Mandaluyong Shopping

1 more image

Like North Face and Columbia, Habagat also specializes in sporting goods. However, they have more outdoor sports equipment/gear than apparel and footwear. The sales crew give personalized attention and assistance to customers. When you fit clothes that don't fit you, the staff patiently look for your size and do quality check on sale items to make sure there is no damage. They also make suggestions regarding styles and color that will be more fitting to your personality.

What to buy: Habagat specializes in outdoor sports/recreational equipment (e.g. camping and caving gear), mountain biking accessories, mountain climbing accessories ((e.g. ropes, climbing harnesses, etc.), bags, high quality outdoor sports apparel and footwear, swimwear and many more.

What to pay: P800 up

2 more images

Like North Face, Columbia Sportswear's merchandising is simple but very well organized. Customers will have an easy time looking for what they need. Besides orderly product display, their sales staff are very articulate about their products' outstanding qualities. The best thing we like about Columbia Sportswear, they have very good customer relations. In case an item you want is out of stock, the staff can and will call or text you if the item is already at the store. They also have a loyalty reward system where items bought will earn points, then accumulated points will correspond to rewards.

What to buy: Columbia carries footwear, apparel, headgear & accessories for active outdoor activities. We particularly shop there for their Omni-Dry and Omni-Shade t-shirts and pants/shorts.

What to pay: P2,000 up

2 more images

North Face is one of our favorite shops. We like their orderly merchandising display; you won't find any cluttered corner even for items on sale. Their staff are professional, everyone with sufficient product knowledge.

What to buy: footwear for different outdoor activities, outdoor apparel, backpacks, tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor accessories

What to pay: P1,500 up

SM Megamall used to be the biggest mall in Metro Manila before the advent of the SM Mall of Asia :D In fact, according to Wikipedia, "In a study done on the world's largest shopping malls by Eastern Connecticut State University, the mall was ranked fifth among the world's largest shopping malls by "ground level area", and was the second largest mall in the Philippines, below the SM Mall of Asia." It's got 10.5 hectares land area. :D

There are shops that sell clothes, home furnishings, sporting goods, textile, jewelries, books.... the list goes on! There are a lot of outlets of popular brands like Nine West, Mango, Speedo, Lacoste, Naturalizer, Giordano, Gingersnaps, Regalong Pambahay, etc. The mall also boast of a good selection of native crafts in their Filipiniana section.

Restaurants and food outlets including fastfood dot the different floors of the mall and their food court is one of the more extensive in terms of choices and variety.

What to buy: You can get whatever you need in SM Megamall.

What to pay: How much can you expect to spend? You're asking me? One must really pay attention to one's spending in Megamall or else you'll be walking home! Kidding aside though, shopping in this mall is more affordable so you will find middle-income Filipinos thronging to Megamall each weekend.

1 more image

When we need items that we cannot find in Makati or The Fort, we go to SM Megamall where we can have a wide range of choices for shops and merchandise.

SM Megamall in the Ortigas business district is the 3rd SM Supermall developed and operated by SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator in the country. When it opened on June 28, 1991, SM Megamall with its 2 buildings interconnected with a bridge, was known as the largest mall in the country. For a 17-year period, it had that reputation, but when SM Mall of Asia was built, it ranked only as 3rd largest in the country by floor area (having 331,679 sqm of total retail floor area). Then, with the renovation and expansion of SM North (which is now the 1st largest in the country and 2nd in the world), SM Megamall became 7th largest in the world. For the record, SM Megamall had the 1st ice skating rink (but now removed) and it also prided itself in putting up the first trade halls in the country.

At Building A, you’ll find the SM Cinemas, Bowling Alley, Food Court, Toy Kingdom and other anchor tenants. At Building B, you’ll find SM Department Store, SM Supermarket and other anchor tenants. On the Bridgeway connecting the two main buildings of the mall, you’ll find several restaurants and eateries. The Atrium was added to Megamall, fully bridging the gap between Buildings A & B in 2008. There, you’ll find more shops and restaurants. At the outskirts of the building premises, the Megastrip was opened in 2009, housing more shops and restaurants that are usually open until midnight.
The SM Group plans to expand its stake at the Ortigas shopping center by developing the big parking lot (about 3-hectares) along Edsa, transforming SM Megamall into Metro Manila’s largest mall, even larger than SM North. All new structures will be connected, turning it into the country’s biggest supermall yet.

What to buy: To maximize your trip to Megamall, make a list of the items you need and another list for items you want. You can buy from SM Department store or boutiques or specialty shops for clothes (from sportswear to formal outfits), footwear (all kinds, local or imported), bags (all kinds,too), photography gear, groceries & food items, etc.

What to pay: P1,000 up

One of the largest mall in asia, with 400 shops, restaurant, theaters, salons, clinics etc... The second home of filipino people, especially those who love malling and shopping.

What to buy: shoes and clothes.

What to pay: it depends the brand of the items.

Shang-Rila EDSA Mall is connected to the MRT so it is convenient for those who have no cars. It is a multi-use mall with not only a well-stocked department store and grocery but cinemas, restaurants and stores of branded clothing, shoes, accessories, etc.

The management is also good at organizing activities for the mall. They hold concerts, fashion shows, trade shows, etc. in their activity area which draw good sized crowds all the time!

What to buy: The question is, what can't you find in Shang-Rila Mall?

What to pay: Hehehe! you're joking, right?

On the 5/F of Megamall Building B, there are several travel agencies. In my experience, it's always wise for a traveller to go on a packaged tour, unless of course, he has an accommodation in mind.

I use two travel agencies on this floor, Reli Tours and Cebu Pacific. Cebu Pacific Airlines Office (the yellow and green logo) offers at least 30% cheaper rate than Philippine Airlines, the flag carrier.

July-Sept is always the lean season (spells cheaper rates) for travel in the Philippines as it's monsoon season.

Read posted advertisements of packaged tours on their glass panelled wall.

What to buy: Airline tickets or packaged tours.