Friday, December 14, 2007
DIVISORIA CHRISTMAS SHOPPING RUSH
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:38 PM
32 Comments:
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said... Great! Daming pictures nito. Galing talaga ng karisma mo sa tao, Eric. :D Pareho kayo ni Sidney! Merry Christmas!
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Unknown said... Oh man, I wish I still have the energy for a Divi shopping! I miss the fun of haggling.:D There's a sense of pride and fulfilment after shopping in Divisoria---especially after getting the best deals!
Love the pics...thanks for sharing, Eric.-
NOYPETES said...
Eric,
Ang laki na ng pinagbago ng Divisoria mula nuong huli akong namimili ng tela diyan. I used to always prepare myself before I go in the textile market. The first few minutes of dealing with irritated and teary eyes from the chemical fumes emitting from piles of "tela" fresh from the manufacturers textile mills. The best way to find the best designs and imported textile then was to follow the Gay patrons of the market, they know where the good ones are and also the inexpensive ones. Back then, one of the best fresh lumpia were peddled along the sidewalks of Divisoria.-
Aura said...
Wow! christmas na talaga dyan!
Not like here,aside from the beautiful streets xmas lights ay di ko nararamdaman ang pasko,sighhhh....
No rush shopping too!
SE, can you give me your e-mail add? I would like to forward the mail i received from my brother, old photos of manila (1910-1970´s).You might like to see them .-
Photo Cache said...
Wow just to try going to divisoria at this time is a testament to the stuff you're made of eric, or simply the photographer's instinct to go where the story/photo is. I am not much of a crowded places type and I would be running scared upon the sight of this. I did have my memories of divisoria shopping at christmas time. Lovely photos as usual.
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Señor Enrique said...
The traffic was horrendous, Photo Cache. I took a jeepney on Claro M. Recto from Quezon Boulevard but the traffic seemed to have come to a complete stop a couple of blocks approaching J. Abad Santos. That intersection was a complete madness despite the presence of traffic enforcers. From J. Abad Santos, it was virtually impossible to drive through Recto going in to Divisoria, so you'd be better off walking it.
I could have turned around and head back, but like a fool, I was challenged to pursue it and take some pics of the seemingly jovial crowd of shoppers and vendors.
I then walked to Binondo and had a nice dinner. It was fun :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, please, Aura. Thank you. It's SenorEnrique@gmail.com
It madness in Divisoria nowadays but people appeared to be in a good mood despite the traffic and shoulder-to-shoulder crowd.-
Señor Enrique said...
The textile market is nearby from where I took these pictures, Pete. Yes ... those chemicals can be tough on the senses. A classmate in a photo workshop works in a textile retail firm in Divisoria so I'd just ask him to bring me the fabric that I needed which I use as backdrop when doing still life images. But he claims that the textile business is not as profitable as it used to be.
As for the fresh lumpia -- tasty and cheap -- I still go to Globe Lumpia House on Raon in Quiapo.-
Señor Enrique said...
Whenever asking a street vendor for the price of an item, Luna, I'd say, "Ang mahal naman," even before she quotes me a price. This would elicit a smile from her face, and thereafter create a friendly haggling mood.
I would shop in Divisoria, but would avoid the Christmas rush. Unbelievably crowded :)-
Señor Enrique said...
This was the first time I took some street scenes of Divisoria, LAR, and pleasantly surprised that the vendors appeared comfortable when I took their pictures. Incidentally, not too many photography enthusiasts had dared to take pics in Divisoria as compared to Quiapo.
Thanks, LAR, but Sidney is a lot more savvy with street photography :)-
nutart said...
I find Divisoria a very strange place: for one, I'm not the haggling type (my husband is!) and two, I really do not like crowds and traffic. But the few times I went there was for the craft section as well as the textile section (they have even a place where you can have pieces of rich clothing materials sold by the kilo!) for the children's theater i was involved with. It's really a paradise for buying anything under the sun! My "enterprising" ;-D co-teacher would walk around with a trolley for the fruits she would buy in bulks.
Thank you for the nice pics!-
Señor Enrique said...
Just like Manhattan's Grand and Bowery Streets, and Brooklyn's Williamsburg section, I guess once you acclimate to the Divisoria setting, it wouldn't be as challenging anymore, Bernadette.
I have an aunt whose children had to literally order her to stop venturing to Divisoria -- she was already in her 80s then. She was once a dressmaker by profession and couldn't help but visit her old haunts in Divisoria.
The fruits are supposedly very affordable there, too. Good for your colleague!-
reyd said...
You always surprise me with your dedication in harnessing still life photos of people.
Thanks again and I feel like being there and almost smell the air of Divisoria thousand miles away.
Nakakatuwa ang mga kabataan for taking advantage of this merry season to earn some extra money. That’s reality in Divisoria, you see all people from different walks of life, shopping, haggling and struggling to get a better deal for their money.
Sanay na ako inside those textile mart pasillos, we have 2 stores along Juan Luna and Recto. Medyo matumal na nga dahil sa mga Malls around that area.
What a way of rewarding yourself with a nice meal at Binondo after your photo shoot.
Nothing beats that after a long walk and making us envy that you are there and we are here..naiingit, naasar sa araw araw na buhay dito.
IBALIK NIYO AKO SA DIVISORIA!!! :lol:-
Señor Enrique said...
"Nakakatuwa ang mga kabataan for taking advantage of this merry season to earn some extra money."
Reyd, at the Bonifacio Day ceremony near City Hall a couple of weeks ago, the guest speaker claimed he used to sell shrimp here in Divisoria starting when he was 11. He used to get up at 4:00am and would peddle until 7:00am; thereafter he'd run to school. His mother stayed behind to sell umbrellas once all the shrimp had been sold out.
With eight other siblings and living as squatters in a single room flat in the Moriones section of Tondo, Manila, the young boy used their challenging predicament as an inspiration to do well in life. He later went to attend UP; made a fortune in real estate; and is now a senator.
Oh, yeah ... the speaker was Manny Villar.
Yes, went to Stone Lion Restaurant in Carvajal Street :)-
said...
Thanks for these pics, Eric. Feeling ko, para na rin akong nag-shopping sa Divisoria. :)
Here in Dagupan, aside from the holiday celebrations, we are also having our city fiesta. It's actually on Dec. 26-27, but the fiesta activities are lined up from Dec. 15 up to the 31st. Ay, oo nga pala, invited kayong lahat. :)
We have this so called "Tinday Labi" (Tinda sa Gabi. A night sale, actually, where one can get a really good deal for their money. Presyong Divisoria talaga.-
reyd said...
Nice to hear that about Villar. Yung dating kargador din namin, walo ang anak and those that finished college are abroad and sending their younger siblings to college while their father just tend their small sari-sari store in Moriones. I had to admire those young entrepreneurs kahit na maraming kawatan sa kanila, marami sa kanila ang tunay na tumutulong sa ikabubuhay ng kanilang pamilya.
And when you really have time, try to visit the Divisoria Mall and see how some Chinese mainlanders adopt to Filipino cultures and some that don't. Hehehe!!
But the best time to see Divisoria along Recto ave. is at night. Although I don't recommend that for everyone, it is where the real business deal goes on. Puno ng vendors ang RR tracks from the corner of Soler all the way to Tondo.-
reyd said...
"Nakakatuwa ang mga kabataan for taking advantage of this merry season to earn some extra money."
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Btw, baka isipin mo na pinagtatawanan ko yung mga kabataan, I said Nakakatuwa not nakakatawa.
And thus, your example about Manny Villar, kaso, I think, may relative na mayaman sila Villar to have a better life than what he said on that ceremoney.
Basta, pulitiko, kinikilabutan ako, kahit matino pa siya o hindi. :)-
armovil said...
Senor,
Grabe ang tao kanina sa divisoria, ang hirap maglakad, malayo na ang sakayan ng jeep nasa abad santos na kasi puro vendors na. Divi really is a mecca of great bargain in Manila. Mas lalong maraming tao sa 168 mall at divisoria mall. Finding cheaper toys for your inaanaks? please go to Sta. Elena street, above the metrobank.
Merry Christmas amigo...-
Señor Enrique said...
Out of courtesy, I didn't take pics inside the malls like 168, Armovil, because it is not allowed. As for Divisoria Mall, the crowd is just too overwhelming for me. Besides, the only shots I could make are backs of people ... hehehe. My nephew suggested that we bring a step ladder so I could take shots above the crowd, but the wave of people might make me fall off in the process.
Indeed, it was madness, but in a fun sort of way :)
Hope you finished all your shopping needs.-
Señor Enrique said...
"Nakakatuwa ang mga kabataan for taking advantage of this merry season to earn some extra money."
Actually, Reyd, I suggested to my nephew that he ought to think of selling something as these kids do and I'd gladly fund his enterprise. And the money he makes could at least pay for his time in those computer game shops. But you know what he said? "Nakakahiya." Told him in the States, kids work parttime like selling newspapers or as bag/delivery boys at grocery stores after school and on weekends.-
Señor Enrique said...
"Yung dating kargador din namin, walo ang anak and those that finished college are abroad and sending their younger siblings to college while their father just tend their small sari-sari store in Moriones."
There has got to be some way that we could celebrate more stories such as these, Reyd. I can imagine how our local Pinoys would find them inspiring.-
Señor Enrique said...
That's interesting, Rhoda. Tinday Labi, I'm sure, is much appreciated by all folks in Dagupan and neighboring cities.
They have a similar night market in Divisoria but it starts at 8pm. I can't find anyone to accompany me, though, so I could take some pics ... hehehe.-
said...
Divisoria's so packed with people; the euphoria is just so great and exciting. Mingling around the excited and full spirited crowd is really nice because it gets you hyped up as well!
(:
Too bad, I still don't feel the Christmas spirit here.-
said...
Forget about having your own transport in going to this place where it looks like vendors are competing with customers for real estate hehe :)
Great place if you are willing to walk miles and stretch the wallet :) But man, with all those purchases you're lugging around with and you've got a sudden call of nature - ouch, it would be an ordeal just to get to the loo I bet :(-
ScroochChronicles said...
Tapang mo ah. You dared to go to Divi during the xmas rush!! I went there nung first week of November pa because I was avoiding the rush. Two years ago I too dared the xmas rush. Never again!! Di kaya ng powers ko..hahaha :)
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Photowalker said...
That's place is a shopping hell during December. I live near Divisoria but I try to avoid that place when the "ber" months start.
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Señor Enrique said...
I really wanted to take photos of the night market, but was discouraged by friends who claimed it was just too jam-packed by shoppers, Photowalker.
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Señor Enrique said...
I think September would be more ideal to shop in Divisoria, Scrooch, but the place is always packed with shoppers from all over, including those from the provinces. Dito kasi talaga baksakan ng mga merchandise, eh.
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Señor Enrique said...
Sheer madness it was, BW. But what I find most amusing besides the shoppers is the entrepreneurial spirit that runs rampant even amongst the young people in the area. Awesome! It can be fun here in some ways.
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Señor Enrique said...
Despite the crowds, I did find myself having a good time taking some pictures, Kyels. This place is reall a shopping mecca :)
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Unknown said...
Is divisoria open on sundays ??? and also where can i buy the baking things, and sugar flowers ???
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Señor Enrique said...
I know that Divisoria is agrind with commercial activity 24 hours; however, the stores are only open on regular business hours including Sundays.
The baking things that you want are available at the baking supply stores on Sto. Cristo Street in front of the Divisoria Mall. Just ask anyone to direct you to Sto. Cristo Street.
You may wonder how I know this. You see, I studied baking at Diliman a couple of years ago :)
Good luck!
