Divisoria- the market of markets

[moohlan]

Divisoria is a well known market located in Manila. Equally popular are its malls such as the Divisoria Mall, Tutuban and 168.

It's the mother market of markets, the bargain haven and the thrift market. It is often full of people, wet and dingy at times but Filipinos couldn't help the lure of it's affordable merchandise and unique specialty shops. And it's a place where one can have a shopping frenzy and live the life of a shopaholic without creating too much damage in his or her budget.

http://philippines-night.msg-style.com/Divisoria-Night-Market2.jpg

http://www.cctravel.dk/html/philippines/shopping/divisoria.jpg

http://www.philippines-travel-guide.com/images/divisoria-168-mall.jpg

http://www.filipinasoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/168-mall-dodongflores-flckrcc.jpg

Divisoria is a unique place. Visiting this place will be quite an experience.

[jbrayos]

The prices here are super low. Total bargain!

[wanderlust]

You can even find something for as low as 10 pesos! This is the ultimate shopping place in the Philippines. Just be wary of your belongings so you don't end up losing your money to pickpockets. :)

[stella]

Cool! there's also a Divisoria in Cagayan too!

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/CDO_Divisoria.JPG

http://philippinehomestaytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/night-cafe1-1-galleryfull-thumb.jpg

[Kelly]

You can even find something for as low as 10 pesos! This is the ultimate shopping place in the Philippines. Just be wary of your belongings so you don't end up losing your money to pickpockets. :)

I totally agree! :D

[moohlan]

Cool! there's also a Divisoria in Cagayan too!

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/CDO_Divisoria.JPG

http://philippinehomestaytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/night-cafe1-1-galleryfull-thumb.jpg

Are there great bargains too?

[stella]

Are there great bargains too?

TOTALLY! It's a "Night Cafe" every Friday and Saturady nights and there are stages set up for the playing band, a huge tv screen, and small tents that cook barbecue and inasal.:p

[Manix16]

Cool! there's also a Divisoria in Cagayan too!

http://www.cagayan-de-oro.com/CDO_Divisoria.JPG

http://philippinehomestaytravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/night-cafe1-1-galleryfull-thumb.jpgAwesome...!! Where in Cagayan? And why do you think it hasn't been featured in any of the TV travel shows? :confused:

[purpleaf]

Haaah...Divisoria...the place to be for people like me who love great bargains once in a while. Then you can go to Chinatown afterwards!

[tadz1158]

Haaah...Divisoria...the place to be for people like me who love great bargains once in a while. Then you can go to Chinatown afterwards!


Most people nowadays prefer great bargains and this is the place to go.

[stella]

Awesome...!! Where in Cagayan? And why do you think it hasn't been featured in any of the TV travel shows? :confused:

Divisoria is the name of the whole place. It isn't a mall. Kinda like a downtown place. "Night Cafe" nights are always featured in the local tv shows and it's when the major bargaining takes place.

[jbrayos]

Divisoria is mostly crowded in holiday seasons.

[megan21]

Especially this time when the start of classes is fast approaching. Cheap school supplies are the very good option during this time of crisis. Divisoria is the place to go. :D

[Cess]

Agreed :D School bags, notebooks, shoes. you name it. It's there. All for low prices. saya diba :p

[moohlan]

Divisoria is the name of the whole place. It isn't a mall. Kinda like a downtown place. "Night Cafe" nights are always featured in the local tv shows and it's when the major bargaining takes place.

Wow. The place looks nice and interesting. Where in Cagayan is it located?

[stella]

Wow. The place looks nice and interesting. Where in Cagayan is it located?

We call the place, Divisoria. Its near Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro. You could say Divisoria is Cagayan's downtown place.

[moohlan]

People from all around Metro Manila and neighboring provinces also visit the place for it's clothes. This is the place where trends in fashion could start.

[esembrano]

the more affordable version of greenhills shopping mall.. :):)

[kookay]

This is how I get to Divisoria from Quezon City

I take the LRT2 train from the Katipunan Station and then ride all the way to the last stop (I forgot the name of the station but it is definitely not the Santolan one). Then after exiting the LRT2, I take a jeepney that will go straight to Divisoria. It will stop right in front of Tutuban Center if I remember correctly so if you want to go to 168, you'll need to walk a bit.

With the LRT2, at least you get minimal pollution and less hassle. :)

Best days for me to go there are on weekdays, Monday-Wednesday, early morning until noon. Stores give bigger discounts when you are their first customer of the day (buena mano) and sellers, they like being called "achi".

[tinlucy]

Shopping cannot be ruled out in a Pinoy's life even as the economy goes down. Divisoria has been known for years as having the lowest price to offer to every product one needs and wants, and still is. It has been the place where you want to bargain, and can bargain. From kitchen wares to fashion and style, handicrafts to home appliances, everything is there! Stalls are seen from streets to air-con malls to cater everyone's shopping mode. Divisoria also has parking spaces around the malls for your convenience. Just be ready for an elbow to elbow crowd especially during holidays and weekends! Happy shopping!

[Subsistence]

We buy school supplies here. Everything here is so cheap! And because the prices here are cheap the crowd is huge. I had my first boxer bought here by my ex-girlfriend (now my wife)

[purpleaf]

You can find practically anything here. My tita from the US even went here to buy textile for her curtains. The fabric is good! If you wanna stretch your budget, you're in the right place.

[moohlan]

This is how I get to Divisoria from Quezon City

I take the LRT2 train from the Katipunan Station and then ride all the way to the last stop (I forgot the name of the station but it is definitely not the Santolan one). Then after exiting the LRT2, I take a jeepney that will go straight to Divisoria. It will stop right in front of Tutuban Center if I remember correctly so if you want to go to 168, you'll need to walk a bit.

With the LRT2, at least you get minimal pollution and less hassle. :)

Best days for me to go there are on weekdays, Monday-Wednesday, early morning until noon. Stores give bigger discounts when you are their first customer of the day (buena mano) and sellers, they like being called "achi".

Yes. I agree with the tips.

The last station of LRT2 is Recto station.

Other ways to get there: When you have access to LRT, you could ride till you reach Doroteo Jose Station. There's is an overpass that connects the LRT and the LRT2 station that you could use to go to the lrt REcto station where you could ride a jeep that could take you to tutuban in Divisoria.

[kookay]

I just saw this in a newspaper article before that you can also get to Divisoria via the Pasig Ferry. Has someone ever taken this route here in this thread? How is it?

i just saw the Pasig ferry in the movie Italy starring Jolina Magdangal. Quite interesting if I may say so myself.

[esembrano]

where is the cheapest bargains located?aside from 163?

[moohlan]

outside. The one in makeshift stalls.:)

[kookay]

Here are some tips when going to Divisoria:

1) Dress simply. - Since some stores don't usually post the prices up, salespeople sometimes jack up the prices when they see people dressed to the nines. So to get a good bargain up front even before haggling, try to just dress simply.

2) Dress comfortably. - Divisoria is a pedestrian area and a hot one at that even with the airconditioning inside Tutuban and 168 malls. It is difficult also to go around it on cars. So wear your most comfortable walking shoes or flip flops and wear loose fitting dri-fit clothes to ensure yourself you won't be irritated there.

3) Place your money close to you - Given the high pedestrian traffic and the huge amounts of money people bring because after all, this is a shopping mecca, unscrupulous persons are also bound to be about. Make sure your money is quite close to you and in discreet hiding places in your bags or even your pockets. If carrying a bag, make sure it's very close to you and not the one that can be easily snatched.

[smd928]

Here are some tips when going to Divisoria:

1) Dress simply. - Since some stores don't usually post the prices up, salespeople sometimes jack up the prices when they see people dressed to the nines. So to get a good bargain up front even before haggling, try to just dress simply.

2) Dress comfortably. - Divisoria is a pedestrian area and a hot one at that even with the airconditioning inside Tutuban and 168 malls. It is difficult also to go around it on cars. So wear your most comfortable walking shoes or flip flops and wear loose fitting dri-fit clothes to ensure yourself you won't be irritated there.

3) Place your money close to you - Given the high pedestrian traffic and the huge amounts of money people bring because after all, this is a shopping mecca, unscrupulous persons are also bound to be about. Make sure your money is quite close to you and in discreet hiding places in your bags or even your pockets. If carrying a bag, make sure it's very close to you and not the one that can be easily snatched.

Great tips! I especially like the one about the money. My wallet has been snatched like twice before in a mall. Really bad experience so I've been trying to be careful ever since.

[kookay]

Oh, I think it would be hellish to go to Divisoria right now with school season and the rains....

[wanderlust]

Is it cheaper in 168 or Tutuban?

[esembrano]

i think greenhills tiangge owners also get their merchandise in divisoria they just double the price :)

[wanderer]

Fantastic place to buy lots of stuff at a cheap price. Wholesalers can be found here, and you could get great bargains on different items. A foreigner from the US braved the crowd of divisoria to purchase replicas of brand name bags for his wife. He actually had to buy two more bags so that he can bring home all the stuff that he bought.

Personally, I go here to buy cheap clothes for the house (pambahay), then replicas to tote along on a daily basis, and usually small gifts. When I was about to get married, I trooped all the way there to buy cheap confetti poppers that looked fabulous on the actual day.

[KimChi]

I miss Divisoria, I used to go every year! I'd be there as early as 7am and go home at about 3pm.

[ada_ordinaryo]

If your after the savings rather than comfort then divisoria is definitely the place for you. I've often seen the same products sold in dividsoria for a low price being sold also in malls in a much higher price.talk about profiteering.

[mscaracter]

If you are having a tight budget go to divisoria, wholesalers are everywhere!

[reikosimpsons]

Your one thousand pesos can buy you a whole outfit! From clothes to shoes to all those watchamacallits they have it. With so many stuff at wholesale prices you still could ask for discounts.