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By themousepotato | November 10, 2008
I have never been to Hidalgo before not until I have bought my camera. heck, I didn’t even bought my camera at Hidalgo, Quiapo. I was only able to get their buying my first pop up flash diffuser
Hidalgo Street in Quiapo
(from WikiPedia.org)
Felix R. Hidalgo Street in Quiapo is a hodge podge of knick-knack vendors, covering legitimate business establishments mostly selling photography-related items. For Filipino photographers it has long been the Mecca for photography equipment at, more often than not, lower than market prices. An assortment of accessories from on-camera flashes, studio lights, bags, tripods, lenses, batteries, CDs, DVDs, actually anything photography-related can be found there.
Hidalgo St. is intersected by Quezon Boulevard and is connected by the Lacson pedestrian underpass from the new photography haven to the original street that is of historic significance to Quiapo. The street is crowded with jeepneys and pedestrians but leads farther to a showcase of heritage architecture - cluttered through the rest of its humble boundaries.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiapo,_Manila#Hidalgo_Street_in_Quiapo
So for first timers like me, I have made some research on how to get there.
But before going there, I want to make some rules.
1. Do not bring a car. It is hard to find a parking space nearby plus you might worry about how safe your car is. It is after all Quiapo (where the sly ones meet)
2. Do not dress too fancy.
3. Do not wear too much jewelry
4. If you can drag some one to along to come with you go ahead and just treat him a snack later
5. Please, don’t look too naive as if it is your first time going there. (yeah it is in fact true but we do not want them to know right?)
6. Just keep on moving when someone asks you something.
7. Be on the look out for kids offering you plastic bags or someone who is too close for comfort if you know what I mean. :p
So moving on.
I got some shots of HIdalgo from this site , thanks for the images
as you can see, the road is narrow and filled with vendors of all sort. There you can see vegetables, pirated DVD (karaoke, porno and movies), fruit stands, clothes, food carts, camera shops, candles and some more like snatchers, pick pockets and swindlers (just kidding but its true)
NOW HOW TO GET THERE?
courtesy of wikimapia.org
I got this from some sources
via LRT from Vito Cruz Station
exit Carriedo Station through Isetan
Then go down to the GF to cross the street to enter SM
Then exited at the other side, from there you can see Henry’s, then just walk around and be able to see Mayers, etc…
Travelling by car/cab:
From Pasig – went via Sta. Mesa then Legarda. From U-belt Legarda, go straight towards Ayala bridge. Turn right on the street before reaching the bridge. That’s C. Palanca. After crossing a very small bridge and before reaching the overpass bridge, there’s a Pay Parking on your left. The shops are less than a 5-min walk. Just walk towards the overpass bridge, pass it and you’ll see them on your right.
From Roxas Blvd (from Makati/Paranaque area) — Go straight Roxas Blvd. Take right on street of Manila Hotel (after TM Kalaw). Straight road and go past Postal Office and Old City Hall. Take McArthur Bridge then turn right after Brider and before Plaza Fair. Follow the road (it’s tight) until you see SM.
Coming from the south of Manila, you should take Roxas Boulevard northwards and head on until Intramuros. Then turn right opposite Manila Hotel until you’re on Taft Avenue. From there, you should turn to the rightmost lane which will lead you to Quiapo Bridge. As soon as the bridge ends, you should be on Hidalgo Street.
Coming from the north of Manila, you should take Quezon Avenue and head westwards. Just follow the road where it leads and stop before it crosses the Pasig River. You will find it on your right, next to a large church.
But If you ask me, since I come from Tondo you i will take any jeep route that will drop me somewhere near Isettan Recto, or at Raon. Those are the two places that I know the most. Or If you want you can start from Quiapo Church then ask the priest there if you don’t trust the people around LOLS.
There is always the taxi driver when you get lost.
You can check out the following shops:
Aperture Trading Corporation
Address: 5th Flr., Prosperity Bldg., 395 Banaue St., Quezon City
Tel: 732-8991, 731-1708
Fax: 741-9743 (telefax)
E: aperturetrade@yahoo.com
Contact: Frank Tsai
Products: Visio, Falcon Eyes, Nikon, Canon, Tamrac, Image Tank, Compact Drive,
Avenue Photo Supply
Address: 712 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-2761, 733-5474, 734-3307
E: avenue98@info.com.ph
Contact: Wilson Lu
Products: Quantum, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Slik, China brand lights, Radio receivers, Bulbs, Flash bulbs, Tamron, Tiffen, Domke, Kodak, Fuji, Ilford Film, Widest range of Lighting equiptment in Hidalgo.
Fotohaus
Address: 713 R. Hidalgo St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 734-4471, 734-3304 to 05, 733-4565, 733-5531
Fax: 733-5528
E: fotolam@vasia.com
Contact: Lety C. Uy
Products: Nikon, Canon, Fuji, Kodak, Rechargeable batteries, Lamination equiptment, Film, Dry boxes
Henry’s Photo Supply
Address: 310 P. Gomez St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7723, 734-6198
Fax: 734-4018
E: henryscamera@yahoo.com
Contact: Henry Ong
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, Assorted Studio lighting and lots of batteries
Jerry Tieng
E: jerry@photos.ph
Products: Nikon, Canon, Olympus, good source of 2nd hand Lenses.
JT Photoworld
Address: 1132 Pedro Gil St., Paco, Manila
Tel: 523-4396, 536-6590, 536-6591
Fax: 521-3621
E: inquiry@jtphotoworld.com
Contact: Jerome Tan
Products: Distributes Sigma products, Cameras and Lenses for Nikon, Canon also has Flashes.
Mayer Photo
Address: 111, 113, 115 C. Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7598, 733-7722
Look for: Ramon Ong
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, good source for high end lenses.
Watson Photo Shop
Address: 312 P. Gomez St., Quiapo, Manila
Tel: 733-7697
Look for: Philip King Tan Tang
Products: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Sunpak, Olympus
Stronghand Incorporated
74 A. Roces Ave., Quezon City.
Tel. 373-2311
Products: Lowepro gears
Topics: Helpful Info / FAQs |
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Leave a Reply
November 11th, 2008 at 11:39 am
ayus to tol!! nice guide. salamat
November 25th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
wow…..very comprehensive direction….I’m gonna buy my first dslr this weekend….This will truly help me figure my way in and out of hidalgo….Tnx a lot!
November 27th, 2008 at 7:35 am
you’re welcome!
December 18th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
hi,
im a newbie in taking pictures.im only using a canon point and shot cam. i was thinking to buy a SLR cam. Do you think D60 will be easy for me to navigate? Can you give a tips on how to get a better cam for a newbie?
December 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
yes D60 is very easy to navigate! in fact I manage to check out all the features in just two days.
Now about getting a “better cam”
Actually the decision lands on you. You mentioned you have a canon P&S. I am really a nikon fan so I’d say go with nikon. Now among the entry level cameras of nikon’s DX series (d40/x and d60) d60 is the latest and “feature-packed” body. Kindly check one of my posts about why I chose d60. believe me when I say that among the DSLR brands in the market, nikon is the most comfortable to hold and navigate.
hope I somehow answered your query… I was into mumble mode again…ahaha
December 19th, 2008 at 10:34 am
i read your post bout choosing the d60 and read some users feedback on dpreview..and i alrerady decided to buy a d60. thanks a lot
December 19th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
glad to have helped!
January 6th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
hi,
its me again .. i will be going to hidalgo one of this day to get the nikon d60. i saw this site : http://www.henryscameraphoto.com/view_specs.php?ImageId=210 < —ok na kaya ito for a beginner like me .. ? how bout the lens ..
January 7th, 2009 at 6:56 am
hi alma!
yeah, that a good choice.
an officemate of mine bought one at henrys (i’d actually recommend them) for 26500. its 26500 because he added 500 to have a 4gb memory card.
hope to see your photo gallery one day!