Divisoria
remains to be the best place in Manila to shop for bulk items like clothing, bags,
shoes, toys and thousand household items at affordable prices. Divisoria, also
referred to as “Divi”, is known for its
retail and wholesale stores and tiangge-style
bazaars and street markets.
How to go to Divisoria – Because Divisoria is highly
congested, still the best way to go to Divisoria is get the taxi or other
public transportation like the jeepney or LRT. In case you decide to drive your
car, make sure you make yourself familiar with the right directions noting that
some streets may be temporarily closed due to local events or road repairs in
the area. Allow yourself enough time to weather the traffic specially if you go
there late in the day or during holidays or weekends. To my mind, the best and
shortest way to Divisoria is to take C.M. Recto Avenue and just drive straight
ahead until you reach the Tutuban Center Mall which is a landmark in Divisoria.
Parking is always a problem in Divisoria. It is best to use the multi-level paid parking at the Tayuman Center
Mall. Parking fees are reasonable with the first two hours at 40 pesos and
additional 10 pesos every additional hour thereafter. There may be other parking facilities in the
area but unless you go there early enough, parking is always difficult.
Where to shop – There are several Malls within Divisoria
proximate to each other where you can shop. Among them are:
1. 168 Mall –
This multi-level mall to my mind offers
the better selection of clothing and fashion items at very reasonable
prices. It has a fast food area on the
third floor with good selection of food stalls – Chariya’s Thai Kitchen,
Chopsticks and Spoons, Fruito King, Jollibee, etc. To our surprise, there is also a stall for Eng
Bee Tin where you can buy your freshly baked hopia, tikoy and other goodies.
2. Divisoria Mall – Good place to buy your electrical needs, gift items, toys, among others. Mall has three floors with a fast food area on
the third floor. Fast food area is huge
but may be very crowded. Food stalls include Jollibee, Chow King, Mang Inasal, Kamayan,
Kowloon, Mister Donut, Potato Corner and many others.
3. Tutuban Center Mall – This is an old but newly renovated mall which has two sections
connected to each other --- the Main Mall Center and the Prime Block Mall. The
latter offers good selection of clothing, shoes, bags, electronic and hardware products, toys, among
others. It has fashion and bridal stores at the third floor which sells
wide-variety of gowns and formal wears.
This mall section has no fast food area (it has only McDonalds at the
second floor) but many of its restaurants are located in the Main Mall Center
which includes famous eateries like the
Max Fried Chicken Restaurant,
Jollibee and Savory Chicken.
4. Meisic Mall (999 Mall) – still for me to discover. This mall has Puregold Supermarket on its
basement.
5. D8 Mall – Go
to this mall to shop for clothing and housewares
6. Lucky Chinatown Mall – This mall is where you’ll find high-end stores.
Travel and Shopping tips
1. Divisoria is always crowded and
therefore it is advisable that you go in the morning and take extra care of
yourself and your belongings. Wear something casual and comfortable shoes and
avoid using jewelries and expensive wears.
I go there without wearing an expensive watch and necklace and several
of my lady friends leave their nice handbags at home. Use sling bags instead. Be
careful of snatchers and pickpockets. Be careful also when you use your
expensive cell phones as there are incidents of cellphones being grabbed.
2. Shopping in street markets outside
the Malls is always hot and humid.
Moving in between the Malls will require you to walk which will take
longer than expected because of heavy crowd, street stalls and chaotic traffic.
Always be mindful of your safety.
3. Avoid buying fake or adulterated
cosmetics and drugs. Be watchful of food
items you buy which might contain harmful ingredients.
4. You can haggle with sellers
specially if you are buying in bulk. Best to first compare prices of things you
want to buy.
5. Bring cash as credit cards are not
accepted in the street market and many stores in the Malls. There are ATM machines
in banks and in all the Malls. Avoid
using ATM machines in very crowded areas. Remember to adhere to the practical
security tips in using ATMs.
6. Bring large enough bags for you the
goods you purchase. Those bags with zipper or closures are preferred. If you forget to bring one, you can easily
buy your bags from many shops in the area. If you expect yourself to buy a lot
and do not wish to break your back because of heavy load, bringing you grocery
trolley may be practical. Trollies of
various sizes and colors can be purchased in many stores there starting at
about 350 pesos.
7. Eating your snack or meals is not a
problem because there are lots of restaurants around. It is recommended however
that you consider going to the fast food facilities located in the Malls for
fast service, good selection of food and reasonable pricing. Again, consider
taking your snack and meals early to avoid the crowd and long lines.
8. Clean toilets are available in the
Malls. If toilets are crowded, consider using the toilets located in
restaurants. Toilets are expected to have running water but always bring your own
toilet paper or hand sanitizer.
9. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions
from police and security personnel in the area. If you don’t find them, it is
best to ask directions from any responsible store owner or personnel. If still in
doubt, validate the direction given by asking from another person. Most Filipinos can understand and speak
English.
(November 2017)
