Trip to Divisoria

I went to bed last night feeling excited about today. I am going to Divisoria to buy school supplies for the kids in Tondo. I was also excited about seeing 25 babies under the care of the Missionaries of Charity.

This morning I woke up inspired, I couldn’t wait to see Sister Perla and the kids. Oyen reminded me to look poor since I am going to Divisoria. So no LV today, no wristwatch and earrings. I decided to bring my Fendi backback para iwas dukot. And no wallet para walang ma-dukot. My Fendi smells luma because it’s really luma. I bought this from Rustan’s some 12- 15 years ago for P14,000. Ngayon ko lang naisip na parang ang mahal yata ng bili ko.

I wore this very old polo shirt of mine, siguro 10 years old na ito, I bought here for P750.

While I was having breakfast, our cook Cherry asked for my permission to go to Arranque Market to get her wristwatch.
Me—– Ang layo naman, bakit doon pa
Cherry- Eh Mam doon kasi yun talagang nagre repair ng relo.
Me—– anong klase ba yung relo mo?
Cherry- ROLEX.

(wow)
She also rode with me.

Me—– Cherry mukha kang balikbayan baka mahablot ang bag mo.
Cherry- Mam, marunong akong mag ayudo. (Judo).

(wow again)

I went to the office first in the morning then left for Divisoria at 1:40 pm.
Cruising along Roxas Blvd feels like I am in a field trip

Mga kababayan, sumaludo kayo

Manila Hotel, where my Kuya Junior had his oath-taking when he passed the Medical board exam and became Dr. Tan.

Jones Bridge. I hope no one erases a part of Manila’s history by changing its name. Baka next time maging Isko Moreno bridge na ito.

Pasig River still looks dirty. The water is choco loco brown.

Binondo Church

I learned that most of this tricycle drivers actually live in their tricycles. They park at night inside the nearby elementary school grounds.

There’s a new shopping mall called Lucky Chinatown, owned by Megaworld.

The old structure is a contrast to the beautiful buildings of Megaworld across the street. I won’t be surprised if soon this would be replaced by SM naman.

I told the driver to bring me to 168 Shopping Mall in Binondo but I was kind of unsure whether I would find a school supplies store inside 168 because I know it’s more of a fashion mecca. For sure, I can find school supplies vendors sa kalye at bangketa but I don’t want to go that far, mahirap magpark doon.

I saw Atoy Co walking by himself, mukhang galing sa 168.

Daming nagpapa-picture

I got off the car at the entrance of 168 but I didn’t know where to go, bahala na, magtanong na lang ako.

As soon as I entered 168, I asked a Chinese guy manning the first store I saw where I could buy school supplies, he replied “melon ako school supplies”. How can I be so lucky? On the other side of his store were notebooks, pens, crayons, bags, etc. I bought 500 notebooks, 200 ballpens, 100 writing pads, etc.

There were so many buyers. Siguro kasi pasukan. If I am not mistaken, the owners of this store are from mainland China. They speak some Tagalog but I could tell from their accent that they’re not local Chinese.