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Many tourists who feel that Bangkok and Hong Kong are the shopping destinations in Asia will be pleasantly surprised to find out they are mistaken. Manila is the mall capital of Asia (and probably the world). Almost every city block or two of Metro Manila has a mall and most of these close at 2100. During holidays, malls usually close at 2200 and some offer midnight sales.

The humongous Mall of Asia at Roxas Boulevard defies explaining. One day is probably insufficient to visit all its stores. It boasts an IMAX theater (probably the cheapest IMAX tickets too), a science museum and one building just devoted to entertainment (with exclusive lounges where guests can rent huge TV screens and play Xbox games).

Along the MRT3 route, travelers can access at least eight malls, best of which are Glorietta (Makati), Megamall (Mandaluyong City) and Trinoma (Quezon City). MRT3 terminates conveniently at Trinoma Mall. Megamall is home to the Cyberzone, a series of computer hardware and gadget shops.

Tiendesitas at the edge of Ortigas highlights local handicrafts, souvenirs and furniture. It also has a market full of local agricultural produce. Visiting Tiendesitas is like a short, compressed tour of the provinces in the country.

In Tiendesitas, take the free shuttle or ride a cab to Greenhills Shopping Mall, where you can find all sorts of bargains. Greenhills combines upscale and mass market shops. One whole floor is devoted to mobile phones, while another is devoted to computer hardware.

The most upscale malls are in Greenbelt 4 and 5 at Ayala Center and Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, where there are famous brand shops like Mango, Armani and Bulgari. For book lovers, there is a building full of books at Fully Booked in Bonifacio High Street and at Powerbooks in Greenbelt 4. Celebrated writer Neil Gaiman visits Fully Booked almost every year and has even co-sponsored a science fiction/fantasy writing contest with the store.

Bargain hunting in Manila would not be complete without a visit to the Divisoria Market, where items are sold in bulk or jaw-dropping prices. You can find almost anything here, from cookware to lingerie to toys. Just beware of pickpockets and snatchers. A few blocks from Divisoria Market is 168 Mall, which is almost like Divisoria Market, but with the advantage of being more orderly and air conditioned.

You can buy souvenirs from most of these malls, especially the Megamall which has a huge department devoted to this called Kultura Filipino.

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