Ukay-Ukay in Baguio - www.gobaguio.com

Go Baguio! Your Complete Guide to Baguio City, Philippines

Ukay-Ukay in Baguio

Way before SM City Baguio was erected on Luneta Hill (where grand old Pines Hotel used to standl), office workers in Camp John Hay invited me to go to SM!

Knowing then that there was no such mall in Baguio City, I went along and, to my surprise, they took me to a street behind Bayanihan Hotel where second hand clothes were for sale.

For that was what SM stood for in the early 1990s -- Segunda Mano, a Spanish phrase meaning second hand), instead of the initials of a

popular string of malls all over the Philippines SM or Shoe Mart. But

not all of it was used clothing: there were leather briefcases, and a friend was able to buy a 'Brand New With Tag' imported blouse from Hong Kong.

Then the locals started calling it the Wagwagan, which meant 'to shake,' and then, finally, Ukay-ukay -- 'to dig.'

It has grown from just clothing to bags, shoes and even curtains, blankets, comforters, office equipment, toys and sporting goods. Some shops now even sell brand new imitation goods of imported designer brands in the areas with ukay-ukay.

Going to the Ukay-Ukay is considered 'slumming' for rich tourists looking for discarded Louis Vuitton bags from Hong Kong, Fendi jackets, Gucci scarves plus a host of othe designer brands, and a way of life for the frugal local residents.

Where & When to 'Ukay'

The cheapest and most exciting is really the one on Hilltop, behind the Baguio City Market. At 6:00 o'clock in the morning, at 12:00 noon, and finally at 6:00 o'clock in the late afternoon, hawkers will spread out the used clothing and bags by the road. These sell at about Php10.00 - Php50.00 each. A lot of office workers are able to assemble their wardrobes this way.

'Bayanihan' used to be a hotel building to the northwest of Burnham Park that has found a new lease on life as the site of the cheapest Ukay-ukay stalls. Navigating the maze of stores on different levels isn't easy, but the prices here are much lower than those found on Session Road. Stalls here close at around 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.

"Skyworld' used to be one of Baguio's 'pre-earthquake' shopping centers with a prime location at the corner of Session Road and Calderon Street. The stores here sell the best items and know their value so if you are looking for premium designer brands, this is the place to go. Like in Bayanihan, Stalls close by sunset.

Harrison Road and the side streets between it and Session Road has a few small shopping areas selling ukay-ukay, and what's interesting about these shops is that they sell not only apparel but toys, sporting goods and novelty items as well.

Why is the Ukay-ukay More Popular

in Baguio than elsewhere?

To keep prices low, stores like these do not provide airconditioning but Baguio City's cool air makes shopping al fresco more pleasant.

Also, the selections are way better since there's a larger market here. The wawagans cater not only to seasonal Baguio visitors but the frugal residents, year-round, as well.

'NIGHT MARKET:' Is It Really Worth Going?

After office hours, Session road stores and other peddlers are allowed by the city to sell brand new and used goods along the sidewalks, on the left

side going down.

In my opinion, while this may be a good move, security wise, to keep Session Road alive and exciting in the early evening, ukay-ukay items are not necessarily cheaper at this time and defects cannot be easily detected due to poor lighting conditions.

However, there are great bargains to be found by the La Azotea building where young artists and craftsmen sell folk art and trinkets.

One night market than can be fun, with a lot of items to choose from is "Session in Bloom" held towards the end of the Panagbenga every February (shown in the photo).

'Bargain Basement' Baguio

What used to be the city's little secret is now out in the open. Years ago, the used goods stores used to be tucked away in back alleys away from tourist areas.

As it got popular with Baguio visitors, suddenly the city was littered with shops selling these items right on Session Road, Baguio's prime shopping area!

In fact, what used to be an empty lot where Skyworld building stood (before the devastating 1990 earthquake brought it down) came alive with a low-cost 3-storey structure that now houses a hundred or so ukay stalls.

The former Session Theater has a popular restaurant in front and wagwagan at the back.

The 'Ukay' is something short of phenomenal that has allowed the owners of abandoned, old or low-visibility commercial spaces to be able to earn rental income from ukay-ukay.

Because one of the fun things about the ukay-ukay is finding a bargain in the most unlikely of places, sometimes in the hidden, lower levels of old buildings.