My 1-month summer stay in Cabanatuan made me miss my Monday morning routine at the public market. I never thought I was going to enjoy it. I did and I loved it!
Big thanks to Ate Dolor and Kuya Ariel who made my palengke mornings memorable!
I was surprised and amazed that you can actually get everything from the palengke. Pardon my ignorance, but I always look at the palengke as a place to just buy fresh produce including meats, fish and vegetables. Now that I have explored the malaking palengke in Cabanatuan, I just loved it that I can buy almost everything I needed there. Pasta, sauces, canned goods, oil, vinegar… everything!!! and there are clothes (at least I could buy the house clothes), costume dresses, slippers, local shoes. I mean, why have I not done and appreciated this before? It is supportive of the local economy.
One thing I consciously didn’t do was to haggle prices. I couldn’t haggle prices at the mall groceries, can I? Nor can I ask for discounts at boutiques and chain stores. But, we all know mall groceries and boutiques put higher mark-ups.
I am definitely, every time I go home, supporting markets in my country from hereon.
Will you, too?
watch video here: Philippine Market Day
once in a while, it’s nice to “go lokal”!
Cool place! And I’m the same… I never know when it’s okay to haggle or not so I just end up not doing it ^^
Palengke day , mas mura at quality dun tyo
Usually sa La Huerta public Market kmi ngpupunta gawa Ng wholesale ang price at maraming choices
For sure, my local farmer ladies and gents sitting on the streets here in Wolpyeong or selling from trucks are just as good as any store bought, but even better, because they occasionally give you a discount or toss in a bunch more for being a return customer. Also, there is no packaging to later throw away and I can only hope that they don’t spray their plants with nasty chemicals or additional things to keep it fresh in the package. Shop local!!!
I love visiting markets whenever I travel… and here in Seoul too actually. Even with mark-ups I think the prices at markets tend to be far better than what you’ll find in big chain stores anyway. Would love to visit a wet market now.
I love buying from wet markets. Specially for vegetables and fruits, the prices are way cheaper compared in grocery. Plus, fruits and veg looks more fresh.
I love supporting local merchants. When I visit the Philippines, I love to visit the local markets. I especially like Carbon in Cebu city. I particularly like the abaca straw items, particularly lady’s handbags, and sandals too. Good on you for publishing a blog specifically about supporting the local markets.
I remember your blog about buying some pearl accessories. thank you!:-)
Lels I think I’m just as ignorant as you. I actually don’t know how to tell if the meats in the palengke are fresh, so when I lived alone I just bought packed ones from supermarket. But when we’re on (beach) trips and we’re going to cook seafood, I always go with whoever is tasked to go to the market because I like knowing that what we’re buying is fresh, like sometimes gumagalaw pa. 🙂
I never learned how to haggle. I have attempted but failed so miserably. I’m actually impressed by those na piso na lang, nababawas pa pag namili sa palengke. Wish ko lang may ganyan akong talent!
This post is actually discouraging haggling at the wet markets because they only earn much for their daily needs unlike boutiques and big supermarkets. That’s why I am encouraging to support local markets.
For me, don’t do haggling in local markets. It’s our gift to them na lang. Also, I love the smell of a local wet market. I don’t know why. Hahaha I’m weird.
I do not always go to wet markets haha but I think going there is a great idea.
This is a nice blog because I agree we should not haggle too much.
There’s a market near our village and I always buy there. I never haggled. It’s my own little way of helping the vendors na rin. Maliit na lang kasi kita nila tapos sobrang init pa at madalas, hindi maganda ang amoy. 😔
We go to the local markets weekly. It’s cheaper and the pork, beef, fish and chicken are more fresh! I’m glad that you’re able to experience it in the Philippines too. When I was in Korea, I often go to wet markets (sijang) to buy meat hehe.
We love going to the wet market! especially those in the provinces which are rich in seafoods! Would love to visit the one in cabanatuan because of this! Thanks!
I only visit dry market for goods because I can’t really stand the smell of wet markets i’ve visited before. But I think for provinces, I’ve done shopping at the local wet markets before, the smell is more tolerable.
Yes. I love buying at the wet market because they’re so cheap compare to mall prices. I also do not haggle because I am supporting these micropreneurs.
Haggle is life here! Hahaha haggle anywhere. But of course I always try to vibe first with the seller. Haha!
True,mas mura sa wet market kaya kami ng family ko, usually sa wet market kami bumibili
Mura at fresh pa🥰
Ang gandaa naman po mamili diyan,ang fefresh ng bilihin at Ang daming pwedeng bilhin!❤️