I Love Divi !

Welcome to I Love Divi !

It was just in October 2008 that my mom and I took courage to go to Divisoria. I was really eager to open an online shop back then because I wanted to test the waters first of the business world before deciding to enter it. At that time, I was choosing the course that I would shift to because I was not happy with my course. It took time before I convinced my mom to let me open an online shop and use the savings from my educational plan as an initial invetment. When she finally agreed, I had to convince her to let me go to Divisoria to look for things that I could possibly sell online. Of course my mom said no! It’s too dangerous cause we haven’t been there, ever!

Divisoria is a market district in the heart of the City of Manila known for its wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping. Clothes, accessories, toys, novelties, decorations, pirated films and music, electronics, fruits, dry goods, school, office and household supplies, fabrics, textiles, crafts, novelties, decorations and “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. The district touches different parts of the city including Binondo, Tondo, and San Nicolas.

Aside from being famous for its wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping, because of being crowded with lots of people shopping, Divisoria is also known for lots of theives: pick pockets and snatchers. And the place is also huge with lots of streets branching here and there, you could realy get lost! But because I was really determined to go to Divisoria and open my online shop, my mom agreed to go with me.

 Mom and I were really scared of theives. Our clothes were really simple, market clothes. I did not bring my wallet; I used my slinky wallet instead because of its lanyard. Then my mom told me to bring a shopping bag. So my wallet was straped to my neck and hidden in a shopping bag! I was that scared *chuckles*.

The jeepney that took us to Divisoria did not enter Juan Luna anymore because the driver didn’t want to get caught in the heavy traffic inside Divisoria. We got off at Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz and started to walk from there, the driver told us to enter Juan Luna and told us that Divisoria starts from there. So my mom and I simply followed the crowd. It was October and there are lots of people because they are already preparing for the Christmas season. As we enter Juan Luna, stalls could be found here and there, selling this and that at very cheap prices!! We really have no idea where to go.

Before going to Divisoria, I have already heard from some of my friends places like Divisoria Mall, Tutuban Mall, and 168 Mall, so I wasn’t really that clueless. I just don’t know where these malls are. As we walk along the street of Juan Luna, I luckily saw 168!! Hooray!! So my mom and I headed to 168. From then on, 168 Mall is my shopping heaven!

Here in I Love Divi!, I would be sharing to you the things that I buy in Divisoria. Things are really so much cheaper there compared to malls. Some of the things sold in malls like SM are also available in Divisoria. Yes, I am talking about the very same thing and not substitute products. Do you love shopping? I do! Join me as I shop in Divisoria and save lots of money.

-Erica

Edit:

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot about the theives. For more than 1 year of shopping in Divisoria, I haven’t got any bad experience yet! *lucky me* I have experienced going there in a dress, in a business attire, and I also experienced having a laptop with me because most of the time I go there after school. *hehe*

A useful link: Divisoria Shopper’s Map