The most wonderful time of the year is coming up and it’s the busiest season for Divisoria, the famous market district in Manila. Is it worth a trip? Is it really as clean and convenient as some people claim it to be? Coconuts Manila tried to find out. 

Here are 12 things we saw during our divi adventure:

1. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Recto Avenue was clean and there were practically no vendors on the street. 

2. The monument of Andres Bonifacio near the Tutuban Mall even felt like an actual park. 

3. Ummm… Christmas lights? Nope, those are actually electrical wires. Possibly a hazard.

4. 168 Mall didn’t look so bad. It wasn’t too crowded when we went. 

5. …so was Divisoria mall. Tip: Mondays to Wednesdays are the best days to go!

6. Even some of the side streets looked spotless.

7. Remember, we said SOME.

8. Should we have followed this trail of trash?

9. Know what was nice to see? People who actually did their share to keep the place clean. Like this guy.

10. Fatih in humanity restored.

11. The guy with a broom tried his best!

12. If you do decide to go, get a bag of fish crackers for only PHP45. It definitely made the trip worth it for us.