The Philippine capital has been quietly reinventing itself as a shopper's paradise. Those with a serious buying habit may want to check in across from Greenbelt, Manila's most celebrated mall, at the Renaissance Makati City Hotel, Esperanza Street, for the convenience of stashing purchases before heading back to buy more. Take a peek along the hotel's shopping arcade, where local designer Jeannie Goulbourn lays out her colourful and diaphanous sarongs (from US$35) and skirts (from US$50) at Silk Cocoon (tel: 632 811 6888).
Greenbelt is one of Asia's most appealing shopping experiences, with plenty of leafy outdoor space and alfresco cafes. Sandals dappled with indigenous wood beads (1,940 pesos/HK$325) and rattan clutches made elegant with intricate embroidery (680 pesos) cram shelves at Firma (G/F, Greenbelt 3, Ayala Centre, Makati, tel: 632 757 4009). You'll also find Burmese jewellery designer Wynn Wynn Ong's delicate rings of mahogany and silver (9,520 pesos).
Around the corner, charm abounds at Jo (below; G/F, Greenbelt 3, tel: 632 757 4886). The local designer plays with Filipinos' love of tiny gold and silver charms, ranging in design from irreverent kitchen utensils to adorable animals (from 399 pesos). More intriguing are chunky buffalo-horn cuffs (3,000 pesos) that sit high on the arm.
The closet-sized Regatta (G/F, Greenbelt 3, tel: 632 757 4126) has more style than is at first apparent. Twirling girly dresses with retro-fabulous prints (from 1,259 pesos), statement-making blouses that take you from the office to a night on the town (from 1,350 pesos) and ocean-inspired bikinis with indigenous mother-of-pearl clasps (2,900 pesos) are snapped up by stylish locals.
Now, haul those bags just a little further. Warm monotones on organic cotton linens woven in the Philippines (from 2,500 pesos) have been known to lure occasional shoppers to climb into the display bed at Soumak Bed 'n' Beddings (G/F, Greenbelt 3, tel: 632 757 3914).
Those in need of sustenance by this point should look no further than People's Palace (G/F, Greenbelt 3, tel: 632 729 2888; peoplespalacethai.com), where Manila's most attractive types show off their latest designer acquisitions.