I always knew that Starmall EDSA-Shaw is a good place to hunt for bargain items. But it's only…read morerecently that I discovered Japan Selection on the second floor. At first glance, the store looked like just any ordinary thrift shop selling Japan-made goods. Look closer, or better yet get inside, and you will see that they are more than just the usual stocks of cookware, kitchen gadgets, chopsticks, Lucky (or Pocky) biscuit sticks, and whatnots from the land of the rising sun. They sell second-hand appliances on an 'as is, where is' basis. This means they will test the appliance you want to buy in the store. But if it doesn't work later when you bring it home, you can't claim a refund. They also have pre-owned baby strollers and other baby furniture. Heck, they even have used surfboards. What really lured me to the place was the stacks of original Japanese manga comics, many of them are Naruto. I was giddy because my cousin who's learning how to read and write Japanese can now spice up his studies by reading one of his favorite manga/anime series in its original language. Without hesitation, I grabbed three books to buy. Right across the manga section was the used toy shelves. Here, I found countless Ultraman figures, diecast cars, robots, and baby toys. Clumsy me grazed one of the items on a shelf and it fell with a beautiful percussive sound. When I picked it up, I realized that it was a bamboo baby rattle. I bought it for twenty bucks to use as decoration at home. The only downside to Japan Selections is their dusty, topsy-turvy store. If you suffer from asthma, better stay out.

If ukay ukay was classy, this is the place to go. The items here were pre picked by the owner thus…read moretheir quality and overly done pricing. I mean you're paying almost the same price as new stuff from a bazaar for used clothing. But if you really know your shiznit and your way around vrands, you'll appreciate this cozy little spot at the entrance of expo. They have an impressive shoe selection with original but second-hand brands like Tom's, Sperry's, Guess, just to name a few. But mahal! Like a pair could be anywhere in between Php500 to Php1k depending mostly on the brand. They also have used books but nothing worth paying Php100 for.

Call me a cheapskate, but I don't get the appeal of department stores when you have plenty of…read morethrift shops around that offerr really good clothes at many times less the price of new clothing. I am a firm believer in ukay-ukay shopping, especially for utilitarian articles of clothing that would otherwise bleed me dry if I bought them brand new in the mall or in the department store. I find that shopping for items such as jackets, hoodies, jeans and even dress shirts are best done in flea markets and ukay shops, because these thrift stores have the best quality stuff, and it doesn't hurt that they are so ridiculously cheap compared to their spanking new counterparts. I love JCB Hong Kong Surplus in PHILCOA not only because it is near to my place, but also because it is one of the more fairly-priced ukay shops around. Some ukay shops jack up the prices of their stocks just because they have high-street labels, but that sucks because that is kinda the point of ukay shopping: to get high street brands for way less. Here, everything is well within the reasonable ukay price range. For instance, I was able to get a really nice Superdry polo shirt which looked brand new for only P200. I was also able to get an H&M hoodie for only P300. You will find great stuff if you have the patience to wade through their stocks, which is not that hard to do because everything is neatly sorted and displayed on hangers. The branded stuff are a bit more pricey than the obviously cheap ones, but they are quite a steal. They organize their stuff with such an efficient system that it's almost like shopping in a department store. The changing room is clean, and has a nice mirror to check yourself out with after you try the clothes on. Just make sure to thoroughly wash everything first. Some people overzealously wash their ukay finds in scalding hot water, which is a baaaad idea as this could shrink some delicate textiles. A good and thorough scrub using regular detergent and colorsafe bleach (for disinfecting), especially in the collars, armpit or crotch areas should do. If you are in need of quality winterwear (I bought a nice windbreaker to use on my next Mt. Pulag climb), activewear (I was able to get several dri-fit shirts that were actually marathon singlets; also, orignal football jerseys that wick moisture pretty darn fast), and really good denim, you should go to this ukay store in PHILCOA. It's pretty obvious how obsessed I am with this store, eh?

Need to update your wardrobe this year? Want a new swimwear? Or do you just want to shop till you…read moredrop without burying your wallet alive? Then this discreet yet stunning local clothing line could do the trick for you. Apartment 8, with branches in Trinoma, Greenhills and Glorietta, have been around for some time and has been creating quite a stir because of their trendy collections. Endorsed by famous fashion bloggers, Apartment 8 offers clothes for women, mostly for teenagers and young adults. But hey, their clothing line is for everybody, as long as you wear the dress, and not let the dress wear you. From casual to formal, from summer to winter, from vintage to modern - Apartment 8 surely has them all.

A self-confessed ukay ukay addict dared me to check out this place, saying that I would be shocked…read moreat what they have. I wasn't expecting much. to be honest. I know that some of these thrift shops are better than others, but how much better can one be over the rest? Since I had some time to kill, I decided to give it a shot. Guess what? My ukay ukay junkie was absolutely right. I won't comment on the branded ladies clothes, shoes and bags that she raves about. I admit knowing next to nothing about women's wear and accessories. But I do know enough about men's wear to recognize a bargain when I see one. There were Levi's jeans as well as other brands of denim pants and trousers. The price? An unbelievable three for P100. I had to take a second look at that price tag, but there it was. That comes to P33 per pair of pants, doesn't it? The best thing about denims is that the more worn they look, the more comfortable they feel. Jamzel's Ukay Ukay is a small shop, but man do they have a lot of terrif bargains. They have rubber and leather shoes that all look newish and sell for a low P200 a pair. If you have no qualms about buying and wearing pre-owned clothes, head for this store pronto!

I know a friend who shops incessantly at Artwork, and I don't see why she wouldn't. They have a…read morerack full of white muscle tees priced under 200 pesos, notebooks, shirts, and shoes - all with great, edgy designs! They definitely have better clothes now than from when I last visited a few years ago at another mall. If you need to update your wardrobe without going all the way to Greenhills for cheap finds, Artwork's worth a visit!

I love Artwork. I haven't been to one in quite a while and…read moreonly recently returned when my friend and I visited the branch at UPTC. And just, wow. I missed it so much. Artwork is a great artsy place that sells 1. cheap (SUPER YAY), 2. local (support local stores, yes), and 3. unique clothes, hats, beanies, bags, pouches, wallets, shoes, and notebooks. Artwork is all about their prints. The designs here are so funky and hip you will not know which to choose. If you're into art and odd and weird then you will love the stuff at Artwork. I got so giddy entering here and went ahead and bought something (I couldn't resist). The shirts are my favorite because they're super comfortable, and you can pair it with any type of bottom and you won't look plain because the designs are so loud and out there. You are literally wearing/holding/writing on/carrying an artwork and I think that in itself is amazing. The designs are all made by hand either transferred or done directly on the fabric. You can come in here with P1000 and come out with at most 5 shirts (they sell tanks for under P200).

When you've had your taste of ukay, every so often you'll be itching to venture out and ukay new…read moreold stuff, very much like the itching you get after you've tried on several articles of dusty clothes. It's all worth it though, when you find those few things you've worked hard to find among the sea of secondhand somethings you'd had to wade through. This particular building in Anonas houses a good bunch of ukay-ukay stores and has always been one of my go-to places to thrift, after the spots in Cubao had to close and be replaced by the condominium sites. It's really accessible to the Anonas LRT Station and a lot of the stores have air-conditioning, which is great to have when you plan to be covered in grime at the end of the day. Most of them are fashion stores, carrying clothes, bags, and shoes, but a good few would have beddings, toys, and a couple of appliances or books here and there. One of the stores only specialize in toys and collectibles, while its neighbor only housed shoes and bags. It's my personal strategy to go for the least accessible places as they'd probably have cheaper stuff, but most of the stores in the higher floors had a more limited selection, more expensive clothes, and limited air conditioning. One of the stores had tops and dresses that went for almost four hundred bucks, which is hella expensive, but I guess it was because they were pre-chosen designer and branded articles. I guess they were worth a look regardless--no doubt they'd go on sale at some point in time. Still it'd be better to just sift through the bigger stores with more varied, cheaper stuff. Arm yourself with a bottle of water, some wipes, and alcohol, and make your way to Anonas. You're sure to find something here. If not, ask when their next batch of arrivals come in (some might have a text "mailing list" or they'd just give you a mobile number), or ask if they're online. Some of them have legit, updated Facebook pages!

I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in…read moreprivileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out. I think one of the things I love about one of my best friends is that despite us having grown up in privileged circumstances, she's always been judicious about her spending habits. Now that I'm pushing 30 and making my own money, I understand its value and how hard it is to make it! It's true -- the stuff really does run through your fingers! Having said that, Celina was the one who introduced me to the world of ukay-ukays. If you're a foreigner or you can't understand Tagalog, an ukay-ukay is essentially a thrift store or a flea market for clothing items. Once in awhile, bags or shoes are on sale as well but it's mostly clothing-centered. Anyhoo, the first time that she introduced me to this specific ukay-ukay was in our college days -- so somewhere in the realm of 2006-2008. It can be overwhelming to dig through the thousands of tops, bottoms and dresses available here but if you're patient and persistent, I guarantee that you'll find something to your liking that costs less than P500. 100 percent guaranteed. There are at least 10 ukay-ukay stores in the area so knock yourself out.

When you're in Cubao and you feel like you need more grit with your apparel shopping, Fashion De…read moreLite can certainly help you in that department. Located at the Araneta Center, beside a church and across a Eurotel (how's that for a combo), easily walkable from Gateway, Aurora, or EDSA, it can be an ukay enthusiast's best friend in convenience and accessibility. If their marketing visual of the stunning Angelina Jolie in a black gown doesn't pull you in, the sight of the sheer size of the place certainly should. There are tons of racks of clothes here and it's going to be hard for one to avoid buying anything, really. Everything is laid out well, with a clear division in men's and women's clothing, and sorted by pants, shorts, long-sleeved tops, T-shirts, etc. Even with the breadth of the store though, the aisles can still be somewhat cramped, and there are only about three changing rooms. Also, this wouldn't be the cheapest ukay, mind you. Yes, P200 for a shirt is cheap, but it won't squeeze happy tears out of you, would it? Still, a bargain is a bargain, I suppose, and you could always try to haggle.

This tea experience trumps all others. For the first time, I got a taste of how aristocrats lounge…read morearound and drink tea. There was one historical movie I watched where tea was poured into a bud and it quickly bloomed into a flower. I tried it once on my own when I bought a bud meant to bloom and be drank as tea, but it didn't really bloom when I poured water on it. I was mesmerized by TWG's tea list that seemed to go on forever, but of course I was drawn most to the flower teas. My friends and I chose a non-caffeine one the waiter recommended. Though I did not see it bloom as the teapot already had water, it was gratifying to see a big flower in the glass teapot. And, its flavor is quite intense - we had the pot refilled with water three times and I can still taste the distinct flavor even on the last refill. We paired the tea with macarons and scones, and I felt like I briefly got a taste of the England I read about in books. Of course the sweets were scrumptious. The place is quite pricey but the experience is definitely worth it if you want to drink tea taken to another level.

DISAPPOINTING. The…read moretea was satisfactory at best considering it came out lukewarm, not even hot, I would have been surprised if they had steeped the tea for longer than 30 seconds. The service was OK at best, where the waiters seemed more interested in getting us to leave the café so they could go home. The crépes were quite nice, although a bit rich with a creamy sauce, but that is up to personal taste. DO NOT get the chocolate fondant, whilst it may be advertised as warm it comes out stone cold, and the ice cream is nothing to write about either, it has far too many ice flakes in it, a symptom of being in a freezer for far too long. The decor is fantastic though, and the chairs are comfy. For a place that prides itself on its tea, I found it lacking and left sorely disappointed (especially with their English Breakfast)