Philippines: Where to Shop

A trip to the Philippines won’t be complete without buying anything that you can take home as a souvenir. While the country may not exactly be a retail wonderland, it still offers charming options as far as shopping enthusiasts are concerned. In fact, in Manila alone, you can find several high-end shopping malls (think Gucci) and even more cheap, hole-in-the-wall stores selling all sorts of merchandise you can imagine. The Philippines has everything from goods designed by locals to top international designer names. From electronics, clothes, shoes, and more – all of these are easily available in any of Manila’s many malls and department stores.

Shopping in the Philippines is also a tourist attraction itself, especially if you search for locally-made goods like woodcarvings, handicrafts, and jewelry with designs that are unique to the country. Cebu and Manila are among the best cities to visit when it comes to retail therapy. In Manila, you can drop by under the bridge in Quiapo so you can purchase useful bamboo or palm baskets for a cheaper price than when you buy them in malls. You also have the option to haggle for much cheaper prices to get  the best value for your money. You can also head over to Marikina where you can find a wide variety of locally made and designed footwear that boast world-class quality.

If you’re okay with a long bus ride to Baguio, you can shop for silver jewelry and interesting antiques that can give an eccentric charm to your house back home. Baguio is also home to the well-known ukay-ukay shops where you can buy a variety of really cheap second-hand apparel, shoes, and bags that are one-of-a-kind. Who knows, you may score second-hand designer goods for less than a dollar when you drop by every Sunday morning or Saturday night? Nowadays, you can also find ukay-ukay shops in Manila and other major cities, too, but prices may be a bit higher.

Elsewhere in Luzon, you can find more products such as hair pieces, bracelets, necklaces, mats, bags, fans, hats, and other souvenir-worthy products with different designs according to the region where you are buying them.