10 Thrift Shopping Tips in Kamuning Street, Quezon City

Kamuning street and the district was named after Murraya paniculata. This is a sweet smelling flowering shrub which used to be commonly found within the vicinity.

Kamuning street

The district was developed mainly for housing project in the 1930’s for government employees. Other business eventually opened and it is synonymous for custom made tailoring shops and supplies.

Kamuning Bakery which is the oldest existing bakery in the city is located nearby.

Barangay Kamuning street map ( serves as guide for tourists and newbies)

The district also had several bus stations and a jump off point to several provinces in the north and southern areas like Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Bicol and Visayas.

Thrift Shopping Tips

mid- century building along Kamuning street, some of the former residential houses were transformed into tailoring shops.

According to old time residents, Some houses would conduct garage sale once in a while but it was to dispose of their pre-loved items in the 1960’s and even 1970’s. The district is also known for its tailoring stores and customized outfit.

cloth for sale ( per yard)

Sometime about 30 years ago, thrift stores began to open one after the other. Some of the stores would held a monthly swap meet, eyeball or discount sale intended to attract customers, loyal clients and friends. Rent is relatively cheaper compared to Malate, Cubao Expo, Quezon City and Evangelista Street in Makati until few years ago.

Iyaman Fashion House Ukay-Ukay

Location : 17, Kamuning Road, Edsa Avenue Corner, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila

10.) Thrift Stores are mostly located near Kamuning corner EDSA- There were at least a dozen or so thrift stores which are conveniently located near the EDSA intersection. Some specializes on fashion, bags, fixture, bicycles, furniture, office supplies, house items and Japan Surplus. One can have a leisurely walk within Kamuning street from 50 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes visiting each store. The far end of the thrift stores are located near Tomas Morato Avenue.

Japan Surplus Kamuning-YAMEINA Enterprises

Location: 122 GFO bldg., Kamuning road, Barangay Kamuning , Quezon City

9.) Opening Time – Each store operational hours would vary. The earliest would open around 9:00- 9:30 am and closes around past 7:00pm or 8:00 pm on ordinary days. Some are closed on sundays.

Swap Meet Antique Store

Location : 124 Kamuning Street, Quezon City

Santa Clause and Christmas village houses for sale

8.) Have a Strategy – Be sure that one must already know a ballpark figure on what items do you need, have a price estimate and try to scout other thrift stores within the vicinity.

Laughing Buddha for sale

7.) Have a Pleasant Disposition–  Start the conversation with warm hello or hi, This will brightens everyone’s mood.

6.) Photography – Some thrift stores, especially those carrying home appliances have a large signage which do not allow photography and taking videos inside.

5.) Give Everything a Second or even a Third Look– Do not get afraid to ask assistance from the sales person. Take your time to look at the items for sale.

Northwest Estate and Collectibles

170 K-1st Street, Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City

Contact: 0905-315-9388 

4.) Not All Items are Cheap – I have a chance to visit a Japanese Surplus store which specializes on items from Japan. They were selling their small kokeshi doll for Php 100 each, which is a bit steep compared to those in Fairview, Novaliches or Valenzuela. Maybe there are a lot of kokeshi doll collectors within the district which may have jack-up the demand for these kind of dolls.

Japan Selections

Location: 6 Kamuning Road, Diliman, Quezon City, 1103 Metro Manila

3.) Know their Discount Sales and in-House Promos – Surplus or Thrift stores within Kamuning street also have their discount sale on certain time period.  I do not have an idea on the policy of DTI with regards to returning items. Remember that almost all the electrical appliances on sale does not have a warranty. Pre-love items have the mark of age and patina.  Tagging a friend or acquaintance is also recommended. As some say, ” You do not know everything “.

2.) Regular Visit–  Thrift shoppers would visit the thrift stores as often as weekly basis or depending on the arrival of the items. Find out the days and times your thrift store restocks its shelves, in order to get first deals on all the latest items. Since i do not have a luxury of time, I would only visit these stores on bi-monthly basis.

1.) Do not forget to Haggle – Haggling is an art and do not be afraid to ask for discount.

How to Commute :

Jeepneys have would have route to Kamuning from Project 2 and 3. There’s Project 2 and 3 via Kamuning, E. Rodriguez to Recto; Project 2 and 3 via E. Rodriguez to Welcome Rotonda; Project 2 and 3 to Vito Cruz Mabini, and Arroceros via España and E. Rodriguez to Project 2 and 3.

Another option is by bus which ply the EDSA route. Southbound buses from Malanday, Monumento, Novaliches would pass Kamuning street. Before going to Cubao.

Note: This is just a guide for those planning to visit the thrift stores. This is personal experience and interview with some residents of Kamuning street.

 

Historical Kamuning Bakery : President Corazon Aquino among its customers

43 Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1 street, Kamuning , Quezon City -Philippines

facade of the bakery with wheat logo

We usually passed along Judge Jimenez street whenever we went to Fairview and whenever i go to Tomas Morato street in Quezon City . We used to order a couple of bread and sometimes we would also crave for their egg pies , cheese cakes, yema rolls and Pan de Rizal. The bakery had around 300 kinds of bread, cakes, pastries .

interior of the bakery

There is an air- conditioned portion where the bakery can accommodate up to 30 people at any given time. 

family photo taken during the 1950’s with a delivery trunk

History :
Kamuning Bakery was founded around November 1939 a few months after the birth of Quezon City. The community bakery had witness almost all facet of the city.
The bakery is likewise intimately connected with the founding and growth of the city named after President Manuel L. Quezon.

Pan de Rizal

One of the family old-time recipe was the Pan de Rizal a small round shaped bread which was a luxury during  the time of Rizal. According to the descendants , It was Rizal’s favorite bread, it was the one given to him by his sister when he was imprisoned in Fort Santiago. The bread was baked by their great- grandmother .  The bread is common in almost every neighborhood bakeries and was called by many names. The shelf -life is longer than the ordinary bread and can last between 5 to 7 days without any refrigeration .

Kamuning shrub with white flowers

The area used to be planted with a lot of Kamuning shrubs ( Murraya paniculata) which are commonly found in within the locality hence the name. is used both in traditional medicine as an analgesic and for wood (for tool handles).

In the West, Murraya paniculata is cultured as an ornamental tree or hedge because of its hardiness, wide range of soil tolerance.

blueberry cheesecake

We have ordered some of their home-made cakes and , this is is quite cheap at Php 65.00 per slice ! It is moist and by the time we wanted to order for take-out , it was gone !

The original owners of the bakery were Mr. Marcelo and Ms. Leticia Bonifacio, who at the time were already operating a successful bakeshop in Manila called Los Baños Bakery. The family are descendants of Lucia-Rizal-Herbosa – sister of Dr. Jose P. Rizal . 

Kamuning bakery has been pugon-baking  traditional pan de-suelo from the old family recipe of founder’s fore-bearers. Traditional old-fashioned baking with 75-year-old pugon or wood-fire brick .

  Biscocho -one of the bakery’s best sellers

This second bakery was one of the first structures in Kamuning, along with a barber shop, grocery, schools and a church. The bakery is pretty advance during their date, While most of the bakeries and business establishments only used ordinary lettering as their business logo, Kamuning Bakery used wheat as its logo to symbolized its primary ingredient in their breads.

cheesecake

Japanese Occupation

Operations were rudely interrupted during the Japanese Occupation of the 1940s. Imported flour was expensive and difficult to find. In February 1945 came the Battle of Manila, with the capital city bombed by the Americans and sacked by the Japanese. The southern districts of Intramuros, Ermita and Malate went up in flames. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed, among them Leticia’s father, Miguel Bonifacio, and her husband Marcelo Javier. Some of the ingredients were very hard find , some had to be substituted with other locally available ingredients.

pan de suelo

Pan de Suelo is comparable to French baguette with their crunchy texture on the outside and soft in the inside, It is perfect combination to any  pork and bean , sausages , ham or any leftover adobo or asado . It is also best for coffee or chocolate. The bakery plans to serve coffee which came from coffee plantations and farmers cooperative .

cookies with glazed fruits -Php 30.00 per pack

Widowed, Leticia, who was actually a lawyer, continued to run the business with her uncle Ambrosio Ison. Her bakers remained loyal to her. Helping out was Leticia’s 5-year-old son, Teddy Javier, who would sell pan de sal to customers, three pieces of which then cost five centavos.

pan de sal

It used to be a sleepy neighborhood with very few residents up until the late 1950’s when people began to settle the place. It was in the early 1980’s when two ( 2) television stations which are located near the bakery and its stars began patronizing the bakery.

egg pies

Mr. Teddy grew attached to the business, all the way to adolescence, college life, adulthood and employment as an ABS-CBN salesman. Eventually he resigned and took over management of the bakery. Business picked up when they were able to deliver bread to New Frontier, South Supermarket and Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Manila.

celebrities and famous personalities are hung in a portion of a wall

Celebrities and Presidents :

One of the bakery’s bestsellers is the Pan de Suelo, a favorite of President Corazon Aquino. “This kind of bread requires a special skill to bake,” . “It is cooked on the oven’s floor and the heat is circulated equally to ensure it is cooked perfectly.” Their bread is baked in a wood-fired oven, which gives the products a distinct flavor. Not all wood can be use baking breads , One of the best woods are from mangrove trees , hardwood varieties like narra, kamagong and yakal .

Mr. Wilson Lee-Flores

According to the present owner , Real estate and columnist  Mr. Wilson Lee- Flores accounts” Culinary Heritage Advocate ” Dr. Doreen Gamboa Fernandez wrote a lengthy article about the historical pastries and products that the bakeshop offers.

President Manuel L. Quezon would also visit the bakeshop when he would come to the city.
Celebrities like Ms. Coney Reyes, Mr. Richard Gomez , Mr. Rogelio dela Rosa , Mr. Aga Muhlach , Mr. Mikael Daez ,Ms. Jessica Soho , Ms. Gloria Romero, Felice Prudente Santa Maria , Mr. Butch Dalisay, Ms. Julie Yap-Daza, Don Alejandro Roces, Nick Joaquin among others……….

group photo with freelance writers and bloggers

The host is very engaging and there are plans to have a small restaurant within the premises which will serve pasta, coffee and hot chocolates.  When our group asked Mr. Wilson Lee -Flores on what type of bread can best described him, He said ” Pan de Suelo ” tough outside but soft inside ! 

Reference: Palayok : Philippine Food Through Time : On Site , In the Pot

Address: No. 43 Judge Jimenez Street corner K-1st Street, Kamuning, Quezon City.

Tels: 9292216, 7945045, 09175202756, 09985544220, 09228321888, 09178481818.

Store Hours extended to 11 pm daily & to 9 pm on Sundays.

Please join their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kamuningbakery1939