Manila Shopping

Silahis has the best quality items, both in terms of taste and workmanship. Also nice, the salespeople leave you alone until you need help. Then they are immediately there and very attentative. There are three floors of display, including a very comprehensive selection of books on the Philippines. The second floor features museum-quality antiques from many parts of the Philippines as well as trade goods from China, Cochin China, and Borneo. The prices are very reasonable and they are fixed (no bargaining necessary). Immediately at the rear of the shop is the Ilustrado Cafe, a very nice place for merienda while waiting for your purchases to be packed.

What to buy: Anything out of wood, such as small stools, bowls, plates, dining sets, and inlaid chests. One strategy is to buy a wooden chest about the same size as a footlocker, fill it with other handicrafts and hand-woven fabrics, and have Silahis pack it with cardboard and cordage. It can be checked in as luggage.

Silahis has many coffee table and picture books on Philippine culture which also make nice presents.

What to pay: The prices are inexpensive for the quality of the goods. Large handcarved bowls of native woods are c. US$40. Ming antique ware in good condition are US$50 - 350.

Something between a mall, a covered market, and a souk!
You can find everything from electronics to clothes, through jewelery, CD, DVDs, local craft, ...

Not too sure how legal this place is. From outside it looks like a regular mall with parking, guards,... but our local driver mentionned that if everything here is so cheap, this is simply because there is no tax to pay...

What to buy: You can find all kind of DVDs, VCDs, CDs...

What to pay: Always negotiate!! One of these latest DVDs can be sold as low as 80 pesos (1€=60 pesos)...

If you like shopping Manilla will be a paradise for you. You can find huge malls all over the place...
A couple of example:
- Glorietta in Makati for luxurious brand shopping (Esprit, Boss,...)
- Landmark, also in Makati, a department store
- the Mega Mall, one of the biggest mall in Manila

What to buy: Clothes are way cheaper (about 5€ for a shirt) but if you go for international brands the difference is still there but not as interesting...
Electronics is not really interesting : slightly cheaper but I wouldn't take the risk of loosing the guarantee if something wrong happen later...

you can buy anything there and the prices are very low. With 10 $ you can buy men/women clothes that are very good. Ofcourse you can buy expensive clothes too if you can afford it.. I couldn't. :)

What to buy: Anything you like.. you can find ANYTHING there.

What to pay: 10 $ for clothes.. and so on

The shops here are well known for cheaper price of local Philippine handycrafts compared to those shops located inside malls, tourist places and antique boutique. It is here interesting buying typical Filipino souvenirs and antiques. In this place the price is always negotiable to the real price that they offer, the quality and looks is just the same than in the malls and some boutiques.

What to buy: Wood craft made of Ebony wood, typical souvenirs from the northern part of philippines. JEEPNEY miniatures is also nice and unique to bring back home to your country as Philippines souvenir.

What to pay: Depend to the sizes of the product, usually how big it is, the higher price but not so costly!!!

If your interested in cocks this is the place for you.There are books of cocks,videos of cocks,T-shirts with cocks on them,hats with cocks on them.So much about cocks,i could not believe it!

Had used this currency exchange a number of times as the rate was better than the hotel next door(which it is affiliated with) and Robinsons business center at the mall.No problems here.