Divisoria – World’s Best Wet Market

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog.
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.

Divisoria – World’s Best Wet Market

Being a Tondo girl, I grew up near Divisoria, a market that sells anything and everything under the sun.  It is famous throughout the Philippines.  The prices and varieties of goods are very attractive and diverse that even the rich of Manila would come to shop in Divisoria.

I was reading a biography of Imelda Marcos.  Apparently even Meldy, when she was newly married to the young senator, Ferdinand Marcos, would get up early in the morning to shop in Divisoria.

My mother used to shop in Divisoria as well, as it has a more diverse goods that Pritil, another wet market which is nearer to where we live. Actually there is another wet market, which is a few blocks away from where we live, which is a smaller version of both Divisoria and Pritil. This wet market is near the street of Mercado (mercado means market in Spanish) and it is called Talipapa.

Divisoria has a very bad reputation when it comes to snatchers and thieves but when Peter, my very English husband, and I were in Manila and visited Divisoria, we did not have any qualms of walking through and doing some shopping and browsing.  We met lovely, friendly accommodating Filipinos who again and again would warn us to be very careful with our belongings, jewelries and watches.  And yet everyone was lovely and would take time to pose for Peter’s numerous photographs.  Peter really enjoyed himself and can’t really get over how nice and very social Filipinos are.  They would go out of their way to be helpful!

I was so proud of my kapwa Filipinos.  They are very friendly and nurturing.  I think part of the bad reputation of some places in Manila, like Divisoria, comes from the warnings of the people.  I am sure there are thievery and other criminal acts happening all the time in Divisoria but it is not so heinous a place that should frighten you into visiting. It is far from being a no man’s land!!!

In fact if you go to the Philippines, Divisoria should be in your itinerary for places to visit.  It is an eye opener.  You will see things that you never know existed, you will see things that you never really know you needed but actually needed very badly.  You will find things that are vintage and would trigger nostalgia in a big way and yet will not cost you too much as you can barter or bargain for the price or prices.

Yes, Divisoria is different from the department stores because you can talk sellers into lowering their prices.  Just be polite and friendly and you can have a good bargain.

I must admit I was rather alarmed when we saw that cute little puppies are being sold in little cages!  That was a little strange but then again I remember that caged animals were also sold in the Ramblas in Barcelona.

Anyway, Divisoria have clothed many a bride in the Philippines and many beauty queens and princesses as well. And many babies have been clothed and nappied from Divisoria 😉 The very expensive SM might be all over Manila, but clothes from Divisoria will not embarrass you if you choose wisely. 🙂

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