ONE LESSON most Thomasians learn the hard way is that University life can be a tad expensive, thus the need for practicality.
It pays to be street-smart and to save up some money for a rainy day (or for when a busload of handouts need to be photocopied). Thus, the Varsitarian has compiled a map for the cheap finds on food, school supplies and hang-out places around UST that get you through while savoring the bittersweet life in the University.
Feel-at-home eateries
A few steps away from Dapitan gate is the famous V. Concepcion Street which houses an array of home-style restaurants such as Auribel, Merries, Pasta Plates and Hapag Kainan.
Auribel offers delectable Filipino dishes like caldereta and pork chop for as low as P40.
Customers can hardly tell what their favorite dishes are because the restaurant alters its menu everyday.
“We never repeat our menus. If we served Adobo today, it will take a while before we serve it again so that our customers would have different viands all the time,” says UST alumna Auribel Coronel, one of the owners of the eatery.
The restaurant also serves free juice in every meal, perfect for students in a shoestring budget. Apart from affordable food Auribel looks to be a comfortable place to dine, boasting a 60-seat capacity, air-conditioners and flat screen television.
One of the oldest eateries in V. Concepcion is Merries, which has filled the grumbling tummies of students for 20 years now.
Originally a merchandising shop along Laong Laan St., Merries had become an eatery since it moved to its current location. The eatery is famous for its Adobo, Barbeque, and Giniling (ground meat) says owner Merrie Cayabyab. Meals are as low as P20, with half orders if you are on a tight budget.
Just beside Merries lies Hapag Kainan restaurant, another hole-in-the-wall that offers authentic Filipino cuisines served in frying pans and clay pots.
Students can either buy half orders of viands (for as low as P18) or whole orders for less than P50.
Cuisines for less
With sizzling meals playing a big part in a Thomasian’s diet, its no wonder a place like Almer’s had become so popular.
Located along Alfredo Street near Dapitan, Almer’s has been a famous haunt for carnivores for 17 years now, mainly due to its sumptuous sisig.
The restaurant recently went through a major renovation, putting up air-conditioners and revamping the whole second floor, nonetheless, this did not affect the food prices—sizzling meals with rice and mashed potato still cost the same price, with the cheapest at P45.
“We started the renovation a month ago to give our customers a more comfortable place to eat with exceptional service,” manager Joel Delos Reyes says.
If you’re tired of eating Filipino food, then Pasta Plates the place to be.
The place may be cramped with only seven tables available but the walls adorned with paintings and pictures as well as the brewing aroma of herbs and spices, will surely stimulate your senses.
With meals priced as low as P50, Pasta Plates has surely attracted a following.
For a chance to experience eating with Thomasian athletes, try dining at Lopez Canteen just across P. Noval gate. With 48 years in the business, the restaurant is one of the oldest eateries along the University Belt, according to owner Teodora Lopez.
Lopez is famous for its combo spaghetti and combo palabok served with puto at P55 each. It also offers combo meals of viands and rice, with a side dish of either fried lumpia or vegetables, for P65. Breakfast and meriendas are also served for as low as P20.
For the on-the-go Thomasian on a tight budget, Lovelite is the place to be.
Located along Asturias Street, Lovelite lures customers in with its cheap prizes and aromatic smell of frying patties.
Burgers and hotdogs could come as low as P29 while a foot-long and rice combo would fetch about P38.You’ll surely be satisfied with the huge serving of rice accompanied with overflowing gravy.
“Many students like it here because of the cleanliness and affordable prices. And if they need to photocopy some notes or have something ring bound, we can also accommodate that,” says Lovelite proprietor Leonor Datuluna.
If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, then its time to partake in the street foods lining Asturias and V. Concepcion streets near Dapitan and P. Noval. These stalls offer less than P20 merienda like quail eggs, calamares (deep-fried squid) fish balls, siomai and banana-que.
Supplies anyone?
Students need not go to the mall for expensive school supplies—the area around UST offers the same quality items at a much cheaper price. Asturias Street, for example, is peppered with school supply shops that are both varied and easy on the wallet.
Located at the ground floor of R&F Building, Trixie’s Boutique in Asturias sells basic school supplies like paper, pens, notebooks, folders, envelopes and some art supplies for as low as P6.
“Most students buy their school supplies here because it’s cheaper compared to other stores,” says Trixie’s personnel Jun Abijayan.
The shop also sells first aid and dissecting kits, lab uniforms, gloves, and even surgical masks. A syringe costs around P8 while a lab uniform costs P230.
Two stores away from Trixie’s is Miranda Bookstore. Apart from school supplies, Miranda also has science-related materials, gadgets and medial supplies. Students taking up science-related courses are often seen inside, buying animal specimens like preserved frog skeletons or cat or frog brains.
The store also has a wide range of books, notebooks, folders, and envelopes sold at reasonable prices.
Replacing an old T-square and templates? Fret not for just along P. Noval St. rests Joli’s which has been the all-time merchandising shop for Architecture and Fine Arts students.
Joli’s holds school supplies and art decors for making “plates.” Also inside the store are heavy pieces of equipments and machineries for printing and tarpaulin-making. Basic supplies like a one-fourth illustration board costs around P15 while a hold press costs P50.
Due to its cheap prices and services, the store is often jam-packed with customers. Despite this, students like Katrina Taruc and her friends still frequent the shop.
“Joli’s has special edition books that other stores do not have,” she says.
Cyber shops with perks
Online games and social networking sites are a big no-no inside the campus. You’ll just have to do away with the computer rentals around UST, some of which offer student discounts and promos.
Nitrohub in Asturias offers computer rentals and services for as low as P5 for 15 minutes of Internet surfing. Three-hour computer rental costs around P40, much cheaper compared to other computer shops. Membership in Nitrohub entails perks such as discounts on scanning services and computer rental.
Its sister shop, Nitrogig, also has some freebies for its members. Located along P. Noval, it has ring binding services for P40, with lamination and typing job services at reasonable prices. Unlike other computer shops, membership in Nitrogig and Nitrohub is free.
I-chill offers printing for P2 per page while computer rentals are P20 per hour from 8 a.m. to 7p.m. From 7pm onwards, rental goes down to only P15 per hour.
If you are up for an easy-going sport, try visiting Dapitan Billiard Hall at the corner of Navarra Street for a game of 8-ball. With a whooping 18 pool tables and loud afternoon music, this place can enjoyed by both skilled and first-time players with 15 minutes of pool action costing only P10.
With just enough cash stuffed in your pocket, going to the mall and spending plenty of money seem unnecessary especially when you can have what you need for less. All it takes is a little courage and daring to go out and explore the streets surrounding the University.
