Fantastic finds at Market! Market!

To be able to stretch one’s budget these days requires the elastic skills of no less than Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. Desperate times require desperate budget-stretching measures. It is a tough feat, but there is a dire need to make do with limited resources. Now, here is where we Filipinos excel: tightening one’s belt yet managing to do a little shopping (especially during the yuletide season). We always seem to have a nose for where the bargains are. It’s an inherent talent.

A five-level shopping center in Fort Bonifacio, Global City has made it easier and more convenient for us value-conscious shoppers. Market! Market! is an establishment that offers retail shopping, dining and entertainment in a safe, clean and festive environment. Market! Market! also offers a universe of fantastic finds.

"Market! Market! is unique because it has bazaars and stores in the mall," says Portia Granados, Market! Market! marketing assistant. "We have everything you need from toys to flowers, gifts, home accessories, specialty markets, and restaurants under one roof."

Plus, there is a movie theater and grocery as well. Perfect place for the whole family to discover unique finds on each floor.

The Gift Market! is located on the first floor. Here, you can find cheap thrills at Edeng’s Toy Center where toys of all shapes and sizes can be bought by the bulk – from guns to dolls to footballs to toy cars.

Imelda Marcos frequents the fabric stalls. MCG Silk House boasts colorful Thai silk, hand-painted silk, and Indian saris. The establishment supplies fabrics to designers like Patis Tesoro and Rene Salud.

Accessory lovers will go gaga over displays of handcrafted shell necklaces and earrings from Cebu. A boring outfit of a plain tank top and jeans can be spiced up with a layered shell necklace for the ultimate beach girl appeal. There is also a pearl and semi-precious stone section. Bag-aholics will love KB & Company’s hand-woven native bags in bright and neutral colors. They also have abaca slippers embellished with beads and flowers.

"Last October, we opened the new Fashion Market section where shoppers can get more bargain finds at really cheap prices," adds Granados.

Fashionistas will love the Fashion Market! on the second floor. Imagine this, stalls of overrun items, from cute clothes to trendy shoes and bags. A store called Ziya has a lot of bohemian and tribal pieces like peasant skirts, beach pants and blouses from Thailand and India. Men and women will love the embossed leather sandals. Plus, the macramé belts with beads are so cute.

For the boys, Sand is the perfect store. Bargain band shirts (two for P600) like the Rolling Stones or The Beatles can be paired with khaki Billabong shorts.

Twinky Tabs has a lot of one-of-a-kind bags and shoes to satisfy fetishes. Flat rope sandals, chunky platforms, sexy stilettos in bright colors or shimmering metallic will surely make an outfit stand out.

Home Market! on the third floor boasts appliances and accessories for the humble abode. Muebles de Abubot offers wooden carvings like mosaic balls, as well as figurine pigs, frogs and chickens. Rare pieces are found in Erlin’s antiques. Wooden dressers, brass mirrors and hand-carved wooden angels can bring a Pinoy touch to the home. And to liven up boring interior spaces and couches, the ARQ store sells pillows, curtains and curtain rods in bright prints and colors. Choose from polka dot design in pink, lime green and tangerine orange.

Technology Market! on the fourth floor is for the techno-savvy, of course. Everything you need from computers to mobile phones and accessories are there. And if you want the best sports brands with the lowest prices, go to Sports Warehouse. Brands like Adidas, Puma, Nike, Ellesee, Arena, and the like are way cheaper than in other stores. Metro Department Store, which has four floors, features cheap items with good quality. There are also special items from Cebu and the clothes are made by Cebuano designers.

The outdoor area features a playground area for kids and a restaurant row of food from different regions of the Philippines. Ineng’s barbeque is such a hit. There is also Razon’s from Pampanga, which is famous for the halo-halo. Plus, you can buy regional kakanins from Laguna, Bicol, Bulacan, and Bacolod, among others.

The Fiesta Market! is where shoppers can buy fresh fruits, flowers and vegetables. "The thing about this area is that it is very sanitary and not smelly compared to wet markets," says Granados. It opens at 8 a.m. for early-bird shoppers. And in a few months, a new wing will open, which will feature Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, American and European restaurants (which recalls international food fairs).

"You don’t need to go elsewhere to get hard-to-find items," concludes Granados. "Everything you need is in Market! Market!"