The Greenhills Shopping Center (a.k.a. Greenhills) in San Juan City is famous for its year-round Tiangge (stalls). The center has 18 malls that offer different shopping experience. It is open from 10am to 8pm Sundays to Thursdays and from 10am to 9pm Fridays and Saturdays.
How to get there: From Manila, ride a bus (RRCG, G-liner) in front of the Manila City Hall or in Quiapo bound to Taytay or Cainta, Rizal and get off right in front of the Greenhills Shopping Center. From Edsa MRT Ortigas Station (Northbound), walk towards Ortigas Extension (across Robinson’s Galleria) and take a jeepney ride to San Juan (PhP 7 per person). From Edsa MRT Santolan/Anapolis Station (Southbound), you may either walk all the way to the center (around 20-30 minutes) or ride a Jeepney at the corner of Annapolis St. and Edsa to Greenhills (PhP 7 per person).
Ferrari by invmatrixBest time to go: weekdays
Best Buys
Clothes: Shirts (for women-PhP 50 and up; for men-PhP200 and up), blouses (PhP 100 and up), pants and trousers (PhP 200 and up), shorts (PhP 100 and up), underwear (PhP 50 and up). For trendy and good quality women’s tops, visit Juana (PhP200-300) at the lower level of Theatre Mall.
Pearls: Fresh water pearls (PhP 50 and up per pair of earrings; PhP 100 and up per necklace), South Sea pearls (P3,000 per piece and up). The Pearl Section is located at the G/F Greenhills Shopping Center.
Fine piña, banana, or abaca silk fabrics (mechanically woven silk costs PhP 400 and up per cut; hand-woven silk ranges from PhP 800 – PhP 4,000 per cut; 1 cut makes 1 Barong) for Barong Tagalog (a.k.a. Barong), a lightweight, embroidered formal wear. Visit Charito S. Alunan Embroideries at No.51 Level A Shoppesville Arcade for elegant silk designs, best price, and helpful staff.
Food preserves: Dried mangoes (PhP 35 and up), sweet delicacies (from different provinces in the Philippines), and dried fish. (Available at G/F Greenhills Shopping Center)
Other best buys: Paintings (PhP 300 and up), souvenir shirt (PhP 100 and up), and other souvenir items.
Shopping tips
Always haggle. As in most bargain centers in Asia, haggling is also the norm in Greenhills, especially in the Tiangges and the Pearl shops. Prices are fixed in some shops. Nonetheless, it’s always best to just smile and ask for a discount.
Hunt for bargains on weekdays. As Greenhills gets packed during weekends, it is more convenient to hunt for bargains during weekdays.
Learn some Filipino phrases. Most “tinderas” (saleslady) and “tinderos” (salesman) can understand and speak English clearly. However, while speaking Filipino is not necessary, learning some phrases could greatly help you get a better bargain: “Magkano ito?” (How much is this?), “Ang mahal naman!” (Expensive!), “Wala na bang tawad?” (No further discount?), “Salamat po” (Thank you!).
For a full list of stores, visit Greenhills Shopping Center Directory.
Best breakfast (according to Xsaltire): Ponciana’s Kitchen at the Theatre Mall Foodcourt (Must try: Longsilog (rice with Ilocos longganiza and egg) (less than PhP 100).
Best Lunch/Dinner (according to Xsaltire): Milky Way Barbecue pork spareribs (PhP 180), Fresh Lumpia (PhP 80)
For other dining options, see Dining, Greenhills Shopping Center website
For more info email project7107philippines@gmail.com.
Contributors
Xsaltire | While Xsaltire‘s knowledge of gastronomy and the culinary arts is mostly theoretical, he has been known to dabble into the practical side during weekends, sometimes with edible results. (Food Blog: http://bangusbelly.blogspot.com/)
Ruth | A researcher on weekdays; a homemaker, shopper and photographer wannabe on weekends.
Mayon Volcano at Dusk by Dex Baldon
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