love monochromatic and neutral palettes, distressed treatments, screen-prints, nonchalant statement prints and natural fabric, grunge textures, then you'll love what Bleach is all about. Their pieces have always had this distinct look that you can really set apart from other brands. Their clothes are beautiful and they do make a statement, but I'm more for their bags and home decor and accessories. I am obsessed with tote bags, and they have awesome, printed tote bags. On my most recent visit they had new pieces for sale that has incorporated a Filipino theme, something I haven't seen from Bleach before. They have products such as bags that feature messages written in Filipino and sampaguitas printed on their beautiful throw pillows. I really love how this was executed in a way that's not tacky at all. If you're looking for beautiful gift bags, this set of brown paper bags printed with delicate and intricate patterns are available here. Most of their prices are on the pricey side, but I do think most of them are reasonably priced because you can really notice how good the quality is, and of course, how unique their products are.

Back in the summer of 2013 on a trip to Europe, I stumbled upon Desigual and its splashy boutiques…read more I wondered aloud who would buy these clothes, and figured that it would probably work as a sort of expensive festival chic. Well, hippies and moms, I guess. It made sense that they were brought to Manila then, as the local festival scene continues to grow with events like Wanderland and others. We're even starting to draw more interesting acts like Alt-J and Justice, and the timing is right for the bohemians to get a high-end option. Their clothes tend to fit that aesthetic and are difficult to squeeze into other fits, however, and my first few times trying their clothes resulted in me realizing why I don't like going to concerts.