A glimpse of Divisoria
Who among us doesn’t know the famous Divisoria in Tondo? Have you ever tried to experience it? Located at the heart of Manila, Divisoria is a market district that has been the favorite shopping destination for many Filipinos, especially during Christmas and holidays. Here are my recollections trip during my recent visit to Divisoria as I rediscover one of the most famous places in the Philippines. I am reminded how my mother goes to Divisoria to buy me a pearl necklace every Christmas.
Oh, here come the BER months
When the month of September comes, it is the first sign that the Christmas season in the Philippines has come. Many Filipinos at this early stage start saving money for their godchildren and think of where to find the best bargains. Divisoria is the most widely known destination for shopping because of its wide assortment of low-priced goods, wholesale and bargain shopping.
In Divisoria, you can have it all
Clothes, accessories, toys, novelties, decorations, electronics, fruits, dry goods, school, office and household supplies, fabrics, textiles, crafts, novelties, decorations, practically “everything under the sun” can be found in Divisoria, making it “the mecca of value shopping” and “the mother of all markets" in Manila.
It is considered one of the National Capital Region's premiere economic centers, as street shops, tiangge-style bazaars and shopping malls are all found here.
Malls Everywhere
Over the last two decades, various shopping malls were put up in Divisoria to cater to bargain hunters who wanted to avoid the crowds, frenzied atmosphere and maze-like set-up of the outdoor markets. A P1.55-billion mall and residential building, to be called The Top at the Benisons, is also set to rise on Recto Avenue. It is especially meant for Chinese entrepreneurs from other cities in Metro Manila who want to live near their businesses in the area. The four major malls currently in Divisoria are Tutuban Center Mall, Divisoria Mall, 168 Mall, and Meisic Mall.
Divisoria's History
Divisoria's roots as a commercial center can be traced back to the Spanish period, during which non-Christianized Chinese were forbidden to live or trade inside nearby Intramuros, the Spanish capital. Relegated to the parian, Chinese merchants eventually set up their own community in present-day Binondo and gradually set up shop there and in surrounding areas, which came to include Divisoria. The area continued to blossom into a commercial center in the 1900s, bolstered by the fact that the Tutuban Central Station, formerly the main railway station of the Philippine National Railways, became a major drop-off center for trade goods coming in from various provinces.
Another historical significance of Divisoria is that it is the home of our beloved revolutionary hero, Andres Bonifacio, and the first Filipino saint, Lorenzo Ruiz.
Divisoria is just an easy ride away
The famous market district touches different parts of the city of Manila including Binondo, Tondo and San Nicolas. Though it has no official marked boundaries, the greater Divisoria area is bisected by Claro M. Recto Avenue.
For public commuters, Divisoria is accessible by taking the MRT or LRT-2 traversing Recto Avenue and getting off at the last station, Recto. There are also jeepneys and FXs from Taft Avenue, España and Cubao which ply the Divisoria route.