Shopping trip for the Familes

Spent the entire afternoon at Divisoria Market shopping for the Families, aside from buying rice. (Jvena pictured above, in yellow - Arnel above her in the red shirt; you can also see Anna's face behind Arnel)
...HUGE crowds at the street market, absolutely congested shoulder to shoulder on the streets, so you're constantly banging into people while Jeeps and all sorts of vehicles attempt to actually DRIVE down the same streets pictured above (truly insane) - all the while I'm trying to look out for the personal security of my Entourage, but that's where the deals are, and that's where I need to shop, considering the number of people I'm buying for.

Everyone got clothes they needed, from the older girls down to the babies (early Christmas presents) dresses, shirts & shorts, to a baby's covered sleeper made from mosquito proof fabric.

THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS AND READERS WHO ALLOW ME TO DO THIS FOR THESE FAMILIES!

I took Anna & her neighbor Jvena with me, and Arnel was the adult in-charge, and I have thanked him for a job well done, as he helped me make a list of all the Family members and their sizes, etc. as well as being the one who actually held the cash & paid the vendors for all the purchases.

I walked slightly behind our group and sent them out ahead of me, so I remain unseen by the vendors at least, and I do it this way to avoid the automatic price increases if I were to walk into the vendors stall to buy the clothes - they automatically think I'm "their BANK" if they see the foreigner come in to buy.

It's also better if I'm the one who takes charge of their security this way, as I can see who's got eyes on them, and who seems to be approaching them from behind, etc.
...this street market in particular is noted for pick pockets, thefts & snatching, as well as more serious crime - so I literally have my eyes 360 around me to watch my own back, especially since I'm carrying the Olympus (hand held & very securely wrapped several times around my left arm with the thick neoprene OpTech camera strap)

Anna's Family: Anna, Melvin, Rowena, ChrisMae, Mama Tess, Papa, Arnel, Mama Myrna (pregnant w/babyJames) Myrna's husband, daughter Jvena, along with Auntie Janice, Auntie Grace.

Rosa's Family: Rosa & Edison, brother Francisco, sisters Zira & Ren, Auntie Josie, numerous cousins in Pasay City.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES