Several local stores all over the country offer well-made souvenir items.
Images: Souvenir Island General Merchandise Facebook page
Filipinos have a habit of bringing home souvenirs for their loved ones. These souvenir items range from simple keychains to local textiles and food. While many mall-based shops in the metro already offer souvenir items, some Manila souvenirs still specialize in keepsake items. We asked our readers about their favorite go-to souvenir stores.
The following list of five souvenir shops in Manila for any occasion. Some of these gift shops in Manila even offer souvenirs from other countries.
Store Branches:Makati, Manila Bay, NAIA Terminals 1 and 3
Online Store:https://www.tesoros.ph/
Tesoro's Philippine Handicraft shops showcase the best handicrafts from over the archipelago.
Image: Tesoro's Philippine Handicraft
Tesoro’s Philippine Handicraft is fifth on the list of gift shops in Manila where you can get souvenirs in Metro Manila. The souvenir shop has a long tradition of offering authentic quality Philippine handicrafts that date back to the liberation of Manila at the end of World War 2. All items sold at this souvenir shop in Manila also come from the different islands of the archipelago. These items at this souvenir and gift shop in Manila include embroideries, giftware, tableware, local apparel, and heritage crafts at affordable prices. In addition, this Manila souvenir shop also collaborates with top local designers to promote local crafts and native art forms.
4. The Manila Collectible Co.
Physical Store:Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Metro Manila
The souvenir items you can find at The Manila Collectible Co. are locally-woven textiles.
Images: The Manila Collectible Co.
Visiting Fort Santiago in Intramuros is kin to a journey back in time as tourists see the remnants of the past. Aside from walking through time, you can also find a treasure trove of items at a souvenir shop in Manila, in one of the chambers of the 400-year-old fort. The Manila Collectible Co. is a gift shop in Manila featuring various souvenir items from indigenous groups. Where to Buy Souvenirs in Manila that is 100 percent of Philippine-made products? This is the right shop! There are also several replicas of artifacts significant to the history of the Philippines. The memento items available at this souvenir store are handmade crafts, ethnic apparel, replicas, hand-woven textiles, and even organic food.
October 2022 Update:The Manila Collectible Co.’s physical Store is permanently closed.
Physical Store:135 Carlos Palanca Street, Quiapo, Manila
Online Store:https://shopee.ph/souvenirislandph
Souvenir Island General Merchandise offers inexpensive souvenir items made by local craftsmen using indigenous materials.
Image: Souvenir Island General Merchandise
The next gift and souvenir shop in Manila on the list offers premium quality souvenir items from all over the country. The reasonably-priced handicrafts from Manila Souvenir Island General Merchandise are made by local craftsmen who use indigenous materials in different parts of the Philippines. The handicraft items that this souvenir shop in Manila offers are made of bamboo, abaca, coconut, seashell, rattan, and other local materials. They offer belts, bags, decors, frames, coin purses, lamps, keychains, hats, and shirts. You may find miniature replicas of the Philippine jeepney (local mode of mass transportation), tricycle, and calesa (horse-drawn carriage) at this souvenir shop in Manila.
Store Branches:Makati, Quezon City, Powerplant Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Alabang, Taguig, Ayala, NAIA Terminal 3
Online Store:https://teammanilalifestyle.com/
The distinctive t-shirt designs of Team Manila have allowed the studio to make a name for itself in the tourism industry.
Image: Teammanila Lifestyle
Team Manila may primarily be a design studio, but it offers souvenir items with Filipino pride. In addition, the studio also collaborates with different creative organizations on various design projects. The distinctive t-shirt designs of the studio are popular among the younger generation. Aside from t-shirts, they also offer pillowcases that espouse the pride of Filipinos. This souvenir shop in Manila currently has around 50 artists under its wing and has produced numerous award-winning works of art.
Store Branches:SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM Makati, SM City North ESA, SM City Fairview
Online Store:https://www.kulturafilipino.com/
You can reminisce about your childhood with Filipino-centric magnets at Kultura.
Images: Kultura Filipino (Official)
On top of this list of Manila souvenir stores for any occasion is Kultura. This souvenir store highlights the uniqueness of Filipino craftsmanship and artistry. It offers a good selection of products made of indigenous materials that reflect the heritage and contemporary culture of the Philippines. This souvenir shop in Manila has three product categories: Home, Fashion, and Souvenirs. Home products in this souvenir store include quality items made of materials you can find in the country, including Capiz, wood, and pearl. For fashion products, you will see an exquisitely embroidered barong tagalog (embroidered formal shirt), finely-crafted jewelry, and stylish resort wear. On the other hand, the souvenir products offered by this souvenir store in Manila include contemporary pieces and novelty items reflecting different aspects of Philippine culture.
These are just some Metro Manila shops where you can pick up a souvenir or two for any occasion. Which one of these souvenir shops in Manila is your go-to place when you are looking for a souvenir?
This article was initially published in Yoorekka on June 23, 2019.
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About Peter Parcon
After leaving spending 16 years of his professional life in the academe, Peter decided to try his luck in the world of online freelancing. For the past eight years, he has been creating content for clients all around the world. He can work on just about any topic - from tattoos to technology and food to finance. He dreams of visiting every island in the archipelago some day.
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