One of the most popular travel destinations during the
Yuletide season is any jam-packed tiangge,
baratillo, or bazaar. This is
especially true for Filipinos, who upon receiving their 13th month
pay and/or Christmas bonus troop to the mall and other shopping centers for
some holiday splurge. This in turn gave rise to the popularity of bazaars,
which are often crowded as they offer rare and precious finds for an
irresistible, affordable price. If you still have Christmas shopping money left
or waited until after Christmas to avoid the huge crowds, you better rush to
these four bazaars now and bear in mind our tips and tricks when visiting them.
Taytay Tiangge
Clothes are not only meant to warm you; they also
let you express your style. If you have a passion for fashion, then don’t miss
the chance to explore Taytay Tiangge—it
may be out of your usual shopping area, but is really worth the time and
effort. Being the unofficial garment capital of the Philippines, Taytay in
Rizal Province is in fact the supplier of fabrics that find their way to Divisoria,
Baclaran, Greenhills, and many more. This means you will find clothes and
apparel at discounted prices here, and also enjoy a wide variety of outfits from
skirts and jeans, to simple shirts and fabulous dresses.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t
forget to bring barya or loose
change, as well as eco-bags and recyclable shopping bags to save money and
to be environment-friendly. You will also spare yourself the inconvenience
of carrying too many small bags.
- Head
to Taytay in the morning, as haggling here starts really early. The good
news is that you will be done with your shopping very early in the day,
too giving you plenty of time to run other errands or do what you want.
Vehicular traffic is also light at this time.
Marikina Riverbanks Center
There are two things to remember about
Marikina: First, it is the Philippines’ shoe capital. Second, it is home to the
Riverbanks Center, which is the perfect place to buy goodies and presents all
year round. Riverbanks Center is a community mall and park, so expect a variety
of activities you can do here. But for those in dire need of a retail therapy,
what you can find here are outlets of local and global brands such as Adidas,
BNY, Guess, Levi’s, Nike, and Puma, among many others.
Tips and Tricks
- To
go to Riverbanks Center, you may take a UV Express from Cubao’s Araneta
Center. If you’re coming from downtown Manila, take the LRT-2 Line to
Santolan, and ride a passenger jeepney to Marikina after.
- Little tykes and
tots can have a great time, too as the place is close to interesting spots
such as the Museum of Miniature and The Spirit of Bethlehem, which
showcases more than 500 pieces of the Nativity scene.
Greenhills Shopping Center
Located at the heart of San Juan, the first
thing that Greenhills Shopping Center offers is accessibility—it is close to
Quezon City, Mandaluyong, and Makati. At the same time, you will get
high-quality items at bargain prices inside an air-conditioned mall, so you
won’t be as stressed. Speaking of, the nearby metro malls and
department stores can also be a haven for bargain finds.
Tips and Tricks
- Go
early to avoid traffic jams.
- San Juan is now a growing foodie hub, so check out the many different restaurants near Greenhills Shopping Center.
Divisoria
Christmas or not, Divisoria is the go-to
place for absolutely everything under the sun. Food, baking and kitchen
supplies, garment and clothing, electronics—you name it! This place, in fact,
needs no introduction for the full-blooded and frugal fashionista.
Tips and Tricks
- Since
Divisoria is so famous, expect the crowd here to double or even triple
during the Christmas season. This is why it is better to do your shopping
here after the holidays.
- Make
a plan beforehand. List down all the items you need, check the places you
can get them online, and do not stray from your path. The place is so
crowded that any side trip can cost you precious time.
- It
is also advisable to wear your most comfortable and casual outfit.
- Double
check the quality of the products you intend to buy. In some cases, low-quality
items are mixed with the good ones.
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