BEST BUYS IN THE PHILIPPINES
by: Kira Chan
A popular pastime in the Philippines is shopping. There are many good bargains to be found during your temporary stay in the Philippines. There are also some items that are unique to the Philippines. In addition, some stores help others through the purchases you make on a Philippines vacation.
FRUIT
The climate of the Philippines allows many kinds of crops to grow. The sweetest of these offerings are fruits. There are many fruits native to the Philippines, such as rambutan, lansones, durian, and even strawberries in Baguio. One of the most well-loved fruits however, is the mango. Guimaras, a province in the Philippines is rumored to grow the sweetest mangoes. The Guimaras mango is so sweet that it is reportedly served in the White House. For this reason, other mango species are not allowed to be brought onto the island. A kilo of mangoes sells for P80+ during off season and for P45+ in season (starting April until the end of the summer).
WOODCARVING
Paete, Laguna is the woodcarving capital of the Philippines, and this title was not earned lightly. Their woodcarvings of various religious scenes and people are hanging in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, San Cayetano Church in Mexico among others. These Filipino handicrafts can literally be found all over the world. The town hero is also a woodcarver, Mariano Madriñan, whose work the Mater Dolorosa was recognized by the King of Spain at Amsterdam in 1882. The prices of the various woodcarvings depend on the material and of the size of the carving.
CLOTHES
The Philippines stocks many quality clothes by both local and international brands. In the malls, you may get them for a cheaper price if you consider that P45 is equal to 1 USD. Some local brands are also very affordable and have good design. Some examples of this are Bench, Folded and Hung, and Bayo. There is also the tiangge (a bargain market) which often sells clothes for a much cheaper price than in the mall. Shopping in the tiangge is recommended if you like quality clothing, but not necessarily branded clothing. Some of the brands in the tiangge are fake, and are put solely to raise the price of the object. If you do not mind secondhand clothing the ukay ukay store would be a good fit for you. The clothes are also cheap. Just make sure to wash before wearing!
The items I mentioned are definitely some of the best things to buy during your vacation in the Philippines. Keep in mind though that you should check for the quality and origin of these items, and that there are many bargains to be found within each kind of item. In general, however, you will undoubtedly end up buying a wonderful souvenir which reminds you of your amazing short term stay in the Philippines.
A popular pastime in the Philippines is shopping. There are many good bargains to be found during your temporary stay in the Philippines. There are also some items that are unique to the Philippines. In addition, some stores help others through the purchases you make on a Philippines vacation.
FRUIT
The climate of the Philippines allows many kinds of crops to grow. The sweetest of these offerings are fruits. There are many fruits native to the Philippines, such as rambutan, lansones, durian, and even strawberries in Baguio. One of the most well-loved fruits however, is the mango. Guimaras, a province in the Philippines is rumored to grow the sweetest mangoes. The Guimaras mango is so sweet that it is reportedly served in the White House. For this reason, other mango species are not allowed to be brought onto the island. A kilo of mangoes sells for P80+ during off season and for P45+ in season (starting April until the end of the summer).
WOODCARVING
Paete, Laguna is the woodcarving capital of the Philippines, and this title was not earned lightly. Their woodcarvings of various religious scenes and people are hanging in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, San Cayetano Church in Mexico among others. These Filipino handicrafts can literally be found all over the world. The town hero is also a woodcarver, Mariano Madriñan, whose work the Mater Dolorosa was recognized by the King of Spain at Amsterdam in 1882. The prices of the various woodcarvings depend on the material and of the size of the carving.
CLOTHES
The Philippines stocks many quality clothes by both local and international brands. In the malls, you may get them for a cheaper price if you consider that P45 is equal to 1 USD. Some local brands are also very affordable and have good design. Some examples of this are Bench, Folded and Hung, and Bayo. There is also the tiangge (a bargain market) which often sells clothes for a much cheaper price than in the mall. Shopping in the tiangge is recommended if you like quality clothing, but not necessarily branded clothing. Some of the brands in the tiangge are fake, and are put solely to raise the price of the object. If you do not mind secondhand clothing the ukay ukay store would be a good fit for you. The clothes are also cheap. Just make sure to wash before wearing!
The items I mentioned are definitely some of the best things to buy during your vacation in the Philippines. Keep in mind though that you should check for the quality and origin of these items, and that there are many bargains to be found within each kind of item. In general, however, you will undoubtedly end up buying a wonderful souvenir which reminds you of your amazing short term stay in the Philippines.
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