What To Buy When Shopping in Manila

Does shopping excite you? Do you feel complete or a sense of fulfillment after hours of shopping? Does it bring a smile to your face? If the answer to all of these questions is yes, then Manila is just the right place for you! Shopping in Manila is one of the must-do things to do while in the city.

The Americanisation of the Philippines can be seen in the shopping culture of Manila. For a shopaholic, visiting Manila is a real treat as you will get to see shopping malls all over the city. Wondering what so special about shopping in Manila? Well, here you can buy the precious Philippines pearls, silk products, bamboo products, Barako coffee, abaca baskets, and a lot more products, some of which are locally grown and crafted on small islands like Siquijor. To talk about all this in detail, I have meticulously crafted a shopping guide to Manila which includes all the popular goods that you must bring back home after your tour around the provinces. So. let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• 1 What to buy when shopping in Manila
  • 1.1 Philippine Pearls
    • 1.1.1 Best place in Manila: Greenhills Shopping Centre
  • 1.2 Abaca Basket
    • 1.2.1 Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino and Jonats Handicrafts
  • 1.3 Abaca Placements, Napkins, and Coasters
    • 1.3.1 Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino
  • 1.4 Coconut Wine
    • 1.4.1 Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino
  • 1.5 Barako Coffee Beans
    • 1.5.1 Best place in Manila: Sunday Sidcor Market 
  • 1.6 Dried Mangoes
    • 1.6.1 Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino 
  • 1.7 Banig
    • 1.7.1 Where to Find it: Kultura Filipino

What to buy when shopping in Manila

• Philippine Pearls

Pearl is considered to be the queen of all gems and when you are in Manila, you get a chance to own it. Philippine Pearl is one of the best things to buy in Manila. This exotic jewelry can be found in various colors. To know whether it is real or fake, attempt to scratch or bite it. If the bite or scratch leaves a mark and get disappeared after wiping it, then considered that pearl to be a real one. The cost of Philippines Pearls ranges from 500 PHP to 1000 PHP. 

Best place in Manila: Greenhills Shopping Centre

• Abaca Basket

You can say Abaca Baskets are the traditional product of the Philippines. Abaca is nothing but a species of banana that is grown in the country, and hence, the baskets are made in traditional style. The fibers of Abaca are mainly used to make ropes and twines that are highly durable and flexible. In Manila, Abaca Baskets can be found in different sizes and forms. You can take it along with you to markets to buy vegetables, fruits, and other stuff. The basket beautifully depicts the indigenous craft of the tribes and reflects the rich history and traditions of the country. The price of an Abaca Basket ranges from 100 PHP to 500 PHP. 

Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino and Jonats Handicrafts

• Abaca Placements, Napkins, and Coasters

Like Abaca Baskets, the fibers of Abaca are also used to make the organic placements, napkins, and coasters. In the outskirts of Manila, these are the traditional household things that can be found in the ancestral homes. Apart from being highly durable, these organic table settings are appealing as well as environment-friendly. These table settings will surely add a different charm to your house. The price of Abaca Placements ranges between 70 PHP to 100 PHP.

Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino

• Coconut Wine

Who doesn’t love wine? Certainly, it is one of the most popular things to buy in Manila. Locally known as Lambanog, it is an alcoholic beverage that is often touted as coconut vodka. It is a distilled drink and is known for its high alcohol content and potency. Drinking Lambanog is sort of a communal thing among the provinces in the Philippines. But today, it has gained a huge worldwide recognition mainly because of its rich history and to allure more and more people towards it, the drink now comes in various flavors such as bubblegum, mango, cinnamon, blueberry, and more. The price of Lambanog totally depends on its flavor. However, the normal one can be found at a price between 70 PHP to 100 PHP. Coconut Wine is very popular in the countryside of Cebu.

Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino

• Barako Coffee Beans

In Manila, you will come across a number of stores selling a Barako Coffee Beans. Grown in the provinces of Cavite and Batangas, Barako is strong in taste. In the Philippines, Barako is a common name for coffee in the Batangas region. Barako coffee traces its history from Liberia, West Africa. 1 kg of Barako Coffee packet would cost you around 350 PHP in Manila. 

Best place in Manila: Sunday Sidcor Market 

• Dried Mangoes

It’s no longer hidden that dried mangoes in the Philippines are the best of their kinds. Packed in vacuum packs, these mangoes can be the perfect gift for your friends and family. The Philippines is known for its sweetest and the best mangoes in the world. But obviously, it is hard to carry mangoes in your luggage, and hence, they have come up with a solution in the form of dried mangoes. With a sweet taste and non-acidic flavor, these mangoes are rich in vitamins and 100% fat-free. One can eat them as a snack or dessert or can use it as a topping. Some other mango products that you would love to shop in Manila are dried mango strips, mango cubes in a heavy and light syrup, mango nectar, dried mango chips, and mango slices in syrup. 1 kg packet of dried mango in Manila is of around 70 PHP. 

Best place in Manila: Kultura Filipino 

• Banig

Another useful thing which you cannot ignore while on the best shopping tour in Manila is Banig. These woven mats include designs, motifs and raw materials that belong to different tribes of the Philippines. It can be made of palm, bur, pandan, redd, or tikog, but that totally depends on the region. The southern mats are more vibrant in color and include symbols and geometric patterns that depict marine life. 

Where to Find it: Kultura Filipino

Doesn’t matter if you buy all of these or any one of these items, make sure you do a bargain shopping in Manila. Being a tourist, you could be charged much more than the people who live here. It is advisable to prefer cheap shopping in Manila so that won’t get scammed. So, just be aware and do not let you make any such mistake on Philippines vacation. The price range of Banig is between 100 PHP to 500 PHP. 

Alright! You are now a manila shopper! Hope you enjoy all your unique items!

Also, it is very important to make sure that once you are in the country, you follow the general guidelines of Philippines in order to travel safe and make your vacation a memorable one.

Love Always,

Jimmy&Tah

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