Barat Mode

Valentine’s day is fast approaching and is merely 20 days to go! [Hey Mr. Baratmode, remember to treat me on this day! hehehe - Mrs. Baratmode]

Anyway, during valentine’s flowers are really really expensive. So if you are on a budget, you may want to get them straight from the “bagsakan“… where locally grown flowers are delivered in bulk from the different provinces like Baguio and Tagaytay … where your neighborhood flower shops usually get their flowers wholesale… Interesting place huh? You want to know this place? … It famously called Dangwa or the bulaklakan area of Manila.

It is very near UST. If you are coming from Espana (going towards Quiapo) turn right at Forbes (now Lacson) then trun right at Laong-laan. Dangwa is along Dos Castillas street — First Street from Lacson. (A full street stretch of Flower shops… whow!)… Or if you’re taking Public transportation, ride a jeepny from Quiapo that will passby “Dapitan“.

Bouquet of flowers is usually at Php 200 to Php 250 only. A bunch of roses (about 2 dozens) is around Php120. But as the Valentine’s day approaches prices usually goes up. Oh one tip, we don’t usually buy the pre-arranged bouquets because it looks too generic… you may opt to pick the flowers that you like and ask the flower shop to have it arranged for you the way you wanted it to look you may bring a picture of desired arrangment to make transactions faster

Barat Tips:

1.) Remember to haggle and haggle They usually take advantage of the season ;P
2.) Wear comfy clothes and dress down
3.) Be careful with your belongings.
4.) Deliveries usually arrive around 9pm-12nn. Untrimmed/uncleaned flowers are normally cheaper during this time, if you opt to arrange your own bouquet. Day old flowers are sometimes sold at this time much much cheaper
5.) Parking is a little challenging, it’s more convenient if you’ll ask somebody to drive for you.

However, if you want a lesser crowd you may want to check out the Bulaklakan in Kanlaon Market (along Del Monte Avenue corner Kanlaon St. and very near A. Bonifacio avenue and Mayon).

This place is not as famous as Dangwa, but you’ll also get the same quality local flowers. Sometimes, it’s flowers here are cheaper than Dangwa’s since people don’t go here as much.

Barat Tips:

1.) Same as Dangwa’s but they have ample parking space

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We pass by dapitan everyday… since this is very near our office. This has been our secret store for decorative boxes that would range around Php 25-40 each, native boxes for files around php 200, Unique Christmas and home decors at very low prices. Most of the items here are native and are for export.

When we were decorating our new home back in 2005, we have Zen as theme. Daptian arcade was one of our some sort of “home depot”. We bought native blinds here for an average of Php200/blind, gold napkin rings Php 5 each, hanging lamps Php 120 each, wooden tray Php 70 each and a whole lot more that compliments our crib.

This is a good Christmas shopping destination if you’re looking for Christmas inspired serving plates, gift baskets/boxes, and other home decor. Your Php 1,000 budget would go a long way. Just make sure you haggle

Tips in going to Dapitan Arcade:

1. Go on a weekday (No Holiday Shopping - if you want to get good prices and to avoid the crowd)
2. They’re open as early as 7am and closes around 7pm. Go there either 7-9am or 4-7pm if you don’t want to get all sweaty.
3. Bring a fan.
4. Wear something comfortable because it’s sooo hot here. If you’ve been to Chatuchak Market in BKK they have similar shopping conditions
5. Dress down so you could make “tawad”.
6. Prepare to carry big bulky stuff, since this is a place for home decors.

Happy Shopping!

How to get there?

From Quezon Avenue (going towards Welcome Rotonda), turn right at Kanlaon (Burger King).
Straight ahead, dapitan would be the 3rd st from Quezon Ave.

If you’re going there by Public Transport, go down at Burger King then take the jeep (Kanlaon - Del Monte)

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Day TWO - Ibay’s Silver Shop

We visited Ibay’s Main branch and bought some silverworks. Being a certified barat, we went straight to their discounted rack and checked out for good finds. Lucky us, we were able to spot a heart shaped earrings with zirconian stones originally priced at Php 450 but since it’s discounted we only paid Php 270. You may also request them to replace your “pakaw” with a bigger one at a minimal fee, additional Php 20.

Barat tip: It’s better to drop by at their main branch because it’s cheaper compared to their other branches.

Ibay’s Main Branch:
2/F Lions Club Bldg., Gov. Pack Road, Baguio City

Day TWO - Baguio Market

Baguio market is the perfect place to go to, when it comes to buying your pasalubongs. From food items, foot rags for your home, crochet clothing, to blankets even ukay stuff it’s all available here.

When we arrived at the market, we first visited Tamtanco’s booth. This is our favorite UBE brand (Php 110/medium sized bottle), we love this over good sheperd’s version of Ube jam — not just because it’s way cheaper but because of it’s consistency and taste. Tamtanco’s also sells good peanut brittle (Php 75/medium sized bottle) and lengua.

We also grabbed a couple of bottles of Romana’s peanut brittle (Php 75/365g bottle; Php 110/530g bottle) and Mika’san’s chocoflakes (Php 70/bottle).

Strawberries were all over the place at Php 60-Php 80 per kilo. But for us, we opted to buy the Php 80/kilo since it’s of better quality. Pre-packed strawberries were also available — wise buyers don’t usually buy these, because often you don’t get your money’s worth. ;P

Barat Tip: Buy your strawberries on the day you’ll leave Baguio.

After buying all the food items that we want, we went up to the market’s second floor, a not so familiar place for tourists and bakasyonistas. This is the cheapest place to buy crochet items, foot rags and blankets. Single sized blankets for only Php 90, receiving blankets for babies at Php 50, plain queen sized blankets at Php 120 and printed queen sized blankets at Php 145 only.

Of course, our trip in Baguio wouldn’t be complete if we’ll not take home a couple of Baguio “walis tambo“.

Day TWO - Petron Service Station

Baguio is not a very big city but we noticed 3 Petron stations in the area and all jam packed. You might be wondering what’s so special about Petron stations to put it in our Baguio experience?

Well, at first there’s nothing special but after seeing a tarp posted inside one of these stations stating “Baguio Country Club (BCC) breads available here” changed everything!

We love BBC’s raisin and banana breads, although to buy those requires us to drag our relative to accompany us inside the country club. So, being able to get these breads in a gas station is so convenient for us!

Banana bread Php 135/loaf
Raisin bread Php 135/loaf and Php 65/half loaf

Barat tip: In buying your raisin bread, it’s actually cheaper to get 2 half loaves rather than getting 1 whole loaf. ;P

To get there:
D’ Motorists Pitstop, Inc. (Petron Service Station)
#146 Kisad rd. cor. Marcos Highway, Baguio City

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Its been 5 years or so since we last visited Baguio City. So this weekend, the whole family went up to Baguio and enjoyed its climate, food and scenery.

At 630am we left the house for our weekend get a way, lucky us after an hour of travel our aircon died down and we can’t do anything but bare with the scourging heat and go on with our trip.

Our daughter can no longer take the heat and she started to be irritable, so we transfered her to the other car — where they enjoyed their aircon while we are starting our early penitence for the holy week. Hay, how lucky can we get?!

On our way to Baguio, we payed Our Lady of Manaog a visit.

Then we went straight to Baguio where we stayed in a transient home. The rent is way cheaper compared to hotel rates. The place we got was pretty spacious. It was able to accomodate all of us — 12 adults, 2 kids, 1 toddler & 1 baby. It has 4 rooms, sala, dining area, 2 toilet and bath with heater, kitchen and garage. We only paid Php 5,000 for 2 days. Not bad huh!?

(more…)

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After discovering the weekly sunday market at the Philippine Lung Center’s parking lot, sundays has never been the same again.

Because, we always look forward waking up early on sundays and rushing to Lung Center to buy our weekly needs.

It is open from 6am until 2pm only, during sundays. The market has an interesting wide array of items available. It ranges from fresh seafoods, poultry, meat and other native delicacies like “palakang bukid” and native chicken with “bahay guya” to organic vegetables, cooked food, pastries, and other home made specialties to plants even clothing and other export overruns.

But what makes us go back to this place week after week? it’s the food and other ingredients for our daily menu for the entire week!

Let us share with you some of the items you will find here. However, this will come in parts because so many things are yet to be said and shared! We hope you will enjoy this post.

Here are some pictures of the items we usually buy .

Fresh oysters (cleaned) from ate angie for onlyPhp 40.00 per kilo with lots of dagdag. One time we bought 5 kilos from her, but since she wants to dispose her remaining oysters, she gave all 8 kilos for only php 30 per kilo! what a steal don’t you think?

Deboned bangus for only Php 200.00 per Kilo about 4 pcs. We usually buy this rather than get the readily marinated daing na bangus for 2 reasons. One, we love our grandmother’s secret daing na bangus marinade. Two, the size of the fish is bigger. Since the catholics are celebrating the season of Lent, this is one of our classic favorite and the best thing about it is it’s “tinik” free! yum!

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