One of the bustling districts of Manila is Sta.Cruz, though not as classy as the Makati district but commercial business here, I would say, is as highly-spirited. Malls, restaurants, cinemas, motels, specialty stores, clinics, offices, banks, street vendors --name it, and it's all in this area. However, unlike Makati, shopping and hopping in Sta. Cruz needs no hip-dressing, the more you wear comfortable clothes the better because the streets are highly crowded with people on the go. The common citizen, those who shop with meager budgets, frequents it.
Foremost of the numerous landmarks in Sta. Cruz is the Arch of Goodwill, a distinctly Chinese architecture that prominently identifies the place called Chinatown. This arch serves not just a marker but also a commemorative sign of centuries-old relationship between two cultures, Chinese and Filipino.
Chinatown, specifically the street of Ongpin, is known for its gold jewelries --cheap jewelries being sold like hotcakes. (This street is named after the illustrious Filipino-Chinese merchant and philanthropist Roman Ongpin, who is considered the first dealer of art supplies in Chinatown.) Believe it or not, but you can find a 14 karat-pair of engagement ring for only a thousand pesos! Depending on the value and thickness of the gold, the highest I inquired cost only five thousand pesos. There are also set of jewelries consists of earrings, necklace and pendant, and ring, which cost as low as three thousand pesos. All stores claim authenticity of their gold products, however it is always smart to double-check. Better to tag along an expert who knows how to spot the genuine from the imitations.
Jewelry is not just what Chinatown is all about. There are also other points of interest that tourist can check out. Bahay Tsinoy, for instance, is a museum that houses heritage exhibits which retell the history of the Filipino-Chinese from the pre-Hispanic times to the colonial period. Photographs and porcelain collection are among the most impressive parts of the exhibit, along with a library of the most extensive collection of materials and information about the Chinese in the country.
