It has been a norm for me and my mom to visit Divisoria and particularly Tutuban Center whenever Ber months hits the calendar. On these months, celebrations are almost non-stop in our family add to that is my Birthday month comes November. Divisoria is our go to place whenever we needed to buy school supplies, gifts, souvenir items, raw materials or other things we needed at home. It may not be the best place to do a luxurious shopping but this venue could be a gold mine to thrifty shoppers, like me!
It is quite easy to locate this place. I could say, Divisoria is one of the point where most of the public transportation meet up. Thus heavy traffic is somehow a regular thing. Wondering how to commute to Divisoria? Here’s How.
Read How to go to Divisoria.
A few days ago, I was invited to visit Tutuban Center and witness a number of renovation works and building improvement. It has been almost a year (I think) since the last time I visited this place. It made me realise how different it is now. The changes are just too hard not to be notice.
Great Shopping Finds at the revitalize Tutuban Center
Aside from the noticeable clean and open spaces, Tutuban Center is proud to show to the public the improvements it made plus the great deals you can find in Tutuban Center Main Station and Prime Block.
Tutuban Center Main Station, with the Bonifacio Shrine across its entrance, is a heritage building where the original train station built in the 1800s first stood. As a heritage building, steps were taken to preserve its history including the repainting, based on the heritage color palette, and improving lighting for its facade details. The building has also retained features like brick walls and century-old wrought iron pillars that lead all the way to the food court.
The new and more spacious food court will soon offer some of Divisoria and Binondo’s best food brands like El Presidente, Kikiam in Ilaya, King’s Bakeshop and Eng Ho.
Connecting to he Main Station is the Prime Block, which offers Tutuban Center’s three shopping levels of pure bargain buying pleasure.
An hour of shopping challenge at Tutuban Center Prime Block
Known as a place where “Hanggling” or “Tawad” is a popular word mentioned after the given price. Tutuban Center gave us a tasks by immersing ourselves in an hour of shopping experience.
Each of the participants were given a thousand peso-play money to be used to buy the listed items in our sheet. We will then make our way to get the most items at the very affordable price to be finished at a given time. Knowing the place plus your skills in haggling can definitely make you win this challenge. Unfortunately, both of that I don’t have, Lol!
But it’s an A-game for me whenever you mention shopping. So with the help of friends we headed towards Prime Block Clusters and visited all the participating shops.
What’s good about this place now is that the management have improved the Merchandise zoning making it easier for shoppers to find everything they wanted in each area.
There are zones for general merchandise stores that offers an array of home and personal items. There is also a place for entrepreneurs and small business owners for finding supplies of cosmetics, personal care, grooming kits, etc. Party planners will also find the Prime Block a one-stop shop for colorful gift items, wall and table decorations, toys, games, and accessories. And of course, we will never forget to visit the zone for clothes for every occasion, RTW, even costume and sleepwear!
And my favorite shop to visit in Tutuban Center where I get stylish yet affordable clothes is at MuraDito. Check it out guys.
I did bought a lot in our visit and was able to spend more than what was given to us. It is just too tempting not to buy good items at a very affordable price.
Unfortunately, my haggling skills and sense of direction didn’t able to make me win any of the challenges. Well the winners are really deserving to take home the price. They already know what to buy and how to do it. Probably an expert in this kind of thing. Nevertheless, It was good that I took the time and just enjoyed the free shopping!
With John, Ruth & Earth. Earth got the mommy skills to shop ang bilis! Thus she won one of the challenges.
Tutuban Center welcomes shoppers as early as 9:00am everyday. Visitors will appreciate the enhanced pedestrian and vehicular circulation across the developments. An additional 150 parking slots has been built into its CM Recto Avenue paid parking area.
NognogWears: Neff (Cap), Ed Hardy (Shirt & Pants), Skechers (Shoes)
Quick Tips for Divisoria Shoppers
- Wear comfy shoes and clothes, for walking is the only way to explore the place.
- Always secure your belongings when visiting any crowded places. It is best to bring a small bag for your money and/or phone and bring a separate paper bag or shopping bag for the items you bought.
- Most of the shop (if not all) only accepts cash transactions so better leave your credit cards or debit at home. Banks and/or ATM machines are also available in the area.
- The place gets to be crowded on the later months of the year specially on holidays so be cautious with your belongings always.
- Better not to bring a car when visiting Divisoria specially if your not going to buy items that cannot be hand carried. Traffic is hell worst in this area. Last time, It took me almost 45 minutes commuting from Tutuban Center to LRT 2 station which I think is just 1.5 km away and can be walked for 20 minutes according to google maps!
- Use your haggling skills! Better haggle half the price first until it reaches to the settled amount.
Again, Don’t forget to haggle guys!
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