It is said that the name “Quiapo” came from the water cabbage plant “kiapo” that used to grow along the riverbanks in the district before. So much has changed as Quiapo grew from a sleepy suburb to an area of frenetic activity happening 24/7 as it gained importance as becoming Manila’s geographic center and part of the bustling commercial center of the city.
On the flipside, Quiapo has also become a textbook example of urban decay in the city as it has become riddled with problems of traffic, lack of planning, and petty crime activity which in turn have adversely affected the district’s image. Add to that the notoriety it has also gained being the hub of pirated media like CD’s and DVD’s Such a shame as few places in the metropolis can lay claim to have much historic and commercial significance as Quiapo. And as far as commercial activity is concerned, one with a broad picture in mind can see Quiapo as one big virtual shopping complex.
As I was doing my little research, it was surprising to realize that not much has been written about Quiapo being a shopping hub. Thus, here is the Urban Roamer is going to attempt to write a shopping guide of the district despite the fact that he is not a shopaholic, my humble way to show the readers that Quiapo is more than just a place associated with traffic, thefts, piracy, and the Black Nazarene but a place that holds quite a number of surprises to those who take time to explore it.