Filipinos love to shop. And it’s not just the act of buying that we love, but also the thrill of the hunt.

We love to look high and low, scour around, and search tiangge stalls to find that perfect dress, shirt or pair of shoes. We also love to haggle until we get the price we want.

In our youth, we remember days trailing our mother with her kumare and friends in Divisoria and Tutuban.

The recently opened Christmas bazaar at Robinsons Novaliches gave us a pleasant sense of nostalgia, as it closely mirrored the ambiance and product selections of the old Divisoria in Manila.

The media was invited to experience the bazaar firsthand, and we were pleasantly surprised at the wide selection of dresses, toys and shoes being offered.

From fashion to Christmas decor

Called “Divisoria of the North,” Robinsons Novaliches’ Christmas bazaar spans two parking lots, and features 248 stalls offering a variety of items, from shoes to Christmas decor to accessories.

Robinsons Malls group marketing manager Vicente Mallapre III said the Christmas bazaar is aptly situated for shoppers north of Manila.

“With the traffic situation in Manila, it is such an effort to travel long distances away from your home,” he said. “Our bazaar is perfect for northerners to do their Christmas shopping away from the hassle and traffic of traveling through Edsa. Shoppers get the best of Divisoria without the long commute and large crowds.”

Robinsons Malls started the annual tradition in 2007. The bazaar is a shopping haven for residents of Quezon City (including Novaliches and Fairview), Caloocan City, and even San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

“It has long been the northerners’ go-to Christmas tiangge because of the great deals and the festive atmosphere,” said Mallapre.

Same low price

“The items here are the same as the ones you find in Divisoria,” said Mylene Suapero Lim, marketing manager of MPS Events Management, organizer of the bazaar.

“Even the prices are the same. Sometimes, it’s even lower here in Robinsons Novaliches,” Lim said.

Most of the items we found were priced below P150. There were good quality sandals from Marikina at P180 a pair, T-shirts at P100, and buy one, take one items. We also spotted rubber shoes and sporting goods under P300.

The toy selections were abundant as well. There were brick sets, board games and action figures. We also found gadget shops that sold cellphone accessories, portable fans, electric cooking pots and other home appliances.

Shoppers won’t go hungry at the bazaar. Spread over the two parking lots are numerous food options like shawarma, fish balls, kikiam, and other Filipino street food. In time for the holidays, there’s bibingka and puto bumbong.

It is the ideal destination to bond with family and friends, and wax nostalgic about previous holidays spent haggling and shopping with loved ones.

The Robinsons Novaliches 2019 Christmas Bazaar runs until Jan. 5, 2020. It opens 11 a.m. till midnight.