Weekend markets such as the Salcedo Saturday Market and the Sunday Market at the Lung Center of the Philippines are sure to draw more crowds than ever.

WEEKENDS just got better – for the Metro residents, that is – with alternative jaunts in the city, especially on days when going out of town is not an option because of weather, traffic or fuel price woes. After a long work week trapped in a concrete-dominated, congested business district, if you must remain in the city, you can still go off on a discovery adventure, to the weekend markets of Metro Manila.

The “weekend markets” are not quite in the conventional mold of markets. Well, yes they are a bit – but only in that they’re often outdoors, in stalls set close to one another their wares practically blend in together, and they still believe in haggling. But that’s all part of the charm, because a lot of these selling zones don’t carry the traditional stuff found in the neighborhood palengkes. Instead, one can expect to find really unique, rare, and even one-of-a kind stuff at well, palengke prices (read real cheap, after a lot of tawad).

These markets offer a sense of novelty not present in the usual and existing markets. But while these weekend markets are no longer a new thing in the metropolis, many people have just caught the weekend market bug recently. And they’ve found that “it’s much cheaper” and “more fun” to buy there than in the malls. These days, too, when everything has to be on a tight budget, weekend markets such as the Salcedo Saturday Market in Makati City and the Sunday Market at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City is sure to draw more crowds than ever. Both cater to different crowds and consumers.

The space beside the Salcedo Park along Tordesillas St. is transformed into a flea market on Saturdays. One would think even the different models of cars might also be on sale but no, some customers just go out of their way to check out what the market has to offer and perhaps check out some sumptuous gourmet food. There are a couple of really good home items sold but it’s dominated mostly by food: preserved, bottled, grilled, baked, etc. You name it, the market has it.

Some really good finds that one can either give as a gift or take home are:

1. Pinoy Or-durvs. Familiar favorites of the Filipino palate, preserved and packaged for ready and convenient use in 225 g. bottles. Bestsellers are Dulong in Olive Oil (P198), Malunggay Pesto (P198), Bangus Pate in Olive Oil (P168).

2. Sapore Vero Olive Oil. A really great find – olive oil for only P100 per 250 ml bottle. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 500 ml, P170.

3. Spices ’n Flavours. Lower-than-supermarket prices, plus other alternative spices such as tamarind dried mint, yellow chili, and sel gris (grey natural sea salt from France). Prices range from P60 to P144 a bottle.

4. Pasta Sauces from Connie’s Kitchen. Ready to pour and use sauces such as arrabiatta, eggplant and olive, puttanesca sauces. Prices start at P100.

5. La Cocina de Tita Moning’s Queso de Bola spread at P130 to P350, Salsa Monja from P200 to P350, and vinaigrettes from P100 to P200.

6. Vigan longganisa and bagnet that you don’t have to travel to Ilocos for. Half a kilo of longganisa at P100 and bagnet at P225.

7. Gourmet Polvoron for home consumption, and also perfect as gifts because of its long shelf life. P90 for a box of four and P250 for the bigger box.

8. Wheat grass, the latest rage in healthy and detoxifying drinks –
P75 for a bottle of fresh wheatgrass juice or, if you want to grow the wheatgrass yourself, it’s P120 a tray.

9. Pomelo Salad for only P120 per serving.

10. Namiyaki Japanese pancake, a cheap but yummy snack for only P18-20.

11. Malunggay pan de sal. Veggies in your bun. Can’t go wrong with moringa – and it doesn’t taste too bad either.

12. Gianormous burger. When you must have meat, there’s a sandwich with a 9-inch patty for P350. Or, if that’s not enough or you need to share, order the 12-inch beef burger at P550. Serves 7-8 persons.

At the other end of the metropolis, the Sunday crowd flocks to the car park of the Lung Center, a few meters away from the Quezon City Memorial Circle and just across the Ninoy Aquino Park and Wildlife Center. This side of the medical center is quite safe, and the only things you can expect to catch are bargains, among which are:

1. Dolls of the world in colorful costumes – a pack of five costs P250.

2. Purse bag from Thailand at only P100 and a sling bag for P250!

3. Get a personalized tissue holder (P150) and toilet bowl cover with really nifty designs. A set of toilet bowl cover, water tank cover, and rag is priced at P550.

4. Native crafts, from wicker baskets to hats, P100 and up.

5. Flannel baby blankets with cartoon character designs are only P200.

6. Ornamental plants, some from cooler climes, from P100 up. The traders guarantee the plants are sturdy enough for the trip home and will survive the Metro Manila weather and pollution.

7. Kitchen Classics Food for the Gods – heavenly. P265 a box. Other bestsellers are pili cake, P268; veggie quiche, P85; and oatmeal raisin crisps at P168. All goodies baked only a night before.

8. Miss Muffins yummy colorful – well, muffins – are available in Banana Blueberry, Banana Strawberry, Choco Overload, and Chewy Mallows. A pack contains seven assorted flavors.

9. Healthy First four seasons and carrot juices for only P40 a bottle. Carrot banana cake is also available at P35 per slice.

10. Vigan empanada – a winner – for only P45.