Published: November 24, 2020 | Updated: December 22, 2020 | Posted by: Venus Zoleta | Lifestyle
The holiday season for the typical Pinoy isn’t complete without a trip to the tiangge or flea market that offers bagsak presyo items to shoppers. Even if online shopping sites provide an easy alternative especially now that we are still facing a pandemic, nothing beats the experience of searching the best deals at every tiangge stall and haggling to get the lowest price possible.
If online shopping isn’t your thing, consider value-for-money tiangges in the Philippines. Just remember to follow health and safety guidelines such as wearing a face mask and physical distancing.
Table of Contents
Photo by Doug Marasigan via Wikimedia Commons
Best place to shop for: Clothes, shoes, sportswear, bags, novelty items
Taytay, the country’s garment capital, is home to the perfect budget shopping destination for Pinoy fashionistas: Taytay Tiangge.
Cheap meets quality in this popular fashion flea market. Designed and manufactured locally, product selections in Taytay Tiangge include shirts, blouses, dresses, shorts, pants, skirts, sportswear, sleepwear, bags, and more. It’s advisable to go for a Taytay tiangge haul since prices here are even lower[1] than in Divisoria, Baclaran, and Greenhills. Shoppers also get discounts when they buy in bulk.
Although shopping stalls open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., the best days to visit are Mondays and Thursdays when new stocks arrive. Early morning shopping on Tuesdays or Fridays is also great because all the stalls are open. Stalls in Taytay Tiangge are typically open every Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Manila East Compound, Taytay, Rizal
Photo from @annameilee
Best place to shop for: Clothes, accessories, footwear, gadgets, and novelty items
Divisoria is the ultimate bargain shopping destination for all seasons, brimming with tiangges that offer wide selections of wholesale and retail products. Thanks to the recent renovation by Mayor Isko Moreno, Divisoria has never been better[2]. Stalls are more organized and well-ventilated, while the streets are less crowded.
If you’ve never shopped here because of its reputation, you can now experience a better Divisoria.
Stalls at Divisoria typically open at 7 a.m. and closes at 7 to 8 p.m. It’s best to shop at around 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., when stalls usually open because the area is cleaner and less crowded.
540 Commercio St., Binondo, Manila, Metro Manila
Photo from Martin Andrade
Best place to shop for: Clothes, accessories, footwear, home decor, and novelty items
Divisoria can get jampacked during the holidays, so if you want to avoid the crowd, head over to the stalls outside the Tutuban Commercial Center. Tutuban Night Market is a great option when you’re looking to shop for more items after mall hours.
Compared to other tiangges in Manila, shopping at the Tutuban Night Market is safe. CCTVs are installed around the area, and security guards roam around regularly.
Stalls in Tutuban Tiangge open daily from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Tutuban Center, Claro M. Recto Ave., Tondo, Manila
Photo by Judgefloro via Wikimedia Commons
Best place to shop for: Clothes, shoes, toys, fresh fruits, gadgets, and novelty items
Flea markets along Roxas Blvd. in Baclaran sell affordable items in good condition. Haggling is the norm there, so don’t hesitate to negotiate prices with vendors. However, beware of pickpockets when shopping in Baclaran.
Stalls in Baclaran typically open at 7 a.m. and extends until 10 or 11 p.m. Anytime is a good time to go to tiangges in Baclaran, except on Wednesdays (Baclaran Day) and Sundays when people go to Baclaran Church.
Roxas Blvd., Baclaran, Parañaque
Photo by shankar s. via Flickr, Creative Commons
Best place to shop for: Religious items, handicrafts, cameras and photography supplies
The streets of Quiapo—particularly around the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene—are bustling with vendors peddling cheap goods. Shoppers won’t run out of affordable choices. You can even haggle a cheaper price. Again, beware of snatchers lurking in the area.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, tiangge stalls in Quiapo aren’t as many as compared to before. However, you may still purchase religious items, handicrafts, photography supplies, and even fruits and vegetables on busy days like Fridays and weekends.
Quezon Blvd., Quiapo, Manila
Instagram photo by @greenhillsph
Best place to shop for: Clothes, toys, gadgets, shoes, and bags
If a cheap and pleasant shopping experience is what you’re after, then Greenhills is the place to be. Tiangge stalls have an organized layout housed in an air-conditioned shopping complex, so it’s easy and comfortable to shop around.
The Greenhills Mall is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ortigas Ave., Greenhills, San Juan
Photo by iStockPhoto/bugking88
Best place to shop for: Accessories, clothes, gadgets, bags, delicacies
If you’re looking for a cheaper shopping experience in the heart of Bonifacio Global City, head down to Market! Market! right now. It’s exactly the type of place that combines the convenience of a shopping mall and the affordability of a tiangge. Market! Market! houses two floors of nothing but affordable RTW clothes and accessories.
You can also head to the fourth floor where the Techno Hub is located for your gadget needs. Outside the main mall is two rows of delicacy stalls from different provinces in the Philippines.
Weeekday mornings are great to avoid the crowd. Mall hours start at 10 a.m. and end at 8 p.m.
McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Photo from GMA News Facebook page
Best place to shop for: Christmas decors and other home decors
The Dapitan Arcade is quite popular as a home decor shopping haven for bargain-hunters. Not many know that a few steps away from it is a two-storey warehouse—aka the Dapitan Tiangge—with different stalls that sell cheap Christmas decorations.
At the tiangge, you’ll find all sorts of Christmas tree ornaments, wreaths, Santa Claus statues, music boxes, and mini Christmas villages. Their prices are much more affordable than those sold in malls.
Most tiangge stalls open in the afternoon, so it’s best to go there after lunchtime.
39 Dapitan St., Brgy. Sta. Teresita, Quezon City
Photo from Salcedo Market Facebook page
Best place to shop for: Fresh produce, seafood, cooked meals, organic food products, plants
The Salcedo Community Market—better known as the Salcedo Saturday Market—is one of the biggest weekend markets in the Philippines. Foodies on a budget can enjoy cuisines from around the world, such as Korean, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, and Turkish.
Vegetarians and vegans will like the variety of organic food products and meals at affordable prices. Fresh vegetables are sold at about half the price of those in supermarkets.
The Salcedo Market opens on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s best to visit early in the morning to take advantage of fresh products sold there.
Jaime C. Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati
Read more articles:
What’s your go-to tiangge for your holiday shopping needs? When visiting your favorite tiangge, follow a budget to ensure you don’t overspend. Also, practice physical distancing, wear a face mask and a face shield, and carry a handy alcohol bottle with you. Shopping is fun but your health and safety are more important.
Sources:
Venus is an experienced personal finance writer with a background in digital marketing, public relations, and journalism. She’s into stock, VUL, and mutual fund investing. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.