A New Dapitan

Along a nondescript road with a name made familiar by virtue of its similarity to Rizal's place of exile in Zamboanga and made famous by its proximity to Manila's oldest university is an equally nondescript structure bearing the name of the street where it stands. Dapitan Arcade is the place to go for the most wonderful bargains and finds. From ceramic export overruns. To native crafts, also overruns. And a whole lot of other exciting things.

Dapitan Arcade is in the corner of Dapitan and Kanlaon Streets, at some point where Quezon City and Manila meet. It is a small palengke-like building during the first three quarters of the year that extends into a mini-street market from October onwards. We run to this shopping haven whenever balikbayan relatives are here and we need pretty Pinoy-ish stuff to give them as send-off presents. We do part of our Christmas shopping there, but long before the Holiday crowds come like as early as summer.

Anyone who’s into country decors will love Dapitan. I’m not but I usually buy stuff for my sister Odie who’s into these things. Among these are a lovely tin watering can that my sister now uses as a flower holder, little ceramic tiles that can be used as wall accents and assorted ceramic bowls, plates, etc. There are also wicker baskets of all shapes and sizes—for bread and pastries, CDs, dirty clothes and even pet dogs—with prices ranging from 20 to 350 pesos only. China goods also abound and they cost less here than in Beijing because these might have originated from Shenzhen.

Among our worthy finds is a pair of scarecrows that we tie to the gate of our Balayan home every Halloween for only 100 pesos each. There's also this tall cylindrical clay vase that I haggled down to 200 pesos. And cool plastic coasters at 5 pieces for Php100. Dapitan has already contributed 3 lamps to Nubs' collection. We have scored quite a number of Christmas ornaments during the few years that we've been frequenting the place. Our favorite buy is a large round capiz shade that we converted into a candle holder that we got for 70 pesos, would you believe? Prices are good at all times. I never had to part with a Ninoy for any single purchase.

No wonder even rich matrons flock to Dapitan. They usually wear wide-brimmed hats over their heads and huge sunglasses over their eyes. The place though has no attraction whatsoever for little kids like my Indie. Everytime we go there, she refuses to get off the car, always exclaiming that it's not a mall. Of course, it's not. Otherwise, everything won't be soooo cheap.