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While Salcedo, Legazpi, and Sidcor Markets continue to rule the scene, more and more community markets have been popping up in Metro Manila — just not every weekend.

1. Block Party

Block Party is held in Alabang twice a year, three times at most. It kicked off this year, organized by Ampersand Collective, a group of three women, two of whom are new mothers. “We felt that everything cool we used to love are in the North: food, arts, craft, retail, music events,” says Samantha Zaragoza. “Given our new status, it’s so hard to be in the loop, so instead of feeling left out, we decided to bring them all of them together in one place.” Each Block Party is anchored on a different theme but all of them offer fabulous fun, “food that Southerners are talking about” and 100% local and hand made items. Catch Block Party on Nov 7 & 8, 11am-9pm, at Makiling Park, Ayala Alabang. PHP50 entrance.

2. The Gourmand Market

The Gourmand Market was supposed to be a bi-annual affair to “bring people together to eat well and celebrate life in a fabulous setting.” But the response has been so tremendous that organizers Dara David-Roa, Trish Panlilio and Dong Ronquillo decided to turn it into a quarterly shebang, where they try to create a good mix of old and new merchants each time. NawwTy’s Kitchen, says Dara, is always Gourmand’s main feature. “It is also a platform to advocate camaraderie among food purveyors and food lovers alike.” Catch Gourmand Market on Nov 13 -15, 11am-12am, at C1 Park, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
 

3.The Organic Market

The newest kid on the block is also the healthiest. The Organic Market is just about to go into its second outing on Sunday. With the aim of making healthy living a little bit easier for everyone, it gathers over 30 vendors of all things natural and organic, including Green Thumb, Down to Earth, The Butchery, Cocogreen, Perfect Mushroom, Full of Grace Organic, Proudly Promdi and more. “It’s extremely hard to transition to fully organic, so hopefully, this market will make it easier for everyone to incorporate some form of healthy living into their daily lives. Of course, having a venue to hang out and chill always helps,” says Miguel Rodriguez, one of its three organizers. Catch The Organic Market on Nov 8, 8am-6pm, at Burgos Park, Forbestown Road, Bonifacio Global City.
 

4. Steady Sunday Bazaaro

Finally, something for the QC crowd. We’ve got Mara Bernaldo, Earnest Zabala, Mico Solmoro and Isi Laureano to thank for Steady Sunday Bazaaro. It’s a bi-monthly affair that aims to showcase “quality local products, give QC peeps options and grow the community,” Bernaldo tells Coconuts Manila. Bazaaro is held every second and last Sunday of the month and has Earnest Bakes, KikiXKiki, Fake Alchemy, Chili Asylum, Midnight Bakery as its regulars. Catch Bazaaro on Nov 15, 12nn-6pm, at 19 Malingap St, Teachers Village, Quezon City. 
 

5. Mandala Park Weekend Market

The weekend market at Mandala Park gives Mandaluyong folks a monthly opportunity to come together as a community and bond over music and food. More than aiming to be the next big thing, the weekend market keeps it small, simple and sustainable, with just a handful of vendors who can trace the origins of their products. Curated by professional foodie JJ Yulo, the Mandala Park Weekend Market always has new vendors joining regulars like Fog City Cremeary, Ribs Manila, Fruit Magaic, Ramen Iroha, IAmKim, and B&T Meixcan Kitchen. Catch Mandala Park Weekend Market on Nov 28, 4pm-9pm, at Mandala Park, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong.
 

6. Muni Market

Much like the Block Party, Muni Market is a bi-annual affair that promotes conscious consumption and mindful eating. “We’d like to make people more aware of how they can shop, eat and travel more sustainably,” says Jen Horn. Apart from the usual food and shopping, the shindig offers educational talks, workshops and entertainment. From starting with just 16 vendors at The Grove, Rockwell, Muni Market is now a 50-merchant affair, which includes Edgy Veggy, Tsaa Laya and The Superfood Grocer. While they’ve made Capitol Commons something of a home base the past three editions, Jen says they’re now looking at a bigger and better space for the next edition. We’ll keep you posted! The next Muni Market happens is in April 2016. Venue TBC.

Headline photo: Margaret Garbo/Block Party Facebook page; all photos from respective Facebook pages of the markets.