Six Shopping Spots around Ortigas for Your Christmas Needs

Greenhills Shopping Center is a go-to place of both locals and tourists looking for great finds minus the hefty price tag. Whether you need Christmas décors, clothes to keep you warm , or foods which you’d like to serve on Christmas day, Greenhills can help you tick off the items in your checklist. It also has an annual Christmas Bangketa (Sidewalk) Fair where you can score affordable gifts for your loved ones with items starting from PhP200.

How to Get There: From the POEA Building along EDSA, cross Ortigas Avenue and ride a jeepney bound for San Juan and get off at Greenhills.

Read: A Shopper’s Guide to a Fun-filled Greenhills Shopping Experience

St. Francis Square is a three-level tiangge (bazaar) mall located at the heart of Ortigas. With offerings that start at Php100, it is a good option for people looking for affordable Christmas gifts. Zero in at the mall’s first level if you’re looking for gadgets and accessories or visit the second and third floors to score OOTD must-haves without spending too much. St. Francis Square also has its own department store where one can shop for cheap Christmas ornaments.

How to Get There: From SM Megamall, exit through the back entrance of Building A and cross the street to reach St. Francis Square.

Read: St. Francis Square: Bargain-hunting at a Central Business District

There is a reason why people keep coming back to Starmall EDSA-Shaw despite the existence of bigger malls around it, and the reason: its budget-friendliness. This four-level mall has stores where you can score a gift even with just PhP20 in your pocket. It has various retail shops which offer items that will fulfill your holiday gifting needs. A tiangge can also be located in the 3rd floor where vendors sell gadgets and accessories with prices that start at PhP100.

How to Get There: Ride the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)-Line 3 and get off at Shaw Boulevard Station. Depart from the station through the exit overlooking Starmall (opposite EDSA Shangri-La). The mall’s entrance is a few feet away.

Formerly known as EDSA Central, Greenfield District Pavillion has been a favorite go-to place of locals looking for affordable items. With only PhP50, you can already take home a Christmas gift from stalls selling fashion items, beauty products, snacks, and toys at the ground floor. The surrounding lifestyle stores also offer stationery products and Christmas décor. Techies can score finds in the second level where another set of shops selling gadgets and accessories are located. Also drop by the nearby Central Plaza for the popular Greenfield Weekend Market to bring home gifts starting from PhP70 for your artsy friends.

How to Get There: Ride the MRT-Line 3 and get off at MRT Shaw Boulevard Station. Exit the station through the exit nearest Greenfield District (opposite Cityland Grand Residences and Nice Hotel) and walk southwards to reach The Pavilion.

People who cannot imagine Christmas celebrations without a glass of beer or wine should visit Pioneer Street Market. This food market operated by HMR Trading Haus has concessionaires which sell beer and wine without the overwhelming price. Tiny Tavern is a stall that sells an array of local and imported beer starting from PhP60 while The Wine Shop offers bottles of wine starting from PhP300. Other stalls which serve various kinds of cuisine and sell fresh produce at budget-friendly rates are also available in the area.

How to Get There: From Shaw Boulevard, ride a jeepney bound for Pasig. Get off at Pioneer Street , take a tricycle, and ask to be dropped off in front of TV5.

Read: Of Bottles and Bubblies: Where to Get Your Wine Fix in the City

It is mostly known as a jeepney terminal to Pasig and Rizal, but Parklea Center is also a tiangge market where locals can make the most out of their money. Walk to the side facing EDSA if you are looking for cheap fashion finds starting form PhP100 like bags, shoes, tops, and accessories. A thrift shop can also be found on this side if you’re interested in preloved items sold at lower prices. The side along Shaw Boulevard, on the other hand, is home to stalls offering gadgets, repairs, and accessories to techie shoppers.

How to Get There: Ride the MRT-Line 3 and get off at MRT Shaw Boulevard Station. From the station, follow the exit leading to Parklea Center.

Tips: Here are some tips to maximize your shopping experience and convenience while minimizing the expense.

• Visit the malls/markets during their non-peak hours to avoid the surge of people. The best time to drop by is right after the opening hour if you want to score fresh stock and also during the closing hour if you want to take home goods at lower prices.

• Explore the entire tiangge to find the stall which offers the best bargain. Most of them are located in the middle parts where not all people are able to pass by.

• Haggle as much as you can, especially if you plan on buying in bulk.

• Bring a big eco bag if you are planning to buy many items so that you can easily carry everything.

With Christmas just around the corner and the shopping frenzy already beginning, it’s hard not to give in to the fancy goods that big malls conveniently offer, but if you know where to look, you’ll realize that the same item can cost less.