balikbayan crafts
bargains
fortune tellers
handicrafts
jewelries
muslim community
quiapo
sm carriedo
Do you know where Quiapo is?
By pehpot
@pehpot (4762)
Philippines
September 21, 2008 8:36pm CST
I went to Quiapo yesterday, hubby filed fro a two week leave, and starts today, so we went there to reach for you now what.. I was a bout to take a picture and when I look on my phone on my pocket, it was gone, I thought somebody have stole it. Crap! All the while I was telling my hubby to look like a street smart, because he keeps looking as if he is lost, I told him don't look like you can be fooled easily. When do our purchase I was also teasing him that I did the best deal out of all our purchase. Bu t I can't find my phone. Luckily the phone fell off on the car. whew!
And so while driving away, I was thinking Quiapo is a really fun place, no amazing place, you can find people from all walks of life. And the place is so diverse too.
You look here, you can the QUiapo church which can bring in thousands of people on its feats day. No far from there, you can find the Muslim community, just some more meters away, Chinese vendors are everywhere. You can find everything there. Cellphones, cooking wares, party items, dried fish, vendors are anywhere!
There is also a balikbayan stores there, nice for native products they carry. There were native bags, man in a barrel, cool utensil holders, beautiful fruit holders. Even placemats! Better to shop here than in balikbayan part of SM department store.
Speaking of SM, there a one small Sm here (you know I see this mall everywhere no? like there's a mural of Sy in every place 
) oh this one mall here is sale everyday, I really don't know but say they are on clearance, maybe they are about to close.
And if you love Chinese medicines, there's some here too. our suki is here.
And then, if you have eye problem like me, this place is really awesome on glasses. Not far from the church you can find a street or a block of optical shops and eyeglasses frame wholesalers, you can buy one and the price will be cheap. Frames from the mall with a price of 3ooo Php you can find here for only 1oooPhp. Just make sure to canvass some before buying one so you can have the best bargain.
And if you are so into music, well another block from the optical shop is the famous raon, you can find cheap but nice musical instruments here, you can also have your own videoke made here. cool!
Adie from that, if you are a gold person or someone who loves jewelry, well just a street away is the gold bazaar.
Quiapo is a very diverse place, I think a day would not be enough to explore every corner of this place.
Do you guys, like Quiapo? for what? dibidi? church? bargains?
Oh I forgot the fortune tellers! and the vendors who sell all sort of roots and their kinds.
QUiapo is a very ironic place no?
) oh this one mall here is sale everyday, I really don't know but say they are on clearance, maybe they are about to close.
And if you love Chinese medicines, there's some here too. our suki is here.
And then, if you have eye problem like me, this place is really awesome on glasses. Not far from the church you can find a street or a block of optical shops and eyeglasses frame wholesalers, you can buy one and the price will be cheap. Frames from the mall with a price of 3ooo Php you can find here for only 1oooPhp. Just make sure to canvass some before buying one so you can have the best bargain.
And if you are so into music, well another block from the optical shop is the famous raon, you can find cheap but nice musical instruments here, you can also have your own videoke made here. cool!
Adie from that, if you are a gold person or someone who loves jewelry, well just a street away is the gold bazaar.
Quiapo is a very diverse place, I think a day would not be enough to explore every corner of this place.
Do you guys, like Quiapo? for what? dibidi? church? bargains?
Oh I forgot the fortune tellers! and the vendors who sell all sort of roots and their kinds.
QUiapo is a very ironic place no?5 people like this
15 responses
@migsmartinez (1293)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
I've only been to Quiapo a few times and it's a really busy place. I don't really enjoy going there because there are so many people there and it's really easy to get lost if you don't know your way around. I was also warned before to watch over your things when you're there because there are a lot snatchers there. There's a good place there in Quiapo that's great for photographers and photography enthusiasts. It's over at Hidalgo street. If you're a photographer looking for a good deal on cameras and camera accessories, this is a good place to go.
@migsmartinez (1293)
• Philippines
23 Sep 08
I'm not sure if there are service centers there but you could always try!
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
You seem to be very familiar with the place already. Well I seldom go there but I also heard about how Quiapo is. I think it has become the melting pot of almost everything. It hasn't changed that much in the past as the place looks gloomy from the outside but then you can get items that are really really bargain than those that are available at the malls. Well the only thing to watch out there are the pickpockets or the cell snatchers as they are rampant in that area.
@lrglara (1334)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
i dont go there that often though, even when i was in college (i use to go to one of the universities within the the University Belt). its easy access to everything. its a one stop shop. i go there if i want to buy something in bulk (the same goes with divisoria). i still go the mall though... :)
1 person likes this
@se7enthbird (8307)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
my wife used to go there every friday and of course with me. she lights candles and pray. i pray too but i dont light candles. i light candles at home. yes we make sure that our things our personal belongings are all inside a safe bag. we dont carry much when visiting quiapo for there are plenty of pic pockets as well. but as of now quiapo has grwon to be a liottle organized than before. now you have space this breath. even it is full packed with people. but now that we have a toodler we seldom go to quiapo, but i know soon she will be starting to go to quiapo again. she also buy her cross stitch materials at quiapo
@kylie_quistis (1220)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
Yeah, it is a very interesting place, lots of things you can see and buy there including dibidi, cheap equipments and chinese herbals or medicine. As well as, it was kinda dangerous too, all kinds of people are in there including thieves. The Quiapo church is also there, every 1st Friday and feast of Black Nazarene are the famous events that happens there that many people visits. When I was a kid, I recalled that my mother and grandma take me along with them there sometimes to attend church. After that, we will go to various vendors and places, but if I remember correctly, we weren't stay there for a long time or explore all Quiapo. Now, I once go there with my friends, I think it was because we were looking for a muslim costume and its accessories, it was really interesting and saw lots of things there. But I can't help but feel wary as well knowing that the place was kinda dangerous. But in all in all, it was great place, I enjoyed going there, I just don't know if I can visit it again, but perhaps someday, I will, particularly to buy dibidi. 
cheap equipments and chinese herbals or medicine. As well as, it was kinda dangerous too, all kinds of people are in there including thieves. The Quiapo church is also there, every 1st Friday and feast of Black Nazarene are the famous events that happens there that many people visits. When I was a kid, I recalled that my mother and grandma take me along with them there sometimes to attend church. After that, we will go to various vendors and places, but if I remember correctly, we weren't stay there for a long time or explore all Quiapo. Now, I once go there with my friends, I think it was because we were looking for a muslim costume and its accessories, it was really interesting and saw lots of things there. But I can't help but feel wary as well knowing that the place was kinda dangerous. But in all in all, it was great place, I enjoyed going there, I just don't know if I can visit it again, but perhaps someday, I will, particularly to buy dibidi. 1 person likes this
@sati123 (184)
•
9 Oct 08
Of course I do, in fact I almost mastered every corner of it, but I can't be there using a private vehicle (not that I have one) I will be lost with every turns.
You are right that Quiapo is a very diverse place. It is funny that while the church has many devotees and that the place is very religious, a stone away from it is the haven of crooks and canny and sellers who sells junkies that catholic people would not allow. There were piracies all over. I wish Edu was not there during your shopping LOL
The goods in Quiapo and stores are everywhere, as you say it is really diverse and if you asked what I do in Quaipo? same as you do, bargain hunt for dibidi and more. LOL
@skbh12 (2946)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
i know where Quiapo is but i don't bother to go into it unless i am with someone. hahaha!!! i know there are a lot of bargaining stores out there to choose from. yeah it is also a scary place to go in due to some pickpocketing happening in this place but of course there are really no safe places in this world. you just have to learn how to take good care of yourself when you are in a place that you find new to your eyes.
1 person likes this
@gracie04 (4549)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
well, i've been to Quiapo a few times already.. and to tell you frankly, i don't like the place that much... its always been crowded and for sure, you'll get lost if you haven't been there before...And yes, beware of shoplifters, okay?
@mommyfied (243)
•
23 Sep 08
if there was a place in Manila that I love, it's Quiapo. i'd rather spend the day there than go to Divisoria. i don't bring a car when i go there because parking in manila is really a problem. i go to Quiapo for the beads, semi-precious stones and freshwater pearls. i forgot the name of the street but it's right in front of the Church. it's a haven for people like me who make my own and sometimes sell accessories. all kinds of findings, clasps, chains... everything you need to make your own accessories. there are ready made accessories also that you can re-sell if you don't have the patience and talent to create them. you can purchase silver jewelry there as well.
the SM there is the original SM. it's now an outlet mall. it's the first among the SMs.
there is hidalgo street where i bought my digital camera at half the mall price. everything you need for your camera you can find at hidalgo street.
at c. palanca st., i think that's the street perpendicular to the Bead street, there's a bakery there where i buy the most delicious hopia i've ever tasted. at the other side are hardware stores, appliance stores and stores where you can get supplies for your bakery. near the bakery with the best hopia - i forgot the name - there's a shop where you can buy the best Chinese ham.
and of course, i go there for dibidi. who wouldn't? and the fruits sold are fresh and really cheap.
oops, did i forget to mention that they make fake diplomas there as well. lol!
@jm0911 (53)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
HAHAhah.. That is one rule when people are going in Quiapo, Dont bring ELegant Things, Expensive, and Bright from their Eyes. if you can pretend that you have nothing, why not!?? its for your safety, glady you just drop your phone in your car, but if it is the middle of your walk.. Grrrr.. better not to find it then.. your wasting your time.. ^_^.v..
@poisonivy27 (125)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
Yeah I know where quiapo is 'cause it's on my way to school, but somehow ironically I've never been actually there. For some reasons the place does scare me a bit cause apart from you can easily get lost there it's also a bit dangerous there cause of those thieves. But hey overall I think Quiapo is a great place to shop and get the best bargain, you just have to be extra careful and always have a good presence of mind on your belongings and your surroundings. =)
@pixiemom (5)
• Philippines
22 Sep 08
My father had his regular Friday Quiapo ritual. He went to Mass there every Friday after which he went to his favorite Chinese bakery to buy a bagful of very hot Hopia to take home as pasalubong to us. I have not visited Quiapo for a very long time since we moved away from Manila. It would be fascinating to see what changes have occurred since we left. I wonder if the Chinese bakery is still there and Ma Mon Luk, the famous place to be for Mami, the Chinese flat noodle soup.
@ag_abscruzmd (2283)
• United States
22 Sep 08
Hi! I got to see Quiapo on my way to Divisoria to accompany a friend who was trying to get a great deal on t-shirts which we need for our field day at school. I found Quiapo to be a very busy crowded place. You have to be street smart to survive this place! Hahaha. Ironic, though, I never lost a cellphone at either Quiapo or Divisoria. I actually got a cellphone of mine snatched in a Makati mall! Well, I guess my senses are extra aware of the possible things that could happen in Quiapo. I believe the best deals can be found in the area but you have to know your way around.
