Stomping ground in the East

ILLUSTRATION BY DIN VILLAFUERTE

It was in 2007 when this writer first stepped on the sprawling wonderland that is Tiendesitas. My boyfriend gifted me with the cutest dachshund puppy and we wanted to get Roxy all the essentials—a dog bed, playpen/cage, carrying bag, harnesses with matching leashes, toiletries, small sweaters for when she gets cold.

It was my first time to care for such a small breed as we’ve always had bigger dogs at home so I was excited, stressed out and hell-bent on pampering this tiny, seemingly helpless creature. (Little did we know that she would grow into such a ferocious, spirited dinosaur. But that’s another story.)

Located in Ortigas East, Tiendesitas wasn’t kidding when it comes to being a one-stop shop for pets with its “Pet Village.” This area has everything for every kind of pet imaginable—from furry ones to the scaly kind. More importantly, it has an animal clinic and shops offering pet grooming services. It’s no surprise that many pet parents from all places troop here. Good thing it lies smack along C-5 Road, easy to find and very much accessible. (You can even choose from three routes from Waze, if you’re coming from the south.)

But Tiendesitas is not all pets and cute critters. It has furniture, sporting and fitness essentials, food and a supermarket next door. This makes the sprawling shopping complex most convenient, especially these days when stepping out of the house to run errands has turned into an intricately planned hunt. Every single stop you need to make, you have to list down. You need to maximize that precious yet risky time you’re spending outside the safety of your home. We are still in the middle of a deadly pandemic, lest we forget.

From Tiendesitas’ Pet Village, a stop at Decathlon should be part of the itinerary, whether you are a sports buff or simply planning to set up a mini fitness corner at home. The world’s largest sports retailer offers quality equipment and apparel for every sport imaginable, and at affordable prices, too. Bikes are also offered here, if you’re one of those who are considering bikes as a mode of transportation especially since going around the metro is still a challenge during this time.

Many families are giving their living spaces a makeover as well these days, transforming areas of the house into home offices and study nooks. Tiendesitas’ Furniture Village has a lot to offer—from study tables, shelves and storage for your little ones’ books and toys, home office desks and whatever else you need to make your home more conducive for work and distance learning.

Stock up on essentials for the next couple of weeks or so at SM Hypermarket next door. But before that, you might want to stuff your tummy happy at nearby Rico’s Lechon. You deserve a treat. Taking your adorable critters to the groomer, shopping for their necessities, browsing through a myriad of sports merchandise and racking your brains which additional furniture you need for the house are no easy feat.

You can tick off each and every item on your to-do list in one day with a trip to Ortigas East, a 16-hectare masterplanned estate along C-5 Road in Pasig which offers a complete mix of components such as banks, offices, grocery store, pharmacies, upscale residential condominiums, dining outlets and retail shops. Here, everything is well within reach—even Meridian International College (MINT College) recently opened a campus here.

Rising in the same community as Tiendesitas is Maple at Verdant Towers. Named after the tree that is known for its hard wood and adaptability, Ortigas Land’s new offering promises convenience, comfort and security in this time of a new normal. Just like the sap that the maple tree produces, residents can definitely look forward to the sweet life within this 42-storey residential enclave. And having experienced a lockdown wherein we were all rendered helpless—from going on grocery runs and getting other essentials for the home—one can’t help but think of how perfect it would be to reside in such an area as Maple at Verdant Towers, where all is walkable.