The metro may be filled with malls but there is only one Tutuban Center for your year-round shopping needs.

School supplies. RTW clothing. Decors for every occasion.

Divisoria in Manila is flocked by many for its wide selection of items sold at low prices.

The iconic Tutuban Center, one of the prominent establishments in the area, is not only famous for being a bargain hunter’s paradise. What used to be a train station back in the 1800s is where the Main Station stands today. A paint job based on heritage color palette and retaining the brick walls and century-old wrought iron pillars restored this heritage building to its former glory.

I received a bloggers challenge invitation and said yes because it reminded me of the times I would accompany my aunt to Divisoria. Tutuban Center’s main building was our usual last stop, where we’d eat for lunch/merienda, before heading home. It’s been a while and I was curious with the online chatter on how beautiful it is now.

We assembled at the food court located at the Main station for our Bloggers Shopping Challenge. They have a picnic tables set up, to be surrounded by the best of Divisoria of Binondo’s food brands plus several known food carts.

With the shopping list, map with specific participating stores and budget at hand, me and Leo of ohohleo.ph were off to explore Tutuban Center Prime Block!

Three floors full of stalls awaits every shopper at the Tutuban Center Prime Block. We started at level 3 a.k.a. Prime Block Clusters. A lot of our time was spent at Anding’s Toys and Flowers which is the place to be for event organizers like me. I was able to purchase costumes, halloween and Christmas decorations, and gift items such as toys and potted table centerpiece here. The store was so big that it takes up about 18 stalls!

I was able to buy comfy sleepwear for me and Nanay as well as kitchen and travel essentials at the Prime Block’s Podium level.

After an hour or so, we headed back to the food court. We stopped by King’s Bakeshop to spend our remaining money on Christmas food giveaways. I didn’t have enough so I was only able to buy some yema haha!

While I didn’t win in any of the challenge categories, I was happy with my purchases plus I felt secured and comfortable the whole time. Guards were always within sight and the building has air conditioning! The store personnel we interacted with were also accommodating. Also, don’t forget that you can make tawad to save some moolah hehe :p

Visitors will appreciate the enhanced pedestrian and vehicular circulation across the development. An additional 150 parking slotwere also built into its CM Recto Avenue paid parking area. Kudos to the management!

Tutuban Center is open as early as 9:00AM every day! If you are coming from the East (Marikina, Antipolo, Cainta, Pasig), Tutuban Center is a jeepney ride away from LRT 2 Recto station.