"Wholesale Only Please!" in this Part of Divisoria (Film Photography)

Divisoria in old Manila (part of Chinatown) is known as a bargain area for everything you can imagine and then some. The place is particularly known and frequented by extreme bargain hunters for retail. There is a side of Divisoria, however, that is not known to many. This largely unknown side of Divi deals mostly with small businesses or small to medium enterprises (SMEs). If you think my earlier posts were gritty, this place takes the cake. Don't be fooled by the surroundings, though; the place is awash with money, big money (play the apprentice theme song: "money-money-money!") Banks are everywhere in Metro Manila, but there is no place I've been to where I can find anywhere from 5 to 10 bank offices/branches on every street block.

And yes, this was shot on film using a late film camera: Nikon F100 (see my prior post). The film noise is amplified because I shot an ASA200 film at ASA800 (pushed). Film: Fuji Superia 200 pushed to ASA800 and scanned to digital with an Epson V800.

Fulfilling orders by the truckload.

Cartillas or Delivery Carts (Jim Dandy's)

Dropped like a sack(s) of potatoes! Yes all that is strapped to his bike and side car.

You're lucky to find parking here.

Maybe a century old business. Who buys and sells sacks? Well, they do.

Toy Vendor in Plaza Miranda (in front of the church). Trust me it's behind those carts somewhere.

Is it a store or warehouse? its both!