Four Places in Metro Manila to do Your Christmas Shopping

“I do not think Christmas is necessarily about things. It is about being good to one another; it is about the Christian ethic, it is about kindness.”-Carrie Fisher 

As the most awaited season of the year comes nearer, people are starting to complete their Christmas shopping lists, and if you have not, it is highly recommended that you do as well. In anticipation of the holiday season, individuals tend to start their Christmas shopping early to avoid the Christmas rush that happens anywhere between early to late December. As shopping is somewhat known as a sport in the metropolis (and also one of the best things to do in Manila), it would only be inevitable for Filipinos to have a wide array of shopping options to choose from. Where you choose to do your shopping significantly depends on the type of budget you have allotted for buying gifts and the things you want to buy.

This article has got you covered though as it lists some of the best places to do your holiday shopping with any type of budget. All you would have to do is complete your list, sit back and take a gander at the favorite shopping destinations of Filipino holiday shoppers when it comes to Christmas bargain deals:

1.)    Divisoria 

When it comes to having a strict budget for Christmas shopping, Divisoria would undoubtedly come first on the list. After all, you could not find cheaper items anywhere else but Downtown. However, shopping downtown comes with a price: You have to be confident enough to brave the traffic. However, once you have hurdled through the perpetual traffic onslaught, you will be well rewarded. Divisoria is the epitome of budget shopping and the very definition of budget shopping. It offers a massive selection of things that at times you do not even know that you need. They have all sorts of knick-knacks that come at affordable prices and would make perfect gifts.

2.)    Tutuban and Mall Clusters 

Fondly known as the Tutuban Cluster, this shopping destination is a series of adjacent shopping malls which are favored and loved by many. The cluster includes the Tutuban Center Mall as well as 168, and each mall offers inexpensive gift options which they have organized in segments all depending on what you need. The best thing about this shopping district is that the malls are in proximity to each other which means you just hop from one place to another. However, do note that there is a huge influx of consumers and buyers whenever there is a holiday. So, it is best to start your Christmas shopping in this mall early on.

3.)    Malls (SM, Ayala, Robinsons, etc.) 

Although significantly more expensive than any of the shopping districts listed on this article, shopping malls such as SM, Ayala and the like offer their consumers an ease of convenience that is notably absent in other malls. However, the downside to this is that these shopping malls do not allow haggling. But you will be pleased to know that they have huge bargain deals and discounts during the Christmas season and on top of that, they have raffle draws and contests for a minimum amount of purchase. Lastly, they offer complimentary gift wrapping which would save you time from wrapping the Christmas gifts yourself. Indeed, shopping in these malls would be the more convenient and leveled-up way to shop.

4.)    Baclaran 

Widely considered as an offshoot of Divisoria, Baclaran similarly offers a myriad of selections that focus on affordable apparel, colorful accessories, affordable footwear and other items that would make charming gifts for the Christmas season. However, much like how buyers descend in Divisoria in droves, you can expect Baclaran to be one of the most visited shopping destinations during the last quarter of the year.

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