The Divisoria Adventure

Oh, c'mon. I was just kidding about that no hurricane being able to ever stop me from going to Divisoria! On a Saturday, with the typhoon on full gear, and everybody and their mothers going to the same place...? I seriously didn't think so.

But when I woke up at 9am this morning and was greeted by a warm and sunny Saturday morning, I realized that perhaps I should go. But the cynical voice in my whispered, "give it another hour, and the rain's gonna come pouring in and dampening your spirits," and so I went back to sleep. So when 1030am came and the sun was still as cheerio as when I first woke up, I decided I'd rather shop than sweat it out at Gold's. Nolet and Sheila turning down my last minute invite notwithstanding, I eagerly jumped in the still-cold shower (what am I talking about? We don't even have hot water!), and got ready to hit the Shangri-la of inexpensive hunts.

***

Chivalry Resurrected

Realizing that the old LRT line was going to take me to Recto faster (i.e. a short jeepney ride from my condo to Magallanes MRT station; and then a quick MRT ride to EDSA-Taft; and then LRT 1 to D. Jose/Recto) than if I took the MRT to Gateway Mall and then the very comfy LRT 2 over at Cubao going to Recto, I found myself walking through the Metromall at EDSA. And after mistakenly going to the other side of the route and foolishly realizing I was headed towards the wrong direction, I went back the other way and fell in line at the LRT ticket dispatcher's window.

The LRT train that I boarded was not too full, and I was lucky enough to get a seat. But just as I was getting cozy in my corner, an elderly woman (well, not that old...she was prolly in her early 50s) came inside and stood diagonally across my seat. Almost on instinct, I stood up--quickly scanned the standing passengers and made sure nobody was going to steal that seat in a split-second---and gave my seat to the lady. My secret wish for a simple "thank you" was not turned down. With a sweet smile on the lady's face, she said thank you, and added that I was such a nice young man. (Of course I smiled more with the usage of the word "young" hehehehehe) To which, I returned the sweet smile with a cursory "you're welcome".

As if an air of humanity all of a sudden enveloped our train, at least four or five other men stood up to give their seats to other more in need individuals, mostly elderly. And call me a bloody ray of sunshine if you want, but I felt really REALLY good setting off that goodwill succession.

***

Shopping Splurge

With only 2,500 pesos in my wallet (I had to leave the rest of my cash, because I had to overpower myself from spending beyond that budget), I steered towards the main mall and its annex. Surprisingly, the crowd wasn't that overflowing. And in less than 3 hours, and after a whole lot of bargaining and withstanding stingy Chinese sales managers/owners, I got myself a wealth of goodies...and all totalling about 2,450.

What did I buy? I was able to score a really chic canvas-like messenger bag, a pair of for-regular-wear-and-tear sneakers, a spiffy black windbreaker, a set of flashy silk neck ties from Thailand, and two sets of sassy-looking fabrics (which are now with my tailor, being cut and sewn into a pair of long-sleeved shirts, patterned after my favorite black Springfield).

I definitely need to go back for more. Arrrggghhhh!