Your Last-Minute Shopping Guide to Divisoria
Snag gifts for as low as P20 to P50.
(SPOT.ph) The pandemic has quelled our Christmas shopping for a few years, but now that almost everything’s open, what’s there to stop us? But with the prohibitive prices of almost everything, you’d want more bang for the buck. Divisoria is still the place for the best bargains, and if you’re brave enough to schlep to Divi during the holidays, it’s worth the trip. Here’s our updated shopping guide with current prices.
Also read: 10 Tried-and-Tested Tips for Shopping in Divisoria
Check out where to go and what to do in Divisoria for your last minute Christmas shopping.
Tutuban Center Mall
Head to this mall first, as it is the least congested and (comparatively) the most spacious, plus it’s easier to remember all the different areas. The main, brick-lined wing of this shopping complex is the adaptively reused former Tutuban Train Station that dates from the 1800s. Tutuban is still a good, comfortable place to buy home accessories such as curtains and throw pillows (P150 each and up), fabrics, cellphone accessories, casual clothes, and lingerie (most are below P500). It’s also a great place to park!
Tutuban Center Mall, Bonifacio Drive, CM Recto Avenue, Tondo, Manila
168 Mall
One of the most popular and biggest air-conditioned malls in Divisoria is 168 Mall. But because of its complicated network of tight hallways and hundreds of stalls—it’s easy to get lost. Work your way from the ground floor up; by the time you get to the third floor—where the food courts are—it would be time for lunch.
This mall is chock-full of RTW and cheap footwear; so this is the best place to buy plain, collared t-shirts in different hues (P100 each), plastic or rubber slides and sandals for P100 to P200 a pair, and three-for-P999 sneakers (shop with a friend so you could save money!). The second and third floors carry most of the toy stores and party-supply wares; and here, you can get stuffed toys in different sizes from P200 and up, reproduction collector figurine sets for P400 to P1,000, and those popular rubber fidget “popper” toys for only P50 each.
The ground floor of 168 is the best place to hit for stocking stuffers and other gifts you have to send out en masse, like in the office. Get small metal vacuum water flasks here for only P130 and up, pastel-colored USB-powered fans for P150 (perfect for commuting), and essential neon-colored alcohol spray bottles for as low as P50 and P20.
168 Mall, 918 Soler St., Binondo, Manila
999 Mall
Although this mall carries much of the same items 168, it is relatively easier to navigate as the halls are identified by letters (“Pasilyo A”, “Pasilyo B”, etc.). Here, you can snap up lady’s slides for as low as P150, imitation-leather lady’s bags for P300 and up, stuffed toys from P150 for the smallest to P600 for the biggest. There are stalls in “Pasilyo J” that sell all sorts of travel bags; get hard-shell or soft luggage on wheels here from P1,000 and up, and a high-quality waterproof backpack that you can use either as a hand-carried travel bag or as a laptop work bag for only P600.
999 Mall, 1018 Soler St., Binondo, Manila
Dragon 8 Shopping Center (also called D8 Mall)
December is wedding and Christmas party season, so if you’ll be needing new event dresses and gowns soon, then D8 Mall is your best bet, as most of the stalls in the mall specializes in formal wear. Each stall employs a seamstress to alter your gown on-the-spot, or embellish it further with appliques and beads while you wait. Simple long column-style gowns in neoprene (in subtle colors of pastels, navy, ecru, and maroon) cost as low as P1,999 for a pair; bridesmaid gowns in tulle and satin go for as low as P2,000 each, and actual wedding gowns from P5,000 and up.
Dragon 8 Shopping Center, 747 Recto Ave., Tondo, Manila
Hit the streets
The streets of Divisoria and Binondo are the craziest come Christmastime, but if you could brave it, you will get the best deals here. Along Sta. Elena Street’s open-air stalls, you can find children’s terno (matching shirts and shorts) that go for P100 for girls’ sets, and P50 for boys’ sets, while men’s gym shorts are only P50 each. Women’s dresses are P380 and up, women’s panties go for P200 for a pack of six, and Crocs-style rubber slides are P200 and up. While there, buy your gift wrapper for only P20 for four rolls.
Some handy Divi tips:
Go on a weekday. Divisoria during the weekends in December is like a battle zone, so if you could take a day’s leave (or a half-day, at least!), you would be able to dodge the massive traffic jams and crush of people.
The fastest way to Divi is by train. Depending on your location, you can take the MRT and connect to LRT Line 1 and go down at Doroteo Jose Station, or connect to LRT Line 2 and get off at Recto. From both stations, take an E-trike to Divisoria for P20 a person. If you plan to bring a car, the malls have limited parking areas, though there is a bit of a wait heading in.
Head out first thing in the morning. Divisoria gets chaotic right after lunch, and the crowds are at its worst in the late afternoon towards the evening. The malls here open earlier than the rest of the Metro Manila (9am or 10am), so if you arrive early, do some reconnaissance shopping along the streets of Ylaya, Reina Regente, and Sta. Elena first.
Dress down, bring change. Put on your comfy shoes, wear jeans or leggings and a t-shirt (if you intend to try on clothes, wear a tight-fitting shirt), use a belt bag, and don’t wear any jewelry. Bring loose bills, and leave your credit cards at home.
BYOT (Bring your own tote). All the vendors will put your purchases into tiny sando plastic bags. And although there are vendors selling large, bayong-style shopping bags at almost every corner of Divisoria, bring your own roomy totes, instead.
If you see something you like, buy it immediately. There is a slim chance you would be able to head back and remember the actual stall, especially if you’re in one of the maze-like malls! Also, the stalls who sell similar items tend to sell their wares at the same prices, so if you absolutely like something, snap it up at once.
