SURVIVING DIVISORIA: A CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS GUIDE

When I was a kid, and our business was just starting to pick up, the only other place that excited us more than SM CITY North Edsa was going to Divisoria.

At Divisoria we felt–rich-er, very rich in fact, since the money we were given afforded us to buy a lot more items–and more importantly TOYS compared to department stores! Maybe that’s the reason why I’ve never been too particular about brands– as long as it fits and I like the design, i uy it. .

Back then my mom was also selling RTWclothes, and I often accompanied her, so I was able to explore all the adjacent streets from Tabora, Juan Luna, Recto, Binondo as she searched for wholesalers of clothing items her clients ordered from her. There was also a time when I sold giveaway shirts during Christmas Season, and Divisoria was where I sourced out my inventory.

So in a way I consider myself a veteran when it comes to shopping and have encountered pretty much all kinds of vendors (from the kind, to the devious and the unscrupulous ones who will try to screw you up) It has also taught me how to bargain and get the price I want.14924085_10155504499674199_1036531385_o

So allow me to share a few tips that I’ve  learned from all those years at the  shopping mecca that is Divisoria;

  1. MAKE A LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE: Santa isn’t the only one who needs to make a list, and whether its for someone naughty or nice, you need to check it twice to make sure you are not missing anything. Also “Make a list” means write it on a small notebook and not on a piece of paper that you can easily lose in your pocket. The reason for this is that Divisoria can be a bit too overwhelming if you are not a regular shopper and you might end up buying a lot of things you don’t really need (trust me, there are a lot of tempting buys!) and forget those items that really matter.

  2. DO NOT TAKE OUT YOUR PHONE: If its possible, leave your pricey smartphones and wallet/credit cards at the safety of your home. You wont be using your reward and credit cards here and nobody will ask for all of your IDs so its best to just leave it home. Now if you really need to bring your phone, do not take it out in public, find a safe place, a restaurant or near the Tutuban Info center. Be discreet and DO NOT SHOW IT OFF, okay? Despite the added security, you should always  be cautious and alert. Its best to bring a small body bag , or belt bag where you can keep your money. Wallets with straps are preferrable although if you insist on bringing a wallet put it in your front pocket so you could always feel if its still there. As an added measure, do not put all your money in one place! Have an extra P100 or P200 safely hidden just in case.
  3. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GET DIRTY: Unless you are staying inside the Tutuban Center shopping Mall or those other malls, things could get a lot sweaty. Bring an extra shirt, a towel, or buy those cheap baby wipes, alcohol and a water bottle to stay hydrated and refreshed.
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    Bring one of those “Fans” if you are planning to roam the streets, otherwise its best just to stay inside the Tutuban Mall where its always cool.

    If you do get hungry, there’s a lot of restaurants at the Tutuban Food Court–try the Takoyaki, or Churros or get some bread and pastry from Kings Bakery, the ube cheese bread is delightful! There’s also Binondo’s best food brands like El Presidente, Kikiam in Ilaya, and Eng Ho.tutuban-shopping-32

  4. WEAR SOMETHING COMFORTABLE: Shirt, shorts (for guys) and jeggings or jeans and comfy footwear are the best to wear. You’ll be doing a lot of walking so rubber shoes are best. I wouldn’t suggest flipflops or those open sandals in case it rains and your feet might get wet from those dirty puddles.

  5. NEVER ON A SUNDAY (OR A SATURDAY) Christmas season has officially begun, so expect weekends to be the worst. Try going on a Monday or Wednesday to avoid traffic, the long parking queues, and the large crowd of shoppers and you might get even better deals and more attention from the sales clerks. Try to be there as soon as the shops open. Tutuban Mall opens at 9m, be early and you might even get the buena mano price! It also gives you more time to browse through several stores first to compare prices.

  6. BRING AN ECOBAG, OR A BIG BAG WITH A ZIPPER :  Or buy one before you start shopping. Those are the sako bags with the big cartoon or colorful designs. Like I mentioned, police visibility in the area might increased but there is always the chance of losing your items if its just in the red striped plastic bag. Those can easily rip open when they are full and small items may fall through the holes. A trolley bag is best but isn’t always advisable especially if you are going on very crowded days. If you really need to pass through and saying “Excuse Me!” doesn’t work, scream “Mainit Mainit!” and the crowd will part like the Red Sea.

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    Comfy wear is best complemented with a big bag where you can place all those items you bought
  7. HAGGLE, HAGGLE AND HAGGLE: The last price will never be the best price so what I often do is ask for the”Wholesale” price and haggle from there. For example if an item sells for P100 the wholesale price is usually half or even lower, depending on the item. If they give you a wholesale price of P50 ask them if you could get 1 item for P60 as you are just going to initially use it as a “Sample.” Also, if they give in to the price you want, be sure that you are really buying the item/s. As there is a very thin line separating being a good haggler and just being “Buraot” (worse than barat) and they can tell if you are really interested.tutuban-shopping-56

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  8. DON’T GIVE IN  TO THE PRESSURE:  There are some stalls, especially those in the streets,  which will call you out to get your attention, and by the time you are browsing they will pressure you into buying their stuff because its “Mura” and its the “Last Day” sale. If you really aren’t interested just say thanks and walk away.

  9. KNOW WHICH STORES TO VISIT: For wholesale toys and decorations, and party accessories, there is only one store I go to–Andings! I’ve been buying from them since I was a kid so that probably gives you an idea why they have lasted this long. Its also best to compare and browse through several stores if you are planning on making a big purchase or buying wholesale. Ask for the price, note it down and visit other similar stores.tutuban-shopping-62 tutuban-shopping-67 tutuban-shopping-78 14895673_10155504499724199_1627053980_o 14954309_10155504499964199_495898462_o
  10. BRING A FRIEND–OR TWO: Shopping is always best with friends, even if you have different items on your shopping list. The good thing about bringing someone else with you is that you can ask for their opinion. Its also a good idea to separate first to cover more ground meet up at a specific location and compare notes beforee making those purchases. That way you would be able to identify the best price and perhaps discover even better stores!

Now that you’re ready to do some serious shopping at Divisoria, be sure to check out the newly-renovated Tutuban Center Main Station. It has undergone a lot of major renovation and you’ll definitely appreciate how they preserved the heritage building where the original train station built in the 18005 first stood.tutuban-shopping-54

Parking won’t be a problem since they added 150 more parking slots at the CM Recto Avenue paid parking area.

The Main Station holds the mall’s retail shops, restaurants, and service stores. This connects to the Prime Block, which offers Tutuban Center’s revitalized shopping experience. Three shopping levels of pure bargain buying pleasure await visitors.

“We have introduced a cluster of stalls in level 3 of the Prime Block, which is now tagged as the Prime Block Clusters,” explained Norie U. Raniel, Tutuban Center Deputy General Manager/Operations Head. “Merchandise zoning has been improved in the Prime Block building so that shoppers will find everything they want and need in each area.”

The Prime Block offers a Shopper’s dream of choices, while seeing to their comfort and security. Clothes for every occasion, the latest RTW, even costumes and sleepwear are organized. Footwear, bags and fashion accessories are there to match the outfit of the day.

Fabrics, patches, beads and other trimmings are available for people who prefer DIY fashion projects.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners will find their supplies of cosmetics, personal care, grooming kits, spa and salon supplies available here. Party planners will find the Prime Block a one-stop shop for colourful gift items, wall and table decorations, toys and games, and costume accessories. Whether it’s a wedding, a children’s party, a corporate launch, a get-together, or big events like Halloween and Christmas, the Prime Block offers the party needs for every occasion.


Tutuban Center welcomes shoppers as early as 9:00 AM every day. Visitors will appreciate the enhanced pedestrian and vehicular circulation across the development. An additional 150 parking slots has been built into its CM Recto Avenue paid parking area. With all these improvements, it’s not hard to see why Tutuban Center is still Divisoria’s top shopping destination`

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