The Divisoria Experience - Bargain Shopping in Manila
Divisoria. To some, it may mean nothing. To others who have been there, it is the absolute
mecca for shoppers and bargain hunters.
If there is one thing most tourists both local and foreign appreciate in shopping in the
Philippines, it's the bargains. Rows of stalls that can be found in the local bazaars also
known as "tiangge" (pronounced "Chang-Geh") can only be a teaser of
treasures to be unearthed by determined bargain shoppers.
From clothes to jewelry, to handicrafts and designer imitation items, most everything may
be found in tiangges at prices like you would never believe. A lot of market places and
local stores play host to these bargain treasure troves but none still matches the bargain
central of them all.
Divisoria, or "Divi" as it is nicknamed by its regular patrons, may be found in
downtown Manila,the Philippine capital, near Claro M. Recto Avenue. By all accounts, it's
like a giant flea market where the prices are not only dirt cheap at wholesale prices, but
you can haggle for as low as you want. Believe it or not, it is just about the place a
person could go with only $25 and be outfitted with branded sneakers, jeans, a couple of
trendy shirts and a faux designer bag.
Clothes may be had dirt cheap with shirts going for as low as US$1.75 to a maximum of
$6.00 for foreign name brand shirts. Just recently I went shopping and was able to get
Marks & Spencer shirts that I bought for only a hundred fifty pesos each (about
$2.75.) A pair of jeans are tagged at 300 pesos ($5.50) while good imitation designer bags
and wallets can go for as low as 200 pesos ($3.00.)
For those interested in local handicraft and indigenous products, you can buy chandeliers,
lamps and wall hangings made of capis (mother of pearl) or furniture decorated with
slivers of inlaid tamaraw (Philippine Water Buffalo) horns.
Novelty items like native wood carvings, parols (Christmas lantern) made of capis, wind
chimes made of shells and religious statues may also be purchased there.
Cloth made from pinya (pineapple fibers) and abaca (manila hemp) are also sold in the
textile sales area in Divisoria. Crocheted, laced, woven or silk, you name it, they've got
it.
Getting hungry? Even meals may be had at unbelieveable prices. For approximately
$2/apiece, a meal of soup, a cup of rice, two entrees and a small soft drink may be bought
at the sidewalk eateries scattered around Divisoria.
For visitors who'd like to really take in the Filipino scene, they can snack on chicharon
(deep fried pork rinds,) tapa (cured meat,) dilis (crispy, sweet anchovies,) green mango
with bagoong (anchovies) and the Filipino delicacy used in one episode of Fear Factor,
balut (boiled duck eggs with partially developed duckling usually eaten with salt) are
also sold in stalls lining the sidewalks. More conventional snacks like smoked squid, deep
fried fish balls, breaded quail eggs, and boiled or smoked corn on the cob are also
available.
For the less culinary adventurous, fast food chains like Jollibee, McDonald's and Burger
King may be found along with a few Chinese restaurants here and there.
Speaking of food, food shopping from the market can also be a joy. Local and imported
fruit like fragrant pears, kiwi fruit, honeydew and breadfruit may be bought by the crate
at the market. Like everything in Divisoria, expect to get these at cheap wholesale
prices.
For tourists who find the heat or smoke from the vehicles too oppressive, they can shop in
comfort inside the Tutuban Mall at the side of Divisoria where indoor "tiangges"
are set up in air-conditioned spaces. Costs may be a teeny bit higher than items sold on
the streets but at these prices, they're still a steal.
First time visitors to Divisoria may find the area confusing and labyrinthine. Hence, a
local guide is always good to have. Having a guide means that visitors will have with them
not only a guide but also a translator, bargain middleman, and additional pair of hands
when it comes to carrying your purchases.
Facilities for shoppers include ATMs at major bank outlets in Divi, moneychangers at
designated indoor shops, and shopping bags made of woven sacks sold at almost every corner
in Divisoria to make carrying your packages easier.
While getting around Divisoria is easy enough for as long as you have on comfortable
sneakers or sandals, you can always try out the native calesas (horse drawn carriages)
who, for a small fee, can take you on a small tour of Divisoria. You can also hire
sidecars (bicycles with passenger cars attached to the side) to take you back to your car
if you feel winded down after all the walking and haggling.
Five Cardinal Rules for shopping in Divisoria.
1. For practical and safety reasons, never go to Divisoria alone.
2. Wear your rattiest and oldest clothes. Hey, why should they give you bargains if you
can afford to dress in Gucci, right?
3. Wear comfortable shoes and loose, light weight clothes. It can get very hot during the
day.
4. A good hat, sunscreen and water will be nice to have on this kind of trip.
Carry your money in various denominations, preferably in smaller bills to limit problems
in finding change. Put them in a nice, secure place where it won't easily be
snatched/stolen. Don't put all your money in just one pocket or bag. Nothing wrong with
being safe than sorry right?
Vendors may demure all they can but when haggling, always start at 50% of the asking
price. You should be able to seal the deal just a few pesos higher than that.
Enough talk. Let’s go shopping!!!
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