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.

Friday, March 1 90°F 49% Humidity…read more Let's go souvenir shopping! Gift giving (pasalubong) is an important Filipino tradition, and Kultura offers a wide range of products that showcase the country's culture, cuisine, clothing, and craftsmanship. This retail chain is owned by SM and you'll find them inside most if not all SM shopping malls. I went to the one inside SM Makati. What do they have? Apparel - atleisure, polos, footwear, T-shirts, jackets, traditional outfits like filipiniana or barong, Accessories - jewelry, sunglasses, hats, shawls, tote bags, purses Food - dried mangoes, chocolate bars, jams, polvorón (shortbread), cookies, banana chips For the home - placemats, coasters, picture frames, utensils, ornaments, figurines, other diningware I didn't buy too much because it was still early in my trip; didn't want to overpack my luggage because I had two more flights to Mindanao and Cebu. I mostly browsed around to get an idea of what they had and made plans to stop at another location on my last day. But I did get a small bag of YeloYolo cacao cookies, which are as "healthy" as cacao can be. All real plant-based ingredients and an excellent source of fiber, iron, magnesium, protein, and potassium. Halal certified as well. Overall lots of unique gifts you can bring home and share with family, friends and colleagues! Philippines 2024 collection: https://www.yelp.com/collection/DHwKzvo7o_ll8jmXFFU3KA/PHIL-2024

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.

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.

First time at this Kultura Butik right next to Taal Vista Hotel. So many great things to find and…read morepurchase as souvenirs for yourself, family and friends. You can find plenty of Filipino culture items and local made merchandise. If you're a guest and staying at Taal Vista Hotel you will receive 10% off your purchase. This Kutura Butik if fully stocked and replenished. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. I was able to purchase the Tagaytay tote bags in green and red, fans, shirts, coasters and keychains as souvenirs not only for myself but for family and friends back home. I also received 10% off my total purchase so definitely was a great buy and great deal. Thank you Kultura Butik. We will be back in Tagaytay next year when we come vacation in the Philippines. Mabuhay!

I have always been a fan and have always tried to promote buying local products in support of our…read moreeconomy. Swear. This is why it was such a delight to discover Kultura Butik during my latest trip to Taal Vista Hotel. I found souvenir items that were specifically made for Taal Vista and Tagaytay, which were obviously geared towards tourists. For a frequent visitor like me, I was particularly delighted by their selection of bags and pouches that had beautiful and funky graphic prints, resembling and inspired by traditional weave patterns of indigenous tribes form all over the Philippines. Despite having several pouches and coin purses that haven't been used in my cabinet, I couldn't resist getting one. Well, not for myself, but as a "gift on reserve" for those times when I'm suddenly invited to a birthday party and I have no time to buy a gift. Again, pushing for "our very own" with every chance I get. Hooray for patriotism! Hooray for local talent! Hooray for me and you!

Team Manila is originally a graphic design studio that now has a store to sell their creative…read moreproducts. I highly recommend it for all those looking for funny and cool t-shirts related to the Philippines and its culture. Are you going back to your country and want to give your relatives some gift? So there's a cool alternative to the obvious Kultura Filipino. Their designers are so talented that they can take a trivial Rizal's picture and transform it into a cool t-shirt or a wallet. There's a certain hipster vibe, that's a fact. You can notice it by the shelves dedicated to Lomography - yep, they are official distributors of Lomography products in the Philippines. If you're dreaming with a new Diana or La Sardina, then take a look at this store. They sell not only the cameras, but also some accessories.

Pasalubong is such a well loved Filipino tradition. It's so well known that even when my friends…read moreand relatives from the States come to visit, they bring something for their friends and families back home. One of my favorite places to take them when they're looking for souvenirs is Team Manila in Power Plant. I love how it's uniquely Filipino and yet has managed adapt to the times and branded themselves and the "new" pasalubong. They've got really great and useful things like tumblers, wallets, and lanyards designed with Filipino words and images that make it distinct. Their graphic designers are so talented coming up with the images they put on their items, I really love it on shirts too! If you're looking for pasalubong that's different and not the usual banig inspired souvenir, Team Manila has awesome alternatives! Oh, they also sell lomo cameras and lomo film if you're into that!

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.

Have you ever experienced not knowing what gift to give a friend so you just end up running around…read morethe mall frantically searching for something suitable? Yeah, that's a common enough occurrence for me which is why Tickles is such a delight. It's already saved me countless times from panicking about a gift. I just get a little wary of their prices sometimes, but I tend to find something that eventually overpowers that wariness. They have all these cute baubles and knick-knacks such as door signages, throw pillows, and stuff toys. They also have some useful stuff such as notebooks, bags, aprons, pens, doggie beds, and so much more! So whether you're shopping for yourself or for a friend, something's bound to tickle your fancy!

Don't look at me like that. I have a reputation to keep but ugh everything in Tickles is so…read morestinking cute. Even the name is enough to give you a toothache from its sweetness. Tickles has stuff that's both adorable and functional. From keychains to notebooks to plush toys to bags to... well... everything. Anything and everything under the sun. It... er... tickles... that need in me for cute stuff. I may have also spent a good twenty minutes laughing at this sign that read "You are in danger of being monitored" with the picture of a person about to hit another person with a computer monitor. Sure it's a little pricey but I suppose it depends on what you're getting. But I suppose it's the perfect little something store. There's bound to be something in there you need or at least something you'd want to give a friend when Christmas or a birthday comes around. It was a popular gift place when I was in gradeschool and it's still popular (and relevant) today.

Who could have ever thought that a store would achieve its popularity because of poo? Yes, Blue…read moreMagic became the talk of the town -- well, at least in our school -- because of the light brown paper mache poo that they sell. While I was growing up, I think I received (and also gifted) several big and small pieces of this stuff as presents during the yearly Christmas Kris Kringle (Secret Santa). On a serious note, however, Blue Magic offers a lot more than poo. In fact, this is the go-to store for many teens and 'betweenies' who are budget conscious but are looking for quality novelty and collectible items to give as gifts to family, friends, and that special someone. There's surely something for everyone at Blue Magic, may it be funny, naughty or sweet. The most recent item that I got from this store was a white rat hand puppet with a long tail. I gave it to my niece. She loved it and that's why she now has a real pet mouse. Another reason to like this toy and novelty store is the fact that they usually change the items they sell depending on the season. During Valentine's, for example, you will surely find a lot of hearts, flowers, and other romantic stuff to buy for your loved ones.