MANILA, Philippines - Economic thinkers have repeatedly warned that this is not a prudent time to splurge, binge and indulge. Clearly, these well-meaning intellectuals haven’t been to the Tutuban Mall in Manila.
The sprawling center, situated at what once was the historic Philippine National Railways station on Recto Avenue in the shopping district of Divisoria, offers the widest array of merchandise in the metropolis.
The choices are so plenty that even if you have scoured all the shopping meccas in the world, you’d still feel excited and thrilled once you step into any of the clusters in Tutuban Mall.
One prime example is Maria Paz Alberto, former president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association. While her closet is undoubtedly full of the most fabulous labels known to every accomplished power female, she doesn’t discriminate when it comes to affordable finds.
Her personal style? “I’m not fond of beige or black. I have so much white in my wardrobe. When I don’t feel like dressing up, white is a safe bet. But I love bright colors,” she says, citing a sharp red suit and an ultra-feminine violet ruffled top as favorites.
When Alberto is abroad, she usually shops at the “reasonably priced” stores such as Bebe, H&M, Zara, Mango and XOXO. Her “it bag” of choice is Louis Vuitton.
In her work as the president and general manager of Ark Travel Express Inc. and as chairperson of the 18th TravelTour Expo 2011, Alberto is an inveterate traveler. She has visited every shopping mall, exotic bazaar, night market and exclusive boutique, yet she still goes to Tutuban Mall to get her shopping fix.
A true mark of an instinctual shopper, she buys high, low and everything fabulous in-between. “There is an interesting variety of items that are really value for money. Tutuban has good selections,” says Alberto.
“The items are inexpensive, considering the quality that you are getting,” the self-confessed shoppingera professes. “The discerning consumer would really be happy to know that she has a good buy at Tutuban.”
Alberto is constantly amazed that the mall has an extensive display of fabrics for barong Tagalog, bridal finery and formal wear. “The colors and materials are simply impressive,” she says. “At the beginning of the year, I needed to buy clothing materials for the uniform of my staff, and Tutuban was the only place to buy them.”
Stalls, or tiangges, are organized by category, so much so that shopping is made easier. Clothes and accessories like jewelry, footwear and bags are bunched together; electronics and gadgets can be found in one section; toys and tools are in one corner; and furniture and fixtures are classified. And after a satisfying tour of the different clusters, there are restaurants and food stalls to rest your sore feet and hungry tummies.
Alberto’s teenage daughter is equally fond of Tutuban’s exciting mix of merchandise, especially the treasure trove of things that she makes for her doll collection. Alberto herself has become a suki at the curtains and tapestries area. “The fabric and lace there are so much better,” she enthuses.
“On my recent trip to Tutuban, I was bejeweled. But I felt safe inside. I was impressed with the security of the place. The guards are very strict and they are found all over the mall,” Alberto shares.
“The sellers are friendly and helpful, even to foreigners,” the top travel agent observes, proud that non-Filipinos are flocking by the numbers to the discount mall.
Enticing foreigners to Tutuban is one of the Department of Tourism’s current thrusts, an effort fully supported by Alberto when she was at the helm of the PTAA.
In the high-stakes world of mass-market retailing and wholesaling, through periods when some stores have suffered failure and plummeting sales, Tutuban has remained steadfast and consistent in serving millions of consumers — even a world-class shopper like Alberto.