Take a Shop at Greenhills Shopping Center

10 more days before Christmas! Don’t waste your time and start bargain-hunting for your Christmas presents! Just go to Greenhills Shopping Center located in San Juan, Manila. For commuters just take EDSA Avenue and exit at Ortigas Avenue. For some who will ride Metro Rail Transit (MRT) exit at the Santolan Station and have a 5-minute walk. There are also other modes of transportation like bus or public utility jeeps to reach Greenhills Shopping Center. 

There are four main shopping malls in Greenhills: Shoppersville, Theater Mall, Victory Mall, and Promenade, but the main spot of Greenhills are the semi-permanent stalls described as the "bazaar", or "tiangge" in Tagalog that shape the corridors and fill the open spaces between the malls. Hundreds and hundreds of stalls sell cheap goods here: clothes, crafts, pearls, native delicacies, gadgets (cell phones, digital cameras), shoes, bags, furniture and stuffs. 

Most of the permanent shops in the malls have fixed prices for their wares that’s why it is suitable to shop at the “bazaar” or “tiangge”. There were many Chinese-Filipino traders that retail their wares just remember to haggle the price down. You can also try to canvas first and go back to the ones who offer the lowest price for the item.

Though Greenhills is not the cheapest place to buy, others still prefer to go here because it is convenient and more relaxed to shop. Many of the items in Greenhills are sourced from the markets in the Divisoria area in Manila, where wholesalers carry out their wares. But, other than the airconditioned malls there, Divisoria markets are only for the bravest shoppers who are equipped for the most chaotic and most crowded shopping experiences. Greenhills, while more expensive, is more comfortable: it is located in a pleasant area of the city, and most of the shopping center even the "tiangge" area is air conditioned.

The most crowded times to go are Saturday and Sunday afternoons, when locals are off work.

If you are looking for a place to bring your children, why not try to watch the Christmas-On-Display Show, a yearly Christmas show of moving mannequin. It’s like a fantasy world where life-sized dolls move, talk and tell stories. This show will probably enjoy your kids!

Noche Buena just a mouse click away!

I can smell Christmas in the air. Its 2 days before Christmas!!! And for sure most of us are busy beating the holiday rush by outlining our gift list, being the last minute shopping queen, fretting about the parties we have to attend to and coping with the dizzying array demands of this holiday season.

With this whirl wind of activities lined up, now you’re feeling stuffed from all the holiday bingeing and you don’t have enough time to spend your whole day at the kitchen preparing for a sumptuous meal for Noche Buena.

Now tension heightened turning you into a damsel in distress worrying what to put on your adorned dinner tables and you don’t want to disappoint your entire family members  with a hurry cooked meals.The panic button is on. So we got a solution for you.

If you want an easy-to-prepare Filipino foods visit pinoyfoodblog.com . There are Cooking Ideas and recipes and also places to buy or order if you don’t want to bother cooking.

Here are some no-fuss Noche Buena food-to-go options that you can choose from:

If you prepare the traditional food served during noche Buena like hams and queso de bola, you can call FVFoods Incorporated at +1 866-266-5242 to place your order. You may also download or view their pricelist at fvfoods.com

They also have pork, chicken, beef and vegetables party trays, cakes and pastries and the tradional Filipino kakanin good for the whole family.

Vegan Noche Buena food to go

If you are avoiding the dangerously delicious food this season, why not try having healthy meals delivered on your doorsteps?

Sate Tofu on a stick, and Spaghetti with Fresh Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms in Creamy Soy-Coconut Milk and Basil Sauce are just some of the colorful menu of dishes

Vegan Macrobiotics by Chef Alice Ty has to offer. And take note they don’t have artificial flavors and preservatives.

Why don’t you try to be vegan for a day and check out http://veganmacrobiotics.weebly.com, or e-mail vegan.macrobiotics@gmail.com, call at (632)343 6616 or (63922) 8148193. Or visit their store located at Mercato Centrale in Bonifacio Global City. Open only during weekends.

And for affordable vegan and vegetarian preparations, get in touch with professor Blecenda Varona, RND, at +639274281221, or e-mail blecendavarona@yahoo.com.

Noche Buena and Holiday cooking ideas and recipes are now more accessible, thanks to the Internet and social networking sites. Now you don’t have to worry.