I wish I could call myself a jetsetter but my first plane ride was to Boracay last year – not something to be proud of for a 22-year-old girl. No, I’m not blaming my lack of travel on my ridiculous nightmares of sinking boats and crashing planes. I’ve always wanted to travel despite my fear of icebergs and/or hijackers but my family of ten has always been too busy to go on trips (I can count out-of-town family vacations on one hand) and I wasn’t allowed to go on trips on my own when I was younger. If you’re still saving up before exploring the world like I am, don’t sweat it: there’s a lot of things you can spend your money on right here in Manila without causing a dent on your travel savings! I made a list of local things I personally love, most of which were gifts but I’m definitely buying more of them:

1. GOOLAI


I’m always on the go and I’ve given up on driving thru fast food chains because I end up regretting eating that greasy burger with fries on the side. I buy Goolai instead. You may be used to boring salads but after you eat one of these pre-packed fresh salads your taste buds and body are gonna love you.

A pack of Goolai costs around PhP200. Available at Rustan’s, Shopwise, or Petron Treats.


2. HUMAN HEART NATURE


Our tita gave my sister and me a pack of locally made beauty products two or three Christmases ago. They’re 100% made in the Philippines and their products have absolutely no harmful chemicals. Human Heart Nature also helped the citronella farmers of Brgy. Kanapawan in Labo by giving them almost a million pesos. They gave 100% of the profit from their Citronella Bug Spray sales from October to December 2010. I’m excited for their future projects!

Visit their website www.humanheartnature.com


3. PAULENE CHOCOLATS SUISSES

These gorgeous chocolates have been available to the public since December of 2009 but I only got to taste them November of last year when my sister’s boyfriend, Neil, shared them with us. They taste amazing! I asked Neil, “These are made by a Filipina?” he answered, “Yes, Paulene is my tita!” I suggest you get a box for your loved one before they run out (hello, Valentine’s day?).

I think a box of 12 costs around PhP600. Available at the Blue Kitchen (Rockwell, Shangri-la), Santis Delicatessen (Rockwell, Yakal, Forbes) and Chuck’s Deli (Serendra). Visit www.paulenechocolats.com for more info.


4. NO TRACE! ODOR NEUTRALIZER


Right before I left for my first Boracay trip, my friend gave us this bottle of No Trace. Imagine sharing one bathroom with five people for three days. Yuck, right? Not when you have this powerful small bottle! Oh my goodness, it’s the greatest invention ever! You put two drops before you take a dump and one after you flush. No one will ever know you dropped a bomb in any bathroom if you carry this around with you.

It’s strange how there seems to be no trace of No Trace on the internet but if you want to order a bottle, go ahead and e-mail matiz.homeandbody@gmail.com!


5. A TATTOO FROM P&P


The artists of P&P Tattoo did the only two tattoos I have. I trust these guys especially the guy who did my first tattoo, Myke Sambajon because he did one of my dad’s many tattoos. They make you sign a waiver because you have to be over 18 to get inked otherwise you’ll need parental consent. Their workplace is clean and safe and they’ll make you feel so comfortable being there that you probably won’t even feel the needle. Okay I’m lying hahaha but you’ll be laughing while in pain! Bring your friends for support!

P&P Tattoo (www.pandptattoo.com) has branches at Polaris St. Makati and Eastwood Citywalk.

 
6. SAN MIGUEL BEER


I’m a beer drinker. I will choose Pale Pilsen, San Mig Light or Red Horse over rhum coke, vodka sprite or tequila any day. I mean, night. Drinking when there’s daylight is a sign you’re an alcoholic! Hahaha! Drink moderately!

San Miguel Beer is available almost anywhere in Manila.

 
7. RAGS2RICHES


The people behind Rags2Riches help women who live on Payatas, one of the largest dumpsites in the country, by turning their rug-weaving talents into a business. With help from famous fashion designer Rajo Laurel, these women started weaving beautiful bags out of scrap cloths.

Go to www.rags2riches.ph for more information.

 
8. SABON NI JUAN


My good friend Renchie Veracruz and his group graduated with degrees in BS Management with Applied Chemistry from Ateneo de Manila University. For their thesis, they came up with their own formula and designs for soap! I was never really good at chemistry until recently and I don’t mean beakers and test tubes — I mean what I have with my boyfriend. Nye. Anyway, these guys put in a lot of hard work and they did an exceptional job!

Each soap costs PhP65-99. Contact Renchie at 09178030188. Delivery charge depends on your location. If you buy an accumulated amount of PhP1000, no delivery charge! They also do meet ups in Marikina, Quezon City, High Street, Makati.

 
9. VINYL RECORDS


I don’t own a phonograph record player but my friend Diego Mapa gave me these FrancisM 45’s for my birthday two years ago. My boyfriend actually has a phonograph record player and he has a nice collection at home. I know my collection (I have like four) is just for display but it beats spending tens of thousands on paintings. I suggest going to stores that sell second hand ones and buying records of your favorite local artists to hang on your walls. You’ll be an owner of a piece of local music history for the price of around PhP50.

You can go to popular record stores like Vinyl Dump (Cubao Expo) and Vinyl On Vinyl (The Collective, Makati). If you want the hard to find ones, you’ll have to do your own digging because the fun in owning records is the hunt that goes with it.

 
10. FRANCISM CLOTHING CO.


Filipino since birth? Better cop yourself one of these shirts. FrancisM Forever <3

Go to www.francismclothing.com for more info.