Divisoria is big and chaotic, but it is unparalleled for goods and prices. Name it and chances are you will find it here. More than anything else, Divisoria is known for textiles. Prices are generally wholesale, and you can haggle to the last peso. However, if you are new to Manila, do not venture here on your own. Aside from the possibility of getting lost or finding the place too bewildering, you would not be able to strike as good a deal with stall owners. A local guide is a must.

Not everybody has the means or the inclination to shop at Rustan's or Glorietta around the corner. This accounts for The Landmark's enduring mass appeal. Moreover, the store does have its own merits. It is set up in a way that welcomes and encourages browsers and window-shoppers, and the sales attendants neither hustle nor hurry the customers. Provided you are not looking for anything that is over the top, this is a good place to shop for clothes and household items.

Located in a wealthy neighborhood, Greenhills Shopping Center's somewhat run-down exterior belies its established reputation as a shopper's haven. Extant since the 1970s, thousands converge here on weekends and holidays to browse through what locals call tiangge - stalls peddling everything from footwear and video games to furniture and cell phone accessories. Sensitive folks are advised to stay away at Christmas time when the elbow-to-elbow crowds might induce an attack of claustrophobia or agoraphobia.

Any passerby will quickly notice this castle-like structure standing prominently on one side of the long highway. The first shopping mall in the northeastern part of Metro Manila, Ever Gotesco Commonwealth houses more than 70 retail, service and dining outlets. There are also tiangges (collections of stalls) on different levels, selling a wide variety of home and personal items at bargain prices. The general ambiance is casual and comfortable. Amusement centers, a bingo hall and eight movie houses add to the enjoyment of visitors.