If you’re new to the hobby and are wondering where to buy fountain pens offline in the Philippines, here are some stores that you should definitely check out.
The best way to get your first fountain pen, after all, is to have a feel first in a store. You get to check if the size and weight are to your liking, and there’s not that much waiting involved.
Updated July 2023
Scribe
Perhaps the oldest specialty shop in the Philippines, Scribe has grown together with the local fountain pen scene. They have pens from Pilot, Platinum, Lamy, TWSBI, Kaweco, Pelikan, Visconti, Noodlers, and Cross here, together with matching inks and stationery. They are practically have the most number of choices, so remember to guard your wallet when entering any branch in Metro Manila.
A post shared by Scribe (@scribe.ph) on Apr 19, 2018 at 12:07am PDT
Everything Calligraphy
From being an online store for the longest time, Everything Calligraphy, also known as EC, now has a physical store in San Juan that is open on weekdays. Just like Scribe, be prepared to get your pen peace disturbed when you visit.
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National Bookstore
Look beyond the Moleskine section and you’ll find stalls of Lamys, Parkers, Sheaffers, and sometimes Pilots. Options may not much, especially on budget pens. Also, their attendants are definitely not as knowledgeable about fountain pens as those in charge in Scribe and EC. But there are nice finds here as well, if you know what you’re looking for.
Cosmos Bazar
If you don’t mind having a Binondo trip for pens (and a side trip for food), head over to Cosmos Bazar, the official distributor of Pilot pens in the Philippines. They’re pretty hard to miss, since it is almost across the Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruis. Here, you’ll find whatever Scribe and NBS have, and more. Need a lot of converters? Get them for almost half the price that online sellers ask. Beginner pens? They’re around a hundred pesos cheaper. If you feel Binondo is too far, wait for the annual International Book Fair where they have a staple presence.
Address:
571 Quintin Paredes Street, Binondo, Manila, Philippines.
Tel. Nos.: 243-6912 to 14Fax No.: 242-5671
Times Trading
The official distributor of Lamy is a literally a few steps away from Cosmos Bazar. There is not much difference in price through, but it is still worth a look.
Address:
525 Quintin Paredes Rd, Binondo, Manila, 1006 Metro Manila
Daiso
The thrift shop carries two Japanese fountain pens, but you need a bit of luck to get them. Aside from the store-branded variant, they also have the extremely cheap Platinum Riviere.
If you prefer ordering your fountain pens online and would like to avoid risks involved in usual internet-based transactions, check out our list of trusted online fountain pen sellers in the Philippines.
