Over the years, various shopping malls and bargain centers have started to sprout, but there is always the option of Greenhills. Filipinos and even foreigners would always return here to do their shopping. Compared to the flea markets of Baclaran, Divisoria, Tutuban and Quiapo, Greenhills offers almost the same variety of affordable goods but boasts of the convenience, accessibility and safety not found in these low-end bargain centers.

One of the oldest shopping malls in the country, Greenhills was constructed in the early 1960s as an upscale shopping arcade. Located in a wealthy neighborhood, most of its shoppers then were residents from the nearby villages. Because of this, it somehow gave the impression that it was built only for the rich and famous.

During its heyday in the 1970s, Greenhills was known as the haven of top-of-the-line imported merchandise from leather goods to ready-to-wear clothes and food items.

Other facilities include cinema houses, bowling alley, and a children’s playground right in the middle of Virramall and Shoppesville, two of the most frequented shopping attractions here.

Its vast parking area also used to be the hangout of youngsters who often engaged in car racing competitions.

Through the years, more and more attractions were added to make the place a complete destination for locals as well as foreigners. One of these is the "tiangge" that later on earned for Greenhills the reputation as "the country’s top flea market destination."

The man responsible for this is businessman Henry Babiera. He was the one who introduced the tiangge concept in the malls, thus the monicker "King of Philippine Tiangge." A former seaman, Babiera saw the good business in flea markets in the countries he visited abroad so he decided to replicate it in the Philippines, where he said Filipinos are more creative and enterprising.

After a falling out with his partners in Harrison Plaza where he first put up a tiangge, Henry went his way to pursue his "dream" elsewhere. Unfortunately, the road to success was long and hard. People were not ready to accept his idea and business proposition.

"It was really an uphill climb for me. Those days when I was presenting the idea of a tiangge mall concept to other mall operators, they were reluctant and discriminating. They said: Bakit tiangge ang cheap naman. Baka magcompete sa mga tenants namin. Ayoko ng ganun kasi ang baduy," he recalled.

Until one man gave him the break, it was billionaire Don Rafael Ortigas Jr., president of the Ortigas and Company Ltd. Partnership, owner of Greenhills. The full-blooded Spanish also owns many properties in the country.

Henry explained that before they mounted the first tiangge in Greenhills, they went abroad to observe this industry in places like Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan and Australia etc. "We adopted the concept but adjusted it to the Philippine context to make it more applicable to the Filipinos. I am proud to say that we are trendsetters, making sure that we answer to the call of the ever-changing times."

Over the years, the tiangge business has done wonders to Greenhills’ image as its concept was gradually accepted by the people. Today, almost all malls have flea markets within its premises.

"Tiangges have mushroomed around the country, particularly in malls. I’m very happy in the sense that finally a part of my dream and vision was accepted by society and the businessmen. They learned that there is so much life in tiangge, so much economic activity. Now they have recognized that flea markets can also be an engine for economic growth and recovery mainly because of the millions of jobs that it generates," Henry pointed out.

The tiangge, according to Henry, developed in Filipinos an entrepreneural spirit as well as their ingenuity.

"The tianggeros (term he coined, referring to people engaged in the tiangge business) learned to develop their own line of business even if there is scarcity of capital. Because this business does not require high-financing. So after all these years of dreaming, my long struggle paid off," Babiera declared.

He disclosed that he has been getting a lot of offers lately to mount in their establishments the same thing he did with Greenhills but he declined, saying his loyalty is with the Ortigases.

"Tianggeros don’t go for big profits, they go for volume sales. The biggest contributors to their success are wholesalers from the provinces," Henry said.

According to Henry, the 48-year-old art and animal lover, part of the reason for Greenhills’ success is its fair treatment of all kinds of tianggeros — be it a Catholic or Muslim. Because of this open, unjudgemental atmosphere, many Muslims have put up their own stalls in the place, mostly selling pieces of jewelry, and other accessories made of precious or semi-precious stones and pearls.

Henry said the physical presence of these Muslims has also helped boost the tiangge business in Greenhills, as shoppers really flock to their stalls because of their very cheap prices of goods.

He added that the ordinary shoppers are not only the patrons of Greenhills but the rich and famous including royalties like Queen Sofia of Spain. Others like her shop in Greenhills incognito.

In a year, Greenhills hosts 11 big tiangges, five are mounted by the mall management while the rest are being organized by Henry’s company, the Prime Asia Trade Planner and Convention Organizer (PATEPCO) where he is the president and chief executive officer.

At present, PATEPCO is holding the first Philippine Folk Arts Festival, back to back with the 13th Philippine Fiesta Fair.

What makes the 24-day Folk Arts Festival extra special is that for the first time the local market will have the rare opportunity to buy native furniture and handicrafts, available only to the foreign market abroad.

It took Henry a long time to convince these Manila famers (big-time exporters who only participate in CITEM-hosted exhibits here and in trade fairs abroad) to join the event in Greenhills.

Henry said the reason is that they are hesitant that their products, most of which now possess a Western look but made of indigenous materials, might not be accepted by the Filipino market.

Of the 80 exporters who are members of the Philippine Chamber of Handicrafts, Exports and Producers, he was able to convince a few.

One of them is Olga Monti, president of OLM Treasures and an exhibitor in the Folk Arts Festival, misgivings such as these should be set aside by her colleagues in the business.

An exporter for 20 years now, Olga said she was very happy she joined the tiangge for she had been making money from it since its opening last March 11.

"I did not expect that the tiangge here in Greenhills can generate good business even for us exporters. I am so overwhelmed with happiness. It is so pleasurable for me to talk and establish a rapport with my customers. It feels like I chanced upon a goldmine," Monti exclaimed.

Olgi was delightfully surprised to find that Filipinos have the money to buy their stuff. She admitted that she did not even lower the prices of her products (ethnic furniture, home decor and handicrafts) but maintained the actual export retail price.

"The tiangge gives out an electrifying effect of enterprise. There is really cash flow. I’m so happy that PATEPCO convinced me. These companies who are devoted in helping traders like us, should not only be idolized but supported,"

The Folk Arts Festival offers the best of export-quality native handicrafts and furnitures. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until April 3. It will only be closed on Maunday Thursday and Good Friday.

Today, Greenhills is basking in modernity. For the past few years, it has underwent major renovations aimed at giving it a more modern or 21st century look.

It now features a department store containing the latest local and imported brands, beauty shops, a newly-revived Music Museum, a vibrant food strip that offers endless choices of restaurants, a badminton court, multi-level parking spaces, and more business establishments. Soon, more customers can look forward to more tiangges at Virramall which is currently undergoing renovation. All these changes, according to Henry, are being accomplished to make Greenhills attain its vision of being the best shopping and entertainment center in the country.