The Farmers Plaza
by Elizabeth Aragon
Located at Araneta Center, Cubao, Farmers Market is a very popular place of leisure for many. Fronting EDSA, it is connected to Gateway Mall by a walkway in which the Araneta Coliseum is found at the middle. The MRT-3 Cubao Station may also be found inside Farmers. It first opened in 1997 and was renovated and reopened in the year 1999. Today, the Farmers Plaza has 230 shops and restaurants, taking up 60,400 square meters of prime retail space. Although it is not as advanced as other malls, it is a convenient place to look for affordable items with a variety of choices. This five-level complex consists of shops both local and international. One may find a variety of , clothes, shoes, bags, both office and home supplies, instruments and technological items. One of the good features of Farmers Plaza is its simplicity. It is not as crowded as others malls and stores are easier to locate. Going around the mall is convenient and stores offer a variety of items at prices that are affordable to most customers. After a day of shopping, restaurants surround the mall offering different choices.
Farmers Market
Part of Farmers Plaza is Farmers Market, a very popular feature located around Araneta Center Cubao. The market is known for the variety of goods, there is a wide choice of fresh meat, seafood's, fruits and vegetables. It has also been recognized as "one of the best wet markets" in Manila. It is also categorized per section, so that buyers wouldn't end up going around the whole market just to look for one product. Farmers Market gives customers satisfaction and convenience every time they visit. The market is large and houses numerous vendors, offering a variety of products. Good location, wide aisles and an open air market allows good air ventilation. Honestly, the stench of a "palengke" atmosphere is still present but because of it's open air, the smell easily ventilates.
As I mentioned, one of the best features of Farmers Market is it's variety in goods. I may not be used to going to a market but I was amazed at how much stalls were open here. There is a large total of store owners. Another thing that proved that Farmers was indeed good market was the hospitality of the vendors. They are courteous in asking what you need and whenever you ask questions about their products, they really know how to answer. This just proves that vendors here are aware of what they sell and give importance to giving customers assurance with their products.
The practice of organizing and labeling sections for meat, vegetables, seafood's and fruits is a good way to keep the are clean. It also wouldn't be hard for customers to find the particular products that they are looking for. Farmers Market differs from other markets because it is spacious, there is a variety, it is cleaner than most markets and products are always fresh and clean.
Apart from foods, vegetables and fruits, you may also find colorful and fresh flowers that are sold here. These flower stalls have made Farmers Market very popular because flowers here are known to be cheaper than what you would find at a flower shop. There is a variety of choices and flowers to pick from. The fragrance of the flowers and its lively colors are sure to attract anyone.
Across the market is the Farmers Garden. Unlike the flower market, here you may find different plants for sale, from soil plants to hanging plants.
It's all fresh at the Dampa Market!
Dampa, in the Philippines is a form of dining wherein you buy fresh food and have the freedom to decide whether or not to have it cooked. Usually, after picking a variety of dishes, they have it cooked and eat it right away. Imagine, fresh food turning into hot food at low prices! Now that's what I call fine dining. One very popular Dampa market is the one located at Farmers Market. It's maybe be easily spotted because it's just right beside the market and is very popular to many Filipinos.
Although it is next to the wet market, it is still very clean and well maintained. There are a lot of seats and the open air makes the area well ventilated. Dampa at Farmers is a modified version of the dampa we all know. Here there are air-conditioned rooms that can be rented. But honestly, this defeats the purpose of experience a true "paluto" meal. Although they have different kinds of fresh meat and food's ready to be cooked, dampa is very popular for a wide variety of seafood's, which are guaranteed to be fresh and clean. With several choices, its not hard to appreciate the essence of a simple dampa meal. Some examples of famous meals served here are crabs, crispy pata, chicken adobo, prawns and a lot more. It definitely doesn't stop there, there are so much choices to choose from and several meals to taste, so head on over to Dampa sa Farmers market and try it all. Aside from eating, there are also drinks served here so it is not only a place to eat but also a place to just relax and chill with friends or family.
Although it is next to the wet market, it is still very clean and well maintained. There are a lot of seats and the open air makes the area well ventilated. Dampa at Farmers is a modified version of the dampa we all know. Here there are air-conditioned rooms that can be rented. But honestly, this defeats the purpose of experience a true "paluto" meal. Although they have different kinds of fresh meat and food's ready to be cooked, dampa is very popular for a wide variety of seafood's, which are guaranteed to be fresh and clean. With several choices, its not hard to appreciate the essence of a simple dampa meal. Some examples of famous meals served here are crabs, crispy pata, chicken adobo, prawns and a lot more. It definitely doesn't stop there, there are so much choices to choose from and several meals to taste, so head on over to Dampa sa Farmers market and try it all. Aside from eating, there are also drinks served here so it is not only a place to eat but also a place to just relax and chill with friends or family.
More pictures!
