Paskong Tipid: Shoppers hunt for bargains in Divisoria
MANILA — Christmas shopping is already underway in Divisoria, Manila, as shoppers take advantage of the Friday payday to hunt for affordable gifts, toys, accessories, and holiday decorations.
Satchels and bags were being sold for as low as P150, while cellphone holders cost P100. Popular keychains were priced at P20 each or three for P50.
Squishy toys, which remain a hit among children, were selling for P50 apiece, while Rubik’s Cubes were available for P35 and up.
Other affordable finds included wallets and purses for P25, two bath towels for P180, children’s clothing sets for P80, four pairs of boys’ shorts for P150, and children’s leggings for P50 each.
Friends Ailyn Magtahao and Rowena Mejia traveled all the way from Cainta, Rizal, to shop for Christmas decorations and gifts for their relatives in the province.
“Sa Cainta po kami galing, mga pang Christmas decor para dalhin sa province,” Magtahao said.
Mejia, meanwhile, said they were also buying presents for their nieces and nephews.
“Mga Christmas decors, at mga gifts sa mga pamangkin sa probinsya. Iba parang food lang, para kapag pumunta sila sa bahay, yung iba sa mga bata yung iba laruan,” she said.
Another shopper, EJ Saldua, had already filled two large sacks with hair accessories and toys.
“Hair clips ang hair accessories at nagtitingin ako ng mga squishy para sa mga pamangkin ko. Ang dala ko ngayon ay 12 (thousand) lahat lahat na yun, sobrang dami ko nang nabili,” Saldua said.
Christmas decorations are also starting to fill the stalls across Divisoria.
Christmas trees were selling for P500 for four feet, P800 for five feet, and P1,000 for six feet.
Other holiday finds included Christmas balls ranging from P100 to P150 for a set of 20 small pieces, while larger 10-centimeter balls cost P550 for 20 pieces.
Christmas flower decorations were priced between P150 and P250, Christmas lights at P120 to P180, and wreaths at P250.
However, some vendors said sales of Christmas decorations remain slow despite the approaching holiday season.
Vendor Eva Basanez said their suppliers have already increased their prices, but they have opted to maintain their old selling prices to keep their regular customers.
“Yung supplier namin nagtataas na, pero kami dati pa rin ang presyo. Kasi yung mga dating bumibili sa amin hinahanap yung mga dating presyo pa rin,” she said.
Basanez added that they had expected more shoppers as early as October and November, but the anticipated influx has yet to materialize.
“Dapat ang dagsa is last October pagpasok ng November talagang dagsa pero ngayon wala pa,” she said.
Still, vendors are hopeful that sales will gradually pick up in the coming weeks as Christmas draws closer.