It’s that time of the year once again to draw your list of who’s naughty and nice! With the Christmas season in full swing, shopping is at the forefront of many Filipinos’ minds. Aside from festive spirit, however, the holiday shopping season also brings a load of issues, especially for those residing in metropolitan Manila. Traffic, crowds, and long lines are some of the symptoms we’ve grown to accept over the years. Then again, it’s the season of giving, so small sacrifices are but expected. 

Thankfully, many places in metropolitan Manila offer unique shopping experiences that more than makeup for the hassle. Some offer excellent bargains that stretch your peso to unimaginable levels. Others offer a convenient and less stressful environment, with ample parking, lots of amenities, and professional customer service. Meanwhile, other locations offer a glimpse of unique gifts you can’t find anywhere else. 

As far as metropolitan Manila is concerned, there’s always something for every type of shopper! Ohmyhome proudly presents a list of some of the best places to go Christmas shopping in the metro. And where there’s excellent shopping, there’s always great property nearby. 

1. Divisoria, Manila

No metropolitan Manila shopping list is complete without the ultimate retail destination: Divisoria. From its goods-lined streets to its non-nonsense retail malls, Divisoria is where the action is. Here, you can buy everything at near wholesale prices (though you can also buy wholesale if you’re planning to buy in bulk). From clothes to hardware items to costumes to knockoff merchandise, Divisoria has you covered. 

As a bonus, treat yourself to any of the many Chinese restaurants and stalls in the area for a quick hunger fix. Warning though: expect traffic to be near chaos levels, and good luck finding a parking slot if you arrive late morning. Thankfully, the hassle is more than worth it considering how much you can save. And if you inexplicably prefer to pay full retail within the area, there’s always Lucky Chinatown Mall along Abad Santos Avenue.  

Many chronic shoppers can’t get enough of Divisoria. So for those interested in getting a place within proximity of Divisoria, consider New San Jose Builders’ Victoria de Manila. Excellent sports facilities and a sunset view of Manila Bay complement the residence’s various studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. Prices range from P3.36 million to P14.29 million. 

2. Greenhills, San Juan 

Think of Divisoria, but this time with lots of parking, dining, and retail shops. Greenhills is one of the most prominent shopping centers in metropolitan Manila. The range of things for sale in the area is astounding. Mobile phones, tablets, consoles, computers, and accessories can be found in the Virra Mall and the main mall’s second floor. Meanwhile, RTW clothes, footwear, paintings, jewelry, and household items are plentiful in the main tiangge (flea market) area. In between are specialty retail shops, secondary market sellers, and lots and lots of dining.  

San Juan City has a lot of property offerings that provide immediate access to the Greenhills Complex, so be sure to check out the many residential options available. This includes condo units starting at P5.7 million and three-bedroom townhomes at P31.3 million.

3. Dapitan, Quezon City

Another of metropolitan Manila’s worst-kept secrets is the bustling flea market at Dapitan Street, Quezon City. Known as Dapitan Arcade, this permanent street bazaar is known for its wide assortment of Christmas decorations and household decor items. Situated near the equally famous Suki market (mainly for its sushi and sashimi stores), the Dapitan Arcade offers plenty of gift items at low prices. 

Dapitan is also within striking distance of another famous hotspot, Banawe Street. This one is popular among car owners and enthusiasts looking for a cheaper alternative to dealer-sold car parts and casa services.

If you’re interested in this bustling district of Quezon City, take a look at Filinvest Land’s The Signature, a luxury residential complex inspired by the Beijing Summer Palace. Nestled along A. Bonifacio Avenue, The Signature offers two- and three-bedroom options ranging from P12.8 million to P28.8 million. Aside from the usual luxury amenities, The Signature has direct access to the Metro Manila Skyway, which allows you to bypass traffic-laden EDSA completely.

4. Vertis North, Quezon City 

At this point, it’s harder to avoid any malls when looking for the perfect Christmas gift. Thankfully, metropolitan Manila does have a few districts that host a lot of malls for their size. This includes Vertis North, a 2-hectare enclave that aims to capitalize on the soon-to-be-completed Grand Central Terminal connecting three railway networks and a subway system. 

Within this enclave lies two of the most popular malls in Metro Manila: SM City North EDSA and Trinoma. Each one hosts plenty of retail, dining, and entertainment options. Even better, they alternately hold sales promotions regularly. Surprisingly, Ayala Malls launched a second smaller mall complex just beside its original Trinoma, Vertis. The latter offers an alternative venue for shoppers who find both SM City and Trinoma too crowded for their taste.

Surprisingly, Vertis Mall holds its own with its array of luxury retail shops and premium brands. Thankfully, all three malls are within walking distance of one another, so there’s no need to move your car. Even better, the MRT North Avenue Station seamlessly connects to Trinoma, and will soon have a direct junction to SM City North EDSA. If nothing else, Vertis North offers convenience for all comers. And if you’re the type who likes taking chances during off hours, Solaire North Resort is about to open by 2024.  

If you like the convenience and proximity offered by Vertis North, you’re in luck as there are plenty of options available for homebuyers and investors. Developers such as Avida and Alveo are offering ready-for-occupancy and pre-selling condos ranging from P5.1 million to P97 million. Once the Grand Central Station is up and running by 2028, expect land and condo prices to soar in this area.  

Honorable Mention: SM Supermalls

While we did mention that malls, especially at crossroads and busy thoroughfares, are the ones likely to attract big crowds, many metropolitan Manila residents just can’t live without them. For this, we’ll have to commend the efforts of SM Supermalls, the mall operator that managed to put a retail center in just about any city in the nation’s capital. Metro Manila residents in need of a quick holiday shopping spree, it couldn’t hurt to rush to your nearest SM Supermall to try your luck. Meanwhile, those with the appetite to live near or within a mall, check out the many offerings of SMDC, SM’s residential development arm. Many of their condos have mini-malls at the ground level.

Meanwhile, giant malls such as SM North EDSA, SM MOA, and SM Megamall feature a signature condominium nearby. If you want to live an urban lifestyle and prefer a mall within reach, check out SMDC’s many residential options.  Prices range from P3.3 million for a studio unit at Grace Residences in Taguig to P15.2 million for a two-bedroom setup at Red Residences in Chino Roces.

Have You Completed Your Christmas Shopping Yet? Don’t Worry, Metropolitan Manila Has Plenty of Holiday Retail Options!

Have you started your annual Christmas shopping yet? Don’t worry about running out of options. Metropolitan has enough shopping malls, street bazaars, and flea markets to fill your Christmas stockings. All you need is some shopping money, your wits, and lots and lots of patience. Eventually, you’ll find everything you need if you keep looking. Almost always, the effort will be worth the smiles and thanks you get afterward. 

For the shopping-weary homebuyer, you can plan to get your future residence situated next to a major retail center. Of course, checking out individual developer websites or calling their trunk lines can be a lot of unnecessary work. Instead, treat yourself to a better home-buying experience by checking out Ohmyhome Philippines. With its easy-to-use search tool, you can narrow down your home purchase options based on your preferred location, home type, budget, and turnover date. 

Even better, signing up for a free Ohmyhome account gives you access to our network of real estate professionals and top-notch customer service team. They can assist you from getting the best financing options to helping accomplish documentation to selling your idle properties. All you need to do is visit our site and sign up today! 

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