THE Chinese-Filipino community is celebrating the Year of the Wood Dragon.
In Manila, the event is even made more special with the unveiling of the huge ‘Prosperity Tree’ or ‘Money Tree’ at the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo.
Manila City Administrator Bernie Ang, who is on top of the preparations as tasked by Mayor Honey Lacuna, discussed the activities lined up for the special celebration at the oldest and largest Chinatown in the world, when he guested at the ‘MACHRA Balitaan sa Harbor View’ forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association, along with Manila Chinatown Development Council Executive Director Willord Chua and Manila Chinatown Barangay Organization president Jeff Lau.
According to Ang, a countdown and grand fireworks display will be held at the Chinese-Filipino Friendship Bridge as the clock strikes 12 on February 9. The viewing deck for spectators will be at the southbound lane of Jones Bridge.
He said that the fireworks display will last for 12 to 15 minutes and will certainly wow the huge crowds that will go there.
For about a week already, Chinatown had been abuzz with activities, food lovers and those scouting for lucky charms and food that are believed to bring luck to a household when put on the table on Chinese New Year’s eve.
It is for this reason, Eng Bee Tin Grocery owner Gerie Chua, why came up with various flavors of ‘tikoy’ or sticky rice cake which is widely believed to bring the family closer together when it is eaten on the New Year’s Day itself.
The various colors give the buyers a wide array of choices to pick the color that they believe is compatible with their lucky color for the year.
Gerie though, specifically said that nothing beats doing good deeds as the best thing that brings about good karma.
Anyway, on February 10, a grand solidarity parade will go around the Chinatown area. About 20 to 30 floats representing Chinese-Filipino organizations will parade beginning at the Old Post Office with Lucky Chinatown as end point.
Also highlighting the day is the holding of a Chinese cultural show at the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz and various other activities that will be held simultaneously in the different parts of Chinatown, apart from lion dances and a dragon dance.
City Administrator Ang said that red envelopes or ‘angpao’ containing money and which are also believed to bring luck, will be given away during the parade.
While the entire celebration is expected to draw at least a million participants and spectators, City Ad Ang said that there will be no specific restrictions like the ones imposed during the ‘Traslacion,’ since the affair is considered as an individual activity where the people would be just on a ‘come and go’ basis.
In the same forum, Ang recounted that when First Lady Marcos was governor of the Metro Manila Commission, she issued an order making it compulsory for tourists to visit the Chinatown area in Binondo, to promote the place as a top tourist destination.
Ang said that similarly, Lacuna has also been exerting efforts to beautify the Chinatown area to attract more visitors and thus create more job opportunities.
Citing records from the tourism department, Ang said that each tourist spends at least $1,000 and that each $1,000 creates two employments, be they direct or indirect.
“Imagine if we have more tourists, then we’ll have more jobs and income for the city,” he added.
According to Ang, it was also the former First Lady who created the Manila Chinatown Development Council which was only revived by the local government.
He said that this year’s celebration is made more spectacular and the Chinese New Year revelry will be more significant as the country ushers the entry of the ‘Year of the Wooden Dragon,’ saying the dragon is the highest -ranked among the 12 zodiac signs.
The activities lined up, he said, will culminate in the Manila Chinatown’s 430th anniversary celebration on March 29, 2024.
Kung Hei Fat Choi, everyone!!!
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