Budget Travel Philippines | Living Asia Backpacking Guide | Tours Tourism Reviews 2012: A Visit to Tutuban Center Mall, Divisoria, Manila

A Visit to Tutuban Center Mall, Divisoria, Manila

A shopping mall built on historic ground and in the middle of a sprawling shopping mecca that is Divisoria, Tutuban Center is an air-conditioned version of stalls selling cheap goods particularly clothes (RTWs et al) and textiles.

Tutuban Primeblock fronting C.M. Recto and facing the street going to 168 Shopping Mall. Also visible is the Andres Bonifacio Monument

Tutuban Centermall sporting a bahay-na-bato architecture

inside Tutuban Center are lines and lines of stalls selling almost everything under sun but with the convenience of escalators and air-conditioning

History of Tutuban (origin of the name):

Located in the district of Tondo, Manila, Tutuban was named as such because it used to be a production center of tuba, a fermented drink made from coconut or nipa palm.

Tutuban is the historic birthplace of Katipunan founder and national hero Andres Bonifacio of which a monument dedicated to him can be found in front of Tutuban Centermall plus a small park where people can rest (and also the best spot to flag a taxi in Divisoria)

ATM in Tutuban Center:

Banco de Oro (BDO) ATM at Tutuban Center Primeblock ground floor
Security bank at Tutuban Center Mall

How to get there:

please refer to this post on How to get to Divisoria for directions and commuting guides to Tutuban Mall

Related Links:
Manila Shopping Guide
Philippine National Railways
168 Shopping Mall
How to get to Divisoria

Labels: Divisoria, Malls, Manila, Metro Manila, Shopping

posted by backpacking philippines @ 9:30 PM,

18 Comments:

At Nov 16, 2009 5:32:00 PM, dodong flores said...: Hindi ako masyadong nagpupunta dito. Ang hirap maghanap ng parking slot. Puno palagi ang parking area especially during this season...
At Nov 16, 2009 6:08:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: dodong, divisoria parking, try those on Quintin Paredes near binondo church then walk ride a pedicab or SM Centerpoint, SM San Lazaro which are one jeepney ride away. I always commute there straight from home 2 jeepney rides or a straight taxi ride
At Nov 17, 2009 12:18:00 AM, Traveler on Foot said...: I agree that its best to go to Divisoria commuting. We go there via LRT purple line from Katipunan Station then take a jeep from Recto Station going to Divisoria.

We've learned though that its best to pack all your shopping loot in one big bag or box them up before taking the LRT since we were refused by officers at the Recto station when we had multiple shopping bags.
At Nov 17, 2009 7:24:00 AM, bing said...: been to Tutuban the past years to buy Christmas gifts. it's the crowd i can't stand and the effort of looking for parking areas!
At Nov 18, 2009 5:38:00 PM, Anonymous said...: how to commute to 168 shopping mall from the Riviera Mansion,Malate??
At Nov 18, 2009 5:46:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: traveler on foot, yes, thanks for the reminder. LRT turns back passengers with lots of baggage.

bing, don't go there in december...too many people for comfort ;(

anonymous, ride the jeepney to divisoria on mabini/m h delpilar, get off in front of Binondo church then walk or ride a pedicab/kalesa to 168 mall along Reina Regente st
At Nov 21, 2009 12:34:00 PM, flipnomad said...: nice blog about tutuban...

btw, i hope you dont mind if i add you in my blog list... thanks :-)
At Nov 22, 2009 12:42:00 PM, Sidney said...: So...what kind of Christmas gifts did you purchased for your blog visitors ! ;-)
At Nov 22, 2009 3:52:00 PM, pieterbie said...: The insides of shopping malls usually look alike.
I like the outside of this one!
At Nov 23, 2009 4:26:00 AM, kathangisip said...: Wow..dun pala galing ang name ng Tutuban.
And you even got a picture of it. Medyo nakakatakot maglabas ng gadget sa lugar na to e...hehe
At Nov 24, 2009 10:45:00 AM, bw said...: never knew about this before - tks for the info. Looks much cleaner and with the aircondition and comfort, a few more bucks compared to the stalls outside won't hurt IMO.
At Nov 30, 2009 11:00:00 PM, Daniel Engblom said...: Hello. Great site... I´m very impressed. I was just looking at your shopping guide and I´m going to Manila in the middle of January. I was wondering if you have any information about where I can buy a beginners guitar?
//Daniel
At Dec 1, 2009 2:55:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: daniel, if you're looking for a guitar, proceed to Sta. Mesa at the corner of V. Mapa and Magsaysay Boulevard near SM Sta. Mesa (Centerpoint)...lots of shops there selling musical instruments. you can also try shops on Raon (Gonzalo Puyat St in Quiapo). For other items, you may refer to mymanila shopping guide post. alternatively, wait for mall sale to buy your guitar at local shopping malls.
At Mar 15, 2010 5:24:00 PM, Anonymous said...: how to commute from E.RODRIGUEZ TO DIVISORIA
At Mar 15, 2010 5:35:00 PM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, board a jeepney to cubao then transfer to a jeepney going to divisoria. or ride a jeepney to Quiapo, Lawton or Manila City Hall then transfer to a divisoria-bound jeep at any of those places (in quiapo, you need to go first to Recto near Isetann)
At Oct 29, 2010 11:21:00 PM, Anonymous said...: would like to know if there are any budget hotels or pension houses near divisoria... can anyone help me with this. i'm new to the place and would like to visit.tnx.
At May 9, 2011 4:21:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Hello, great job for this site.. very helpful info you got here. Hope you dont mind me asking if you know a place in tutuban that sell a fabric/textile and other accessories like glass beads and stuff for sewing for a cheaper price ( wholesale price). I am going there in august and i dont know where to start. thanks.
At May 9, 2011 9:35:00 AM, backpacking philippines said...: anonymous, i tutuban center mall there are many wholsesale suppliers of fabrics, for beads, i think just visit them on one of the streets of divisoria