Journaling should feel like play. The right pen gliding across paper, a sticker that makes you smile, a notebook that feels personal enough to keep secrets. But while journaling supplies are everywhere online, finding the right supplies, especially ones that spark real excitement, can still be a challenge.

For young journalers who love the thrill of discovery, Binondo, Manila offers a different kind of treasure hunt. Tucked along its busy streets are hole-in-the-wall school and art supply stores that feel like stepping into your favorite shop as a kid. We visited three long-standing spots that continue to inspire creativity across generations.

Established in 1926, Cosmos Bazar is a dream stop for pen lovers, especially fans of the Japanese brand Pilot. This historic shop carries cult favorites like the Pilot G-Tech and inks for the sleek and iconic Pilot Vanishing Point, but what truly sets it apart are its hard-to-find and limited-edition releases.

One standout is the Pilot Juice 3 x Heralbony collection. Heralbony is a Japanese welfare brand that features artworks by artists with disabilities, transforming their bold and expressive pieces into designs that promote inclusion and self-expression. It is the kind of collaboration that makes journaling feel more meaningful.

The shelves are also stocked with Kirena highlighters, known for their award-winning design, along with playful Juice Up x Sanrio pens and other collectibles. For journalers who see pens as both tools and art pieces, Cosmos Bazar feels like a quiet haven amid the city’s rush.

Founded in 1945, Times Trading Co. is known as one of the country’s major distributors of school and office supplies. While it mainly caters to wholesale buyers, retail customers are welcome, and that is where the fun begins.

Walking into Times feels like entering a candy store, but instead of sweets, you are surrounded by rows of art materials and stationery. Among the three stores we visited, this one is perfect for visual artists who enjoy painting, sketching, and experimenting with different mediums. You can find supplies from trusted brands like Pebeo, Derwent, and Helix, among many others.

Journaling essentials are everywhere. Glue guns, laminating machines, punchers, binders, and even vintage-style pen stands fill the space. It is easy to lose track of time browsing the aisles, imagining new spreads, art pages, and creative projects waiting to happen.

Despite its name, Merriam Webster Bookstore is not affiliated with the famous dictionary publisher. According to local residents, this unassuming two-story shop has been around for decades. For first-time visitors, stepping inside feels like entering a portal to the past.

Beyond school supplies, the store houses reading materials that are now hard to find elsewhere. Old comics, CDs for learning foreign languages, and iconic Filipino pocketbooks sit alongside one another, some long discontinued but lovingly preserved.

The magic continues upstairs and in the corners. There are stationery items, Hallmark cards, stickers, ribbons in various textures, yarns, and arts and crafts materials that invite hands-on creativity. For a bookstore, it offers far more than books. It carries history, nostalgia, and a sense of quiet wonder that still feels magical, especially for young visitors.

Whether you are just starting your journaling journey or already filling shelves with completed notebooks, these Binondo stores offer more than art and school supplies. Visiting them is also a walk through history, proof that creativity thrives in places that have truly stood the test of time.