Shopping in Manila… Dapitan Arcade/Tiangge (Export Wares for the Smart and Thrifty)

Beautiful wind chimes made of capiz shells adorn the many stalls in Dapitan Arcade

The rich, the famous, the design savvy and even the penny pinchers march on to Dapitan Arcade in Manila.  At the cross of Dapitan and Kanlaon streets in Manila, anyone willing to spend P20 for a good find or hundreds to the thousands for great finds will absolutely have a field day at Dapitan Arcade and Dapitan Tiangge.

My younger years have been all about driving my mom and dad around, to near and far trips for such great bargains and Dapitan and Kanlaon streets were part of those hot and humid adventures with them.  Dapitan as well as the neighboring streets have been a depot for crafts and wares varying from rattan, wrought iron, ceramics (plates, pots, vases and other vessels), capiz, wood, metals, home garden decorations, kitchen/ living area/ bedroom furnishings and the lot. The local craft wares sold here are export over-runs and local surplus that line-up the streets creating a very stimulating arena.  The colors will surely get your attention and the products will win you over one way or another because of their quality or the deal. Designs are varied from traditional, classic, modern, and eclectic to the bizarre.

A mall rat will not rave about Dapitan conditions.  There is no air-conditioning. Since most of the products are on the streets, expect the sun to give you a good fry or be drenched by rain, expect gutter utters, the occasional volatile spit, and the far from flowery air but aside from these you’ll never know it might just create a patron of you yet. It is a bargain the whole year round; the products vary with the seasons and market trends yet also maintain the popular basics. There is a more vibrant feel on the “ber” months when everything on the street just screams “buy me”!!!  Well, just barely 2 weeks ago, I made a mistake of asking how much a shabby chic over hang coat rack which later on I learned was a cabinet that belonged to the stall owners’ neighbor outback just drying the overhangs new coat of paint by the roadside.  Oi!!!

To the holiday shoppers it’s not too late to buy your holiday decorations ranging from Parols, Christmas trees, lights, stuffed toys, Christmas tree balls, the list is endless. Yes that is how interesting this place is and how everything is in organized chaos, cluttered to the ceilings fun.  You have to be more patient than usual in walking the aisles and get ready to rub elbows (and that’s not the worst of it) with EVERYBODY.

Pathfinder and I had a super fun adventure in Dapitan. We never planned on getting anything, we are more often content to just visit and take pictures but this time we took back with us new additions to our home.  Although the conditions here are not as friendly for the elderly and those with handicaps and can sometimes be rough and tough, all in all this place is Disneyland for many even holy land for some.



It's a great place to comb for fascinating gifts, wonderful ideas for the home and best of all the superb deals that’s close to a steal.  To come home with a big smile knowing you have bought something for a fraction of its mall counterpart is a reward in itself and makes it worth the trip.

It would be a great idea to stop by on your long weekends. Shopping hours are from 7AM - 7PM. For Inquiries call the Dapitan Arcade Administrator at 02-411-0252.


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