It’s not clean unlike the streets of Madrid and it’s definitely not as colorful as the City of Beijing. This is Manila and I call it my “Hometown”.  Whenever I need to tour around a friend in Manila, there’s only one place I always have in mind… It’s Quiapo.

It’s new year and I promised my self that I will explore, take photos and blog about Manila. I just love Manila, walking around this City may not provide a pleasant adventure to every street walker but believe it or not, It will help you discover Manila’s inner beauty which is most often invisible to the eye.

Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

Quiapo is a district of Manila, the “old downtown” and once became a center for trade and commerce but is now known for cheap electronics, fresh flowers and vegetables, bicycle parts and native handicrafts for balikbayans.

Felix Hidalgo Street

Quiapo is the home of the famous Black Nazarene. The Feast Day of the Black Nazarene(also known as Quiapo Day) is celebrated every January 9th.

Fresh Flowers in Plaza Miranda

Felix R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo is the Mecca for Filipino photographers, this is the area where you can buy camera and photography accessories at guaranteed low low prices. You can also find camera repair shops, used camera for sale and a handful of Ukay Ukay shops.

Chinses Lucky Lantern

Quiapo is also the home of fortune tellers and stores offering herbal products and lucky charms. In Carriedo Street, some of the shopping malls are occupied by Taiwanese vendors that sells almost everything from clothing to accessories.

SM Clearance Store

Quiapo is the location of the first SM Department Store in the Philippines. The first SM store was opened in November 1972 in Carriedo St. Manila. The store has been renovated and relaunched as SM Clearance Store.

Vegetable Vendor in Plaza Miranda

One of the most popular street foods in Manila is Hopia. Being one of the most favorite Pinoy comfort food, you can find a Hopia store in almost every corner of each street.

Freshly Cooked Hopia

Carlos Palanca Street is the area where you can buy dried fish, Chinese ham, spices and Filipino handicrafts. You can find great souvenirs under the overpass along Palanca street.

Pirated DVD’s and CD’s in Quiapo

Plaza Miranda is a square or a public plaza located in front of the Quiapo Church. It is also a popular site of political rallies in the past.

Handicrafts for Balikbayans

The Quiapo district is also Manila’s center of Filipino Muslim community, in fact, and The Golden Mosque is located there.

Maranao Halal Foods in Quiapo

In most streets of Quiapo, you will find a lot of pirated DVD’s and CD’s in stores that sells all type of video and music Compact Disks.

The Golden Mosque in Quiapo

Quiapo is geographically located at the very center of the city of Manila. It is bounded by Estero de San Miguel on the South, San Miguel District on the East, Claro M. Recto Avenue on the North and Quezon Boulevard on the West.