The cons

          It was a sunny Thursday morning and everything was planned. My balikbayan cousin and nephew and I were going to 168 to finish what’s left of what was on their shopping list. From EDSA Shangri-la in the Ortigas district, we took the Greenhills route and before we knew it, we were snarled in downtown Manila’s traffic, with almost all the streets leading to 168 blocked. And since we opted to go to 168 and not to Megamall which was five minutes away, the two-hour traffic was definitely a con in our list.

          It was 10am and already from the entrance, we could see the inner stalls crowded with people of different nationalities, coming from different walks of life, shopping on a weekday. It was very difficult to go from one stall to the other without bumping into someone.

          This was my second time in 168. The first time I hoarded bags. This time, I was disappointed that the bags on offer weren’t as nice as the ones that I bought the first time and were very limited in design. We could have gone to Greenhills instead and spent a bit more for trendier bags. We also noticed that some stalls had moved to another location making it quite difficult and time-consuming to look for your suki.

The pros

          Nevertheless, for every con, there was a pro. The fashion selection improved since my last visit a few months earlier – chic and colorful blouses, beaded Capri jeans, trendy coats and flashy accessories. More important, they were stuff you couldn’t find in regular shopping malls. Of course, footwear and pasalubong items were still there. The prices were the same and bargaining for a lower price was easier for me this time. The challenge was how to convince the Chinese vendors to give you their items at wholesale rates even if you’re buying only a piece or two.

          And yet even if you don’t know how to drive a hard bargain, shopping at 168 will always be the venue for people who want to be surprised with unique and affordable finds. It can be a fun and interesting workout for your body and wallet, not to mention your patience. But with your mom or family members, the activity can actually be a good bonding experience.

The tips

          So go ahead and brave the traffic, the congestion and the shrinking parking space due to the increasing number of shopaholics but bear in mind the following tips to make shopping in 168 worth the hassle.

• Shop but don’t drop. Go ahead and buy that trinket if you must but you must count your “musts.” Don’t go overboard or impulse shop simply because of cuteness or because the price is too good to be believed. Spare yourself from buyer’s remorse.

• Make the rounds if you dare. Shopping requires a lot of mental and physical energy and that means hours and hours of walking and searching. If you have an internal GPS, you can brave going from one stall to another to compare prices and merchandise. BUT! Not all have the fortitude to burrow their way into the interesting bowels of 168. So if you find something you like already at a price you know is a bargain, then go ahead and have it bagged. You may not be able to find your way back (or have the will to do so later on). BUT! Remember that exploration has its rewards.

• Haggle. The items in 168 may be cheap but it pays to practice those bargaining skills – the better to buy more and spend less! However, learn when to give up in a stand-off. You can walk away if you feel less than obsessive about a particular item or give in to the tindera’s “last price.”

• Have fun. Learn how to take the crush of people in stride. Smile at oily hard-selling vendors. Relax when faced with the claustrophobic-causing stall arrangement. Head for little spacious clearings scattered throughout the mall to catch your breath, glug some water, grab a snack. You’ll find yourself both happy about what you purchased and rejuvenated for still another round of bargain-hunting.