Place for Plates

Tue, July29th of 2008

9:56 am

I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone in terms of areas that I visit. I want to get out of the Makati-Ortigas- Tomas Morato sphere that I’m comfortable in and familiarize myself with Manila, Mandaluyong, and the farther-flung areas of Quezon City. One of those areas is Dapitan Arcade.

A long-time “open secret” shopping haunt of homeware enthusiasts and interior decorators, Dapitan Arcade is a wealth of shabby chic finds that people were lapping up even before shabby chic became vogue. Located at the corner of Kanlaon and Dapitan Streets in Sta. Mesa, Quezon City, Dapitan is synonymous with wrought iron – especially of the accessory holder kind, baskets and hampers, birdhouses, rattan furniture, faux Buddha heads, and ceramic plates.

The vendors here were hawking their wares on the street (some still do) until the mid 90’s when they were housed in what’s now known as Dapitan Arcade. Not a very large place, it’s halls of stalls bursting with kitsch and cool. The majority of these things are export over-runs, the quality and price of which compare to their heavily-padded-in-price counterparts at Rustan’s. A thousand pesos goes a long way in Dapitan.

I’m loving the plates that I see here, since I’m quite the tableware junkie. I’m especially nuts for pretty plates but since I’ve got so many, I’ve become quite picky. I spy some plates with a coffee theme that I like, so I get down on my hands and one knee individually inspecting the wares for a pair that are pock mark-free. Price for two serving plates? P100. (I assume the more er, rabid hagglers will say that I’ve been ripped off, but to each her own).

I’m told that there’s an influx of new wares around October, in time for the holiday rush. That’s when Dapitan becomes crowded and prices jack up. When you decide to come here, follow all the usual shopping precautions, and I’ll add two more: bring alcohol wash (it’s dusty here when you go rooting around for things you like), and grab some Christmas-themed plates to display in December.

Dapitan Arcade
Kanlaon corner Dapitan Street,
Sta. Mesa, Quezon City

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13 Comments »

UGH! you let out the secret! now, everyone will know! how will i haggle for prices now?

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Comment by kayenne — July 29, 2008 @ 9:03 pm

great finds at low prices! correction though, it’s in sta. mesa heights, not sta. mesa.

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Comment by Sarah — July 30, 2008 @ 9:23 am

Dapitan has been famous for its export overruns for many years. Their selection of plates is quite amazing. I am just concerned about the quality of plates they sell for very low prices. Inexpensive plates are usually low(temperature)fired therefore possessing a very high lead content. The more expensive plates are fired at higher temperatures and require better quality glazing which possess low or no lead . In the US there are lead testers available whichyou rubbed on the surface to test for lead. I would be wary of eating out of these plates if I were you. Collect them if you may but maybe not eat or much less heat food in them. Just a friendly reminder to everyone………

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Comment by lexa — July 30, 2008 @ 5:22 pm

now there’s this other place in Tarlac where you can smash plates……….

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boi Reply:
July 16th, 2010 at 12:08 am

hi! where specific in tarlac? do they sell in volume?

thanks

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Comment by anonymous paul — July 31, 2008 @ 11:41 am

I like those rust-colored square plates I spy, and the red sauce servers that come in threes… I’m a tableware junkie too and get my fix from this huge (three buildings) houseware complex in Shenzen. Any chance of a HK trip this year? Maybe I can finally meet you this December.

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Comment by ragamuffin girl — August 1, 2008 @ 8:36 am

Hi Lori! Uniwide along Roxas is also a great bargain place for nice plates and other cheap finds. Actually, you might discover (and be surprised) that prices of plates and kitsch-y stuff would come out cheaper here than in Dapitan. And here, you need not haggle for a bargain.

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Comment by ajie — August 1, 2008 @ 7:34 pm

I just read about Dapitan Arcade from Home magazine a few minutes before checking out your blog. Perfect timing! I gotta drag my dad over there this weekend, he would most probably pick some tableware too.

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Comment by Vera — August 3, 2008 @ 9:24 pm

hello, i’m a student studying interior design, i would like to ask if it’s possible that the dapitan arcade, can lend me a furniture in the upcoming contest for that said event, and it will also benefit the dapitan arcade, for it would be advertise to other people in the said contest. and if possible if i could have the contact number. just email me at this email address: queenicks_18@yahoo.com

thank you po

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Comment by kate — August 11, 2008 @ 8:37 pm

i love those buddha heads which cost only between P200-450 (depends on how low you can haggle).
yep, it’s in Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City.

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Comment by maya — August 12, 2008 @ 9:19 pm

i’ve been hearing about that place for a long time now but i really have’nt got the chance to go there yet..but i think this time i will finally prioritize a trip there..the place looks really interesting..i might find good stuffs there that i can give to my relatives this holiday season..

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Comment by giay — August 24, 2008 @ 10:36 am

it was actually cheaper there before. bought a side table for only 150 bucks. now you’ve got jewelry boxes on the 300-600 price range. not really a bargain.

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Comment by prec — August 31, 2008 @ 10:24 pm

Oh what a fantastic place. Such unusual selections. And those plates are fantastic! I could have a blast here.

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Comment by Mike — November 26, 2008 @ 5:55 am

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