Those punk rock shops in Recto Avenue, Manila.

I love checking out the shops in Recto and Quiapo in Manila. It's something I have done since my school days finding bargains here and there. I also love checking those punk rock shops in Cartimar with all those shirts and second hand CDs (they've got a lot of bootleg and underground stuff as well). I didn't wear too many of these shirts back in the day. In fact, the one shirt I preferred to wear had British two-tone band The Specials in the front (the one with the dancing man in shades). I find it interesting to see how this subculture has not changed since its nascent days in the late 1970s. I guess once a punk, always a punk.

There are a lot of used and new CDs shops along Recto Avenue and Quaipo Boulevard. You'll find a lot of stuff that never even makes it to the regular music stores. Some are pilfered stocks from local music companies (it's got a "promotional use only" tag on it). There are also a lot of metal and alternative stuff as well. Make sure that when you buy, you don't just agree to the price. Haggle. Haggle. Haggle.