Another Day in DIVISORIA and QUIAPO

I decided to take a break from the Panay Series to write about the recent trip to Divisoria and Quiapo with my wife.

For many years, whenever there is time, my wife would drag me to Divisoria to shop. Of course, goods are cheaper in Divisoria. We traveled 2 hours to reach Divisoria but I don't know about my wife, she seems to enjoy navigating the narrow alleys of DV mall, 168 mall, 999 mall, and the side streets haggling for maximum discounts and makipagsiksikan sa madaming tao. :)

Many things have improved since Mayor Isko launched his campaign of cleaning Manila. There are fewer vendors on the streets and they are organized to occupy the side roads only. Jeepneys can reach all the way to Recto from Juan Luna. Divisoria is much cleaner now and I noticed that each vendor has provided trash bins in front of their stalls.

After buying some stuff in Divisoria Mall we chanced upon an E trike. We paid P 20.00 each for a 20-minute ride to Quiapo Church. I think it can sit around 8 people at the back and another 2 people side by side of the driver. 

Inside Quiapo Church

I assume this is a replica of Black Nazarene placed outside the Church

Minor Basilica of Black Nazarene

Quiapo Church church is home to Black Nazarene, which every January 9 makes its way along the streets of Manila from Quirino grandstand. This translation or "Fiesta ng Quiapo" is an annual pilgrimage of thousands of devotees jostling each other to get to the Andas or touch the image of Black Nazarene. 

Fronting the church is the historic Plaza Miranda. 

I did not see tarot card readers and fortune-tellers in Quiapo this time and people selling amulets and charms. 

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There are many shops selling cellphone accessories in Divisoria. But if you have the chance to visit Manila City Plaza in Quiapo, you can find a wide range of shops selling different kinds of cellphone accessories for different phone models. If I were to choose between Divisoria and Manila City Plaza, I would go to Manila City Plaza. It is located next to Quiapo Church.

Along Villalobos street, we found a huge shop selling beads and accessories. If you are into DIY bracelets, earrings, wallets, necklaces then this is the place you can go to and get your supplies. They are also selling religious pendants of different designs and sizes. You can choose from different colors, design, and materials. 

beads 

more beads

wallets made of plastic beads

and more beads

and another :)

Another beads and accessories shop along Villalobos is Wellmanson. Wellmanson to me is like a more classy shop that caters to the balikbayans and tourists. They also have different kinds of watches, religious items, hair accessories, personal accessories, and souvenirs. There is also a rest area where you can buy drinks, sandwiches, and snacks.

They have a small snack corner inside the shop

Beads

religious items

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For our lunch, we ate at Just Get in Restaurant, a Chinese restaurant also located in Villalobos. The waiter recommended their best-selling beef noodles which taste good surprisingly. Taste little spicy to me. I think that is a typical original Chinese recipe. We were also served with a small plate of peanuts as starters and we tried their siopao as well. 

mani

the best seller beef noodles

siopao

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And for our final destination of the day is the Excelente Ham in Carlos Palanca Street in Quiapo. This place really gets crowded during Christmas and new year because of its famous ham which is excellent in taste :) 

They have different kinds of ham but their Chinese ham is the best seller and it doesn't come cheap. One kilo of Chinese Ham, for example, is P 1,360.00. The price of their Bone-in ham starts around P 3,000.00. 

Even their scrap ham is expensive. It cost P 1,300.00 per kilo. 

For a Filipino family having ham on Christmas and the new year is a tradition. So if you want the best ham, I think you have to pay the best price. (in my opinion).