Shopping & Dining

Shopping

For the shoppers among you it may be interesting to know that the Philippines offer a huge variety from native arts and crafts to high class, luxury item offered at hotel & resort boutiques, shopping malls, native markets or duty free shopping complexes.

Very up to date fashion trends can be observed in the Philippines, no matter one is looking for designer cloth, particular brands or comfortable ready to wear cloth. Prices are relatively inexpensive. Shoes and bags are very cheap and available in big variety.

Embroidered garments, colorful woven cloth of tribes, bamboo & rattan furniture, high quality local cigars, jewelry, shell craft, fashion, leather goods can be found on many native markets.

Imported products such as perfumery, jewelry, cloth, electronics, liquors or branded fashion wear are primarily available in shopping malls.

But shopping is not limited to the malls. An alternative place to shop is the Duty Free Philippines, which has outlets conveniently, located at terminal I & II of Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Manila. An additional outlet is located at Fiesta Mall and in Cebu another one is scheduled for opening in November 2001.

The old commercial districts are offering a lot of corners to explore: Chinatown in Binondo, Manila is one of the oldest districts and centers of Chinese trade. From herbs, Chinese food and Asian artifacts you find everything to toys, electronics and in gold jewelry. An area where one can easily spend a day doing sightseeing with a "calesa" - the old horse drawn vehicle and bargain for a good shopping.

Ayala Center in Makati consists of 10 larger malls like the Glorietta, Greenbelt or the shops at # 6750; overall above 500 shops and restaurants.

Baclaran markets stretching from Aguarra Street to Tomas Claudia Street near to the airport. A bustling area with chaotic traffic caused by buses, jeepneys, tricycles and pedestrians. Bargaining for prices is the norm and one can find all kind of products at low costs. Don't expect to be able to pay with credit cards at markets and smaller shops.

SM Megamall in Mandaluyong is claimed to be the third largest in the world, stretching one kilometer along the main road EDSA. A huge variety of almost everything, restaurants and groceries and even ice-skating can be found.

Robinsons Galeria and Shangri-La Plaza, being also located in Mandaluyong, are the newer malls with a more posh design making shopping more leisurely. These two malls are directly linked to the shopping malls, giving a convenient access to hotel guests.

Greenhills Shopping Center in Ortigas, Quezon City is primarily known for its computer and electronic shops. Over 1,000 shops can keep you busy the entire day, provided you don't run out of cash.

A listing of major shopping malls is available at my directory.

Dining

The Filipino kitchen is more mild compared to the often spicy, hot flavored dishes of Asian neighbors. The main staple is rice, which comes in various grades. Seafood, meat and vegetables are prepared in deliciously smoked, smothered in a rich sauce, spiced or with soup.

Seafood all over the Philippines is plentiful available and is served fresh from the sea: lobsters, shrimps, crabs, blue marlin, milk fish, bangus, oysters, squid, lapu-lapu or tuna to name a few.

The different cultural influences over the past had an impact on the kitchen as well:

• The use of coconut milk as cooking ingredient comes from the Malay.
• The Chinese introduced meals like chopsuey, lumpia, mami, lomi or siomai. The Spanish brought the traditional pochero,sarciado, mechado or menudo into the country.
• Siningang is comparable to the French bouillabaisse, Longanzia is the German Frankfurter and kilawin is like the sashimi in Japan. Thus a delicious variety awaits you for tasting at many hotels, resorts and restaurants.

Fruits of all kind of sorts are freshly available from markets and fruit stalls alongside many streets: Mango, Pineapple, Jackfruits; Durian - sweet but smelly, a lot of varieties of Bananas; citrus fruits like Calamansi, Lanzones, Pomelo, Dalandan,Guava; Cujabano, Buko (young Coconut - the juice is said to have healing effects on kidney ailments), Coconuts, Avocados, Starapple, Rambutan, Water and Honey-melon, Papaya and so many more.

One who is looking for strawberries can even find this in the markets, which is harvested in the cooler upcountry of North Luzon. Aside imported fruits like oranges, apples, perch etc. are available in the major groceries.

A listing of major bars and restaurants is available at my directory.

Drinks

The Philippines today enjoys a large selection of world class beers. The market leader is the famous San Miguel Pale Pilsen and is enjoyed by all Filipinos and foreigners alike.

The two major brewers San Miguel and Asia Brewery produce a wide selection of beers including international brand names under license such as Budweiser, Colt 45 and Carlsberg.

Local Rums such as Tanduay are internationally recognized. In the province the national drink is Tuba which is distilled from coconut juice and drank with pulutan.

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Last Updated - Sunday, July 07, 2002