Smile: Inflight Magazine of Cebu Pacific Air

Meet the Shopping Stars

WITH CHRISTMAS JUST A HOP, SKIP AND JUMP AWAY, WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A PRE-HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR YOU! THESE SAVVY SHOPPERS IN FIVE OF CEBU PACIFIC’S MOST EXCITING DESTINATIONS HAVE THE SCOOP ON WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO BUY

Manila LEONA LAVIÑA-LEONA LAVIÑAPANUTAT shares her hit list shares her hit list of favorite local of favorite local goodies in the goodies in the Philippine capital Philippine capital
Shanghai RITA CHEE RITA CHEE takes you from takes you from chichi Orchard Road chichi Orchard Road to lesser-known to lesser-known hubs to score quirky hubs to score quirky presents
Singapore APPLE MANDY APPLE MANDY shares her picks shares her picks of the most of the most unique shops in unique shops in cosmopolitan cosmopolitan Shanghai
Hong Kong JAMES ACUÑA JAMES ACUÑA takes you to hip takes you to hip Star Street or “SoJo Star Street or “SoJo (South of Johnston)” (South of Johnston)” — the new It Place — the new It Place for shopaholics for shopaholics
Bangkok VICKY VICKY MARCHADESCH shows you where shows you where to go for bargain to go for bargain goodies and high-goodies and high-end merchandise end merchandise

Manila
LEONA LAVIÑAPANUTAT

Freelance stylist

Take a Break!
Head to White Moon Bar and chill out to relaxing tunes and an ice-cold beer. You can lounge on the ultra comfortable white sofas, admire an unobstructed view of Manila Bay and its famed sunset, and have a nice chat with friends while going over your finds. What a way to cap a full day of shopping! 2/F The Manila Ocean Center, Rizal Park (behind Quirino Grandstand)

THE RAMP
Buy Philippine made! The Ramp features a wonderful selection of trendy styles from up-and-coming Pinoy designers, like funky bib pendants and stilettos. 1/L Crossings Department Store, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong

ARANAZ
I love that each piece in this store is made from indigenous Filipino materials and carefully assembled by hand. The bags and accessories may seem a bit pricey, but think of them as heirloom gifts for daughters, sisters or favorite nieces that can be passed down for generations. 2/L Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St, Legazpi Village, Makati City

ADORA
Pop into this one-stop shop for high-end designer stuff. The store carries an impressive collection of clothing and accessories from top brands like Chloe, Givenchy and Marni. Score cool shoes and fragrances for the special man in your life. 2/L and 3/L Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St, Legazpi Village, Makati City

ATELIER AVATAR
This Cebu brand’s oneof-a-kind earrings, necklaces and bracelets rival that of international labels. Take Mom shopping here! 2/L Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St, Legazpi

BALIKBAYAN HANDICRAFTS
Browse through three levels of exquisite Philippine-made gift items. Just a warning: you may be tempted to purchase everything in this store, from the floor-length wooden mirror, the Capiz lamps to the woven throw pillows. My picks: the mother-of-pearl dish, an elegant present for friends overseas; laminated wooden boxes for jewelry, letters and CDs; and pill boxes. What makes it extra cool is they can ship your purchases worldwide. 1010 Arnaiz Ave, Makati City and HK Sun Plaza, Diosdado Macapagal Ave, Pasay City

4 BEST BUYS

Scarf, PHP350, The Ramp

Laminated wood boxes, from PHP1,700, Balikbayan Handicrafts

Lace notebook holder, PHP900, Aranaz

Tretorn shoes, PHP4,950, Adora

Singapore
RITA CHEE

Smile art director

Take a Break!
* Pamper tired soles with a 40-minute foot massage for S$28 (PHP935) at Ancient Therapy, 41 Amoy St * Get a 45-minute full-body rubdown for S$75 (PHP2,503) at Spa Infinity. Enjoy the steam room and Jacuzzi at no extra cost. #B1-22, Far East Shopping Centre, Orchard Rd

ION ORCHARD
This mall is the glitziest addition to Orchard Road, with its 400 shops, cafés and restaurants. If you’re into luxe brands — think Louis Vuitton, Max & Co, CK Jeans, Prada, Burberry and Marc Jacobs — this is one stop you shouldn’t miss. www.ionorchard.com

AMK HUB
Head to the heartlands! Accessible by MRT, AMK Hub has over 200 shops such as Fox (#B2-51), which sells affordable casual wear for adults and kids. Blk 702 just next door has more stores, like Hot Stuff (#01-2561) for printed tees and bags. www.amkhub.com.sg

PLAZA SINGAPURA
Go crazy at Daiso (#04-01), a Japanese shop that sells everything for just S$2 (PHP67). Epitome (#03-26) has wacky gifts like chewing gum lighters and soda can phones (from S$6.90/PHP230). www.. plazasingapura.com.sg

TANJONG PAGAR XCHANGE
Get off at Tanjong Pagar MRT station to do some serious shopping! If you are looking for leggings, dresses or scarves, step into B/X Boutique (#B1-33/34/35); most of the items hail from Korea. For Apple fans, hit The Podstop (#B1-16). The store feeds your craving for iPod accessories and new gadgets. Look for Martin Arm, the amiable proprietor who calls himself a senior Mac evangelist — he gives the best Apple deals in town. www.. shoppingatsmrt.com.sg

BUGIS STREET
Home to 600 eclectic shops, Bugis has been hailed as the city state’s largest shopping street. Get ready to practice the shop-til-you-drop adage as stores are open until 11pm on Saturdays. Visit Zinc (2 New Bugis St, 1/L, #DFL/01), a Singaporean brand known for its quirky designs on bags, shirts and caps (from S$5/PHP167). Mobile City, located in the heart of Bugis Street, is the place to get the latest mobile phones, mp3 players and every gadget you can think of.

4 BEST BUYS

Mascot, S$49 (PHP1,635), Cállate La Boca, Ion Orchard

iLuv Speakers, S$99 (PHP3,304), The Podstop, Tanjong Pagar Xchange

Locket, S$5.80 (PHP194), De Edge, Bugis Street

Soda phones, S$25 (PHP834), Epitome, Plaza Singapura

PHOTOS BY MAYA CALICA

Shanghai
APPLE MANDY

Food and lifestyle writer

Take a Break!
At Diva Life Nail & Beauty Lounge, you can soothe those tired muscles with a relaxing body massage, or get those nails done with vibrant OPI nail polish. The sweetly scented rooms, velvety sofas, subtle lighting, lounge music, complimentary tea and cookies are sure to make you smile. www.. mydivalife.com

PRODUC-T
Shanghai-born Roger Chen’s unisex T-shirt designs are a fresh take on propaganda posters and local street signs. The ex-Bill Blass designer’s “Soup Dumpling” tee is a cool gift idea! Bldg 11, Lane 248 Taikang Lu, www.produc-t.com

MADAME MAO’S DOWRY
Everything sold here is a flashback to Chairman Mao’s legacy during the Cultural Revolution: vast collections of original propaganda posters, archival photographs, funky gift wraps, locally designed clothing and accessories. All are just unique! 207 Fumin Lu, by Julu Lu, www.madamemaosdowry.com

SHANGHAI CODE VINTAGE GLASSES
Surprise Dad or the retro fans in your life with second-hand and unused pairs of eyeglass frames and sunglasses from as far back as the 1970s. Also check out Shanghai A581, the first Chinese mechanical watch made by the Shanghai Watch Factory in 1958. Bldg 2, Lane 274 Taikang Lu, by Ruijin Er Lu

TENFU’S TEA (TIANFU MINGCHA)
Pick up local healthy treats for family and friends here. I highly recommend the low-sugar kumquat or green tea cookies. Want to watch your weight? Take home longjing, oolong or jasmine tea. www.tenfu.com

JADE CHUNGA
These jade pieces attract good vibes, and make great gift ideas. 424 Shaanxi Nan Lu, by Yongjia Lu, www.chungajade.cn

3 BEST BUYS

Enamel cups, from RMB80 (PHP548), Madame Mao’s Dowry

“Soup Dumpling” T-shirt, RMB158 (PHP1,082), Produc-T

Watch, from RMB250 (PHP1,713), Shanghai Code Vintage Glasses

Hong Kong
JAMES ACUÑA

Designer/architect

Take a Break!
Classified Mozzarella Bar is a quaint little lunch and dinner place that serves cheeses and wines. Try their famous Caffe Latte and Mozzarella (there are four kinds to choose from) on a bed of fresh garden tomatoes, rocket salad, vinaigrette and olive oil. 31 Wing Fung St, www.starstreet.com.hk

JOINEUR FAMILY STORE LIMITED
People come to Queen’s Road East in Wanchai for its array of furniture stores and interior design service shops. Here, everything can be specially made for the same price as IKEA or even less, and with much better quality. G/F, Dominion Centre, 55-57 Queen’s Rd East, www.joineur.com

45R
This unassuming yet spacious store is home to a special Japanese brand specializing in individual handmade denim, canvas, and naturally dyed cotton in indigo and various other hues. The items range from tops and jeans, shoes and scarves, to outerwear such as hats and jackets. 7 Star St, www.45rpm.jp

OVO HOME
A Hong Kong shopping institution, OVO home has a more antique Asian look, while an expanded store called OvoLogue on Ship Street has a more contemporary and clean aesthetic. The great thing about OVO home is its mix of choice pieces by the in-house design team, regional antiques, furniture by contemporary artisans like Filipino industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, and artwork by famous sculptors. Some items have to be ordered in advanced, and can be shipped and delivered to any destination. 16 Queen’s Rd East, www.ovo.com.hk

KAPOK
They carry all sorts of knick-knacks that quirky creative types and fashion intellectuals will adore. G/F, 5 St Francis Yard, www.ka-pok.com

CHEN MI JI
Although Wanchai is full of showrooms that sell new and knock-off designer pieces, one can come to Chen Mi Ji to find the real thing at a drastically discounted price. Consisting of original vintage and mid-century furniture, the items are sourced from all over the world, such as Mies and Panton chairs, Artemide lamps and everything in between. And if you are in search of a specific chair, couch, phone or lamp, they can source it for you. G/F, 4 Sun St, tel: +852 2549 8800, www.starstreet.com.hk

3 BEST BUYS

DJ Mixer Vinyl and Tape Player from the 70s, HK$6,500 (PHP39,209), Chen Mi Ji

Carga wool felt everyday tote, HK$1,980 (PHP11,944), Kapok

Scarves dyed in two colors, from HK$2,000 (PHP12,064), 45R

Bangkok
VICKY MARCHADESCH

Senior brand manager

Take a Break!
Fuel up with a serving of som tum (Thai green papaya salad), which my sister and I had with every meal during our entire stay in Bangkok! It tastes so fresh and gave me the extra energy to go for another round of shopping!

CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET
Lose yourself in this maze of shops filled with local souvenirs, home accents, fashion apparel, and even pets at really affordable prices! Exit Mo Chit Skytrain (BTS) station; take a five-minute walk

LYN SHOES AND ACCESSORIES
I’m ecstatic to have discovered LYN, a local Thai brand that sells very up-to-date styles of shoes, bags, watches and sunglasses! It’s great for a young, trendy woman with a love for fashion — and who’s on a budget — like me. 2/F Siam Center, www.lynshoes.com

MBK
I always shop for gifts for loved ones when I travel to Bangkok for business. Although not as upscale as neighboring malls, MBK’s goods are considerably less expensive — which suits me just fine! Phayathai Road, Pathumwan

SIAM PARAGON
If you’re looking for chichi, this is where you ought to go in Bangkok. The world’s who’s-who of name brands — Hermes, Balenciaga, Gucci, Chloe and Chanel — can be found here. So expect to spend quite a bit. I also love the gourmet market on the ground floor, with a food court that is high-tech, classy and heavenly! www.siamparagon.co.th

GAYSORN
This high-end mall has five floors of over 100 designer shops such as Loewe, Fendi, La Perla and Hugo Boss. What I enjoyed most was dropping by the D&O Shop by Design and Objects Association.

I walked in and found very novel gifts and home accessories conceptualized by award-winning Thai décor designers. Think toilet bowl cleaners designed like Mod Squad-ish afro for brushes, elephant-shaped lamps, and more. There were also a lot of aromatherapy items, stylish office supplies and ceramics that would make perfect presents for design-conscious friends! They are truly unique, and most of the products are exhibited at the annual Bangkok International Gift Fair and Bangkok International Houseware Fair. www.gaysorn.com