20 finds at Landers Superstore C5

MANILA, Philippines — It’s Metro Manila east’s turn to have great shopping options as Landers Superstore ArcoVia City opened last April 22. Located at C5 — on E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue in Ugong, Pasig City — it’s the fifth Landers Superstore branch to be launched after opening its Alabang West branch in March.

At every Landers opening week, the sales are unbelievable. There were buy-one take-one deals including flatscreen TVs and dining and bedroom essentials, discounts on outdoor furniture, home appliances, kitchen must-haves, snacks and food.

At every pre-opening preview, Landers showcases its suppliers’ products with a buffet table of cold cuts, cheeses, breads, pastries, pasta, chocolates and other snacks. In short, all the food and sweets kept our energy up as we explored the store.

Being in a superstore makes me happy and I know I’m not alone — there were couples and families browsing the local and imported products in Landers signature wide aisles and happily calculating their savings from the discounts.

Other perks members enjoy are free haircuts at Federal Barbers and fuel discounts of P1.50 per liter for diesel and P2 per liter for gasoline at any Landers-Caltex gas stations.

Here are 20 value finds at Landers Superstore ArcoVia City:

1. It’s summer and Landers is offering colorful bikinis for those selfies on the beach. At P399, opening week’s deal was buy one, take one.  I was also surprised to find some tees, shorts, socks and underwear on the aisles. Nothing fancy, just everyday wear that you can never have enough of.

2. Stainless steel Oster cookware sets and Henckels Capri Gran frying pan sets on sale at P4,900 with average savings of P1,300. If you’re going to overhaul your kitchen, start with the cookware.

3. Clams! I’ve been wanting to make vongole for the longest time but didn’t now where to get fresh or frozen clams. At a recent event I sat next to chef Sandy Daza and he said, Farmer’s Market in Cubao, but that’s too far from where I live. At Landers, I found the perfectly sized frozen clams. And I have to keep in mind what Sandy said, that vongole is a very simple and if you add more ingredients (to garlic, white wine and parsley), you’re going to mess it up.

4. Outdoor and indoor furniture, whether it’s a canopied daybed or swing set for the garden or wooden dining sets and office chairs, you’ll find them here.

5. Garden shed, anyone? Yes, you can find that at Landers too — and things you might want to store inside like garden hose, tools and planters.

6. Canvas and hardcase luggage by Samsonite, set of two pieces (cabin size and 25 kilos), for less than the price of one big luggage in the mall. There are also Delsey hardcase luggage.

7. Wines and spirits. It’s not a superstore without a super large section of drinks. You have imported brandy like Fundador, local Emperador, top-shelf vodkas and whiskies. Mid-price Absolut Blue, for instance, is P250 cheaper than in a supermarket or even a liquor store.

8. Feeling like sirloin or T-bone? Imported steaks from Australia and the US are packed according to grade, which makes it easier for you to budget your steak nights at home. Norwegian salmon are frozen while some local fish are still swimming in tanks!

9. Nibbles, chocolates and chicheria for Netflix marathons are bountiful in the store, you just have to keep an eye out for them because they’re in different aisles. It’s almost like a treasure hunt!

10. Party needs like thick paper plates, red plastic cups and utensils that don’t break when you try to cut into a piece of chicken.  

11. Table games like foozball, and equipment for actual sports like for volleyball, soccer and basketball.

12. At the frozen dessert section of Landers, I feel that some sort of dramatic music or drum roll should play every time you open the doors. Bailey’s ice cream? Yes, please! What about Cadbury or Ben & Jerry’s with the face of Stephen Colbert on the tub of American Dream flavor? The local brands’ fruity, creamy flavors are there as well. And Nathaniel’s buko pandan is always a hit in the summer heat.

13. Deli sausages, cold cuts and cheeses are the best way to start a party and you’ll find varieties from all over the world. 

14. Dough & Co.’s bunt cakes, chocolate marble cake and muffins will save you hours of slaving at the oven.

15. There’s nothing more enjoyable than a barbecue party than having a great barbecue grill. These are expensive, but at Landers you can choose how much cash to splash for a keeper.

16. Personal care products range from local faves to imported ones like Aveeno. And they’re not in bundles (a common misconception about superstores) — you can buy just one piece or bottle, whether it’s toothpaste or facial wash.

17. One of the reasons why people come to a Landers’ opening week is the ridiculously good bargains on flatscreen TVs. Brands like Samsung (oh those beautiful curve screens!) and LG are discounted, while others are on a buy one, take one deal.

18. Fresh produce, prepared salads and roasted chicken for a quick family meal.

19. Bed lines, bath mats and towels are another recent obsession since I sorted out the linen closet at home. Bedding sets go as low as P1,499 for a four-piece king at 300 thread count or higher.    

20. And my favorites: Rubbermaid garbage bins with wheels or without. I love those black giant bins, which my friends found entertaining seeing how excited I was about them. Seriously, they keep the trash bags secure till garbage day comes. Yup, I’m so compulsively neat about some things that I want my garbage to be, too.

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Check out the author’s travel blog at www.findingmyway.net. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @iamtanyalara.

Landers Superstore ArcoVia City is located along C5, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue. Until June 30, Landers is currently offering 50 percent discount on new memberships, so you only have to pay P400 instead of the regular fee of P800. Just go directly to the membership counter to apply. You may also apply on their website at http://landers.ph.