Shopping is an Extreme Sport

Binondo, Manila (Luzon)

Extreme Shopping. Yes, there is such a thing in the Philippines… where the most casual of shoppers (like myself), as well as veteran shoppers (like most women), are in for a truly unique experience.

In Divisoria, Manila, – the place many consider to be the shopping capital of the Metro – the words ‘extreme’ and ‘overwhelming’ should best describe how it feels to be right smack in the middle of the shopping chaos. It was an early Friday morning, and was the first time I’d be visiting Divisoria (or for a more local feel, ‘Divi’) along with some guests from Hawaii who wanted to find bargain pasalubong before flying back overseas. At around past 8 in the morning, we arrived at Divisoria, right at the heart of Manila, for an adventure, and it felt as if the place was already shifting into full shopping gear.

A newbie can easily get lost in the jungle of retail stores and maze after maze of tiangges offering all sorts of random stuff at bargain prices. You have the option of doing your shopping inside one of the many air-conditioned malls in the area (for beginners like me), or inside a network of indoor wholesale stalls (where some of the best bargain deals can be made), or on a series of outdoor street markets on the sidewalks (where most of the action is, but you will have to brave the heat and humidity).

I broke away from my group after we agreed on a meeting point for lunch, and walked around the streets of Divisoria, entering the wet and dry markets, taking pictures and videos of the street vendors and shoppers, and finally ending up in one of the malls when the sun was already too hot, as it approached midday.

I never did like shopping, much less shopping tours, but the unique Divisoria experience is something I’d recommend to anyone looking for an adventure. Some parts of the place are stinky, dirty, and noisy, and the entire place is a chaotic maze of people, cars, jeepneys, tricycles, karitons, cats, dogs, and everything else. People are everywhere – Filipinos, foreign tourists, kids, seniors, shoppers, non-shoppers…  But I think one has to be prepared physically and mentally for Divisoria’s extreme shopping, especially if you’re just a casual shopper like me. Nevertheless, one thing you will definitely see and feel after a few minutes experiencing what Divisoria has to offer, is that people love the place and its unique character.

It is easy to understand why Divisoria is considered as a paradise for most shoppers despite its brutal, occasionally grimy, humid and sweaty, and often unforgiving environment. People love the place because they can find almost ANYTHING in Divisoria at low, low prices – and you can even haggle for a better deal if your haggling skills are sharp enough. I was able to buy a huge carpet and two funky inflatable seats for my pad for only Php 1,360.00 (app. USD 33.00), which I think is already a great deal (but my companions insist that I could’ve gotten a better deal if I did a better job at haggling… maybe). Well, my companions were able to grab better deals.

Divisoria is a warzone, a no-holds-barred, cutthroat shopping destination smart shoppers will love going back to again and again and again. And as a newbie, I definitely need to return to this warzone, not only to sharpen my shopping skills, but also for the fun and unique experience.