by Lori Baltazar
Up until a year and a half ago, it seemed that every city had a weekend market except for Makati: the old Sidcor had been resurrected at the Lung Center in Quezon City, Greenhills had its own weekend market, and so did Alabang. Then in June of 2004, the Salcedo Saturday market sprung up at the parking lot on Tordesillas St. It coughed and sputtered a little at the beginning, but is now so popular that there is a waiting list of about 100 vendors itching to rent some real estate there.
Hoping to share some of that love, the San Lorenzo (San Lo) Sunday Market has sprouted at the parking lot on Legaspi St. corner Herrera St. Because it’s only a few months old, there aren’t too many stalls just yet, but this weekend market boasts of an organic section, which includes produce, organic sweeteners and grains, and natural medicines to cure every ill. I may be wrong about this, but I think the San Lo market is where the Organic Market has transferred to from their previous digs at Greenbelt.
Last Sunday, my Bin and I were road-testing our new mountain-bikes. On a whim, I suggested biking all the way to the San Lo market to check it out. I was feeling particularly brave because Makati is a virtual ghost town on the weekends, so 
navigating vehicles while on a bike is not a problem; otherwise, you won’t catch me biking anywhere near public roads. Filipino drivers are a mad lot, me included. Sometimes.
I always get a surge of pleasure whenever I go to these weekend markets. Everything looks so pretty and fresh, and there are plenty of things to see and touch. Marketing is an incredibly tactile experience here, and I get to see and buy plenty of things I don’t find at my usual supermarket or palengke (wet market).
At the San Lo market, the organic produce has its own section: I was besotted with the fresh ginger, so smooth they almost looked golden; sweet orange potatoes as long as my arm; and leafy greens for salads and sandwiches. Wandering on, I spied a stall where they were selling Angus beef at a jaw-dropping P250 per 100 grams!; famous baker Baba Ibazeta, peddling her goods from Classic Confections ; a crepe stand; homemade breads and bottled sardines; carabao’s milk (my favorite!); and plenty of stalls selling homemade baked goods, among others. Unlike other markets, there are stalls selling rattan furniture, ceramic plates and teapots, and beaded flip-flops.
No doubt you’ll get hungry browsing ”“ most people have their breakfast, brunch or 
lunch here at the shaded eating areas. The sun really does a number on you though, but I recommend eating amidst the heat at least once. It’s part of the experience. Besides, there are numerous food stalls selling all kinds of things to tease the taste buds. And of course, no weekend market in Manila would be complete without the requisite barbeque stall. People will wait as long as an hour just to score some of these babies ”“ P25 for a stick of meat that comes with a vinegar sauce sour enough to make your eyebrows meet. No wonder people are willing to stand in line, my Bin included.
These weekend markets are a good way to immerse oneself in food. The freshness can’t be beat, and the big plus here is the feeling of community, especially if you come around often.
List of weekend markets:
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I love going to these weekend markets! I agree with you about marketing being a tactile experience 🙂
Market Manila also wrote a post on the one in Legaspi…haven’t been yet but I will check it out soon. Thanks for the informative list of markets you put in the end 🙂
BTW, have you heard anything about the organic weekend market in Eastwood (Libis)? I’m not too sure about the details…
I think Sidcor at the Lung Center is open until the afternoon, although most of the good stuff is gone by noon.
Hi,
Do you have the contact information for San Lorenzo and Salcedo Weekend Market? Can you send it to my email address:
katie.usapdin@ichotelsgroup.com?
I’m interested in renting a space.
thanks!
katie
I moved from Salcedo village to Legaspi Village last year and I noticed that the Salcedo Market is way better than the Legaspi Market (Corinthian parking lot). I wish they’d have the same sellers/tenants. I went to the Legaspi market last Sunday, I was so disappointed with my purchases. I bought bibingka, puto bumbong, and kare-kare. They did not taste good at all. More like they did not have any taste at all! Tsk tsk!
hi! would you happen to know the contact numbers of the organizers in salcedo weekend market? Im interested as well in renting a space. thanks
ppl_at_ur_service@yahoo.com
Can you please send me details on how to rent a space on any weekend markets that you’ve listed. Thank you! I would really appreciate your response
rastababe_smoke420@yahoo.com
hey, you should go back to legaspi market these days…its much better than way back when they started…
to apply for a stall in either market just go there on market day, look for the organizers and get an application.
Hi,
I am interested in renting a space at these weekend markets. May I get the contact number of the organizer of the Salcedo Saturday market?
Kindly text it to 0917-5595341.
Thanks.
hi! do u have contact nu,bers pf the organizers of weekend markets/bazaare in:
San Lorenzo Sunday Market
Salcedo Saturday Market
Alabang Organic Market
Northeast Greenhills Weekend Market
I am very much interested in renting a place
Kindly email me at saranghe924@yahoo.com
Hi, do you have contact numbers of the organizers of these market?
San Lorenzo Sunday Market
Salcedo Saturday Market
Alabang Organic Market
Northeast Greenhills Weekend Market
Kindly please email it to me if you have them at sarahbon_17@yahoo.com
Thank you so much.
Hi i’m interested in getting a booth/space in your weekend market. Can you help me how to get one. Thanks!!!
Contact:09175358337
Hi, are there still available spaces for rent at the Legazpi Sunday Market? How much does a booth cost? I’m interested to join.
I’d appreciate if you can send me the contact numbers of the organizer.
You may send this info thru:
mobile: 0917-8866532
email: yettie_girl@yahoo.com
Thanks so much for the help!
Hi I would like to know where can we contact the organizers for the sunday market. We are selling “Kapeng Barako in Jute sack and we can also sell barako beans where we can grind on that day” and also famous muslim delicacies like “Tula Itum, Pyangang (chicken in wrapped in Coconut Sauce), Satti (beef in stick, like barbecue but better because of the spicy orange sauce.)We want to share the Muslim delivacies which we enjoy with our non-muslim friends also.
I hope you can send me info through: vjgaring@gmail.com or 09278833366
Hi ms. lorie,
Iam interested to join the sunday or whatever day market, kindly text me the contact nos of all the markets listed. I would appreciate if you email to: noemitori@gmail.com or cell no. 09202187675. Thank you very much
noemi
Hi can u please send me contact details of organizers? Ty
I will definitely have to check those places that you listed and go there this coming Friday instead of going to the usual SM malls to shop and buy groceries. Thank you for sharing such an interesting and informative article. – Tula
hi, i’d like to join the sidcor market. Would you know the contact details of the organizers? you may email me at pjvalenciano@gmail.com.
Thanks!
hi! heard that sidcor tiangge will be transferring to eton centris come nov. 7. could anyone supply me with a contact name and number? i’m interested in getting a stall. thanks in advance:-)
Hi. Im interested to join the Salcedo Market. Does anyone happen to know the organizers?Thank you to all and advanced Merry christmas 😉
It would be best to go there on any Saturday…the organizers have a table there and entertain inquiries. The waiting list is quite long though…
meron pong store native kakanin and ulam walang takip ang pagkain at marumi ang mga gamit,yung katabi nang sausage store,would you do something on your patrons how to get rid of those cheap business people pretending to know how to sell foods in the high end market.
I would like to know how to get in touch with the organizers of San Lorenzo Sunday Market and Legaspi Saturday market. I am interested to rent a stall for various native delicacies (home-made embutido, relleno, leche flan, longganisa (bulacan and cabanatuan), ube, home-made macapuno, etc.)
I can be reached at 09162623520 or thru email sofia_ncclex@yahoo.com
Thank you,
Sofia C. Santos
Hi would you please assist me in getting the contact numbers of the organizers at Salcedo and Legaspi Market? email me at darlene819@gmail.com
Thank you very much
Hi, would like to know the contact # of organizers of Salcedo Market and Legaspi Market. Our club is having an event featuring organic markets, we’ll be going to these markets and we’d love to hear about the history and mind behind the creation of these markets. You can email me using the mail I filled-up above the textbox. Thank you! More power to your blog!
Hi Ms. Lori! I would like to ask the contact details of the organizer for sunday market in greenhills as well as other day market. I’m interested to join.
Please email me to mitchoic@yahoo.com
Thanks!