Melo Villareal
Shopping Guide: Quiapo, Manila
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 a new year, and I promised to explore, take photos, and blog about Manila. I just love Manila; walking around this City may not provide a pleasant adventure to every streetwalker, but believe it or not, It will help you discover Manila’s inner beauty, which is most often invisible to the eye.
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.
Quiapo is the home of the famous Black Nazarene. The Feast Day of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Day) is celebrated every January 9th.
Felix R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo is the Mecca for Filipino photographers; this is the area where you can buy cameras and photography accessories at guaranteed low, low prices. You can also find camera repair shops, used cameras for sale, and a handful of Ukay Ukay shops.
Quiapo is also the home of fortune tellers and stores offering herbal products and lucky charms. In Carriedo Street, some shopping malls are occupied by Taiwanese vendors that sell almost everything from clothing to accessories.
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.
One of the most famous street foods in Manila is Hopia. Being one of the most favorite Pinoy comfort food, you can find a Hopia store on almost every corner of each street.
Carlos Palanca Street is where you can buy dried fish, Chinese ham, spices, and Filipino handicrafts. You can find great souvenirs under the overpass along Palanca Street.
Plaza Miranda is a square or a public plaza in front of the Quiapo Church. It is also a popular site for political rallies in the past.
The Quiapo district is also Manila’s center of the Filipino Muslim community, and The Golden Mosque is located there.
In most streets of Quiapo, you will find a lot of pirated DVDs and CDs in stores that sells all type of video and music Compact Disks.
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.
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Read: QUIAPO CHURCH MASS SCHEDULE
