A twitter friend replied to my “Kong Hei Fat Choi” greeting with a “hope you and me will get more money this year.” Now that’s the most candid wisecrack I had so far this Chinese New Year’s day. Money=Prosperity. It’s all about the money money money.
Then I squeezed my way inside Manila’s Chinatown. This time for a closer look at how the Chinoys welcome the Year of the Water Dragon and how they shoo away the evils of the previous year for — of course — more prosperity in 2012. In line with the celebration, the city government launched the 1st PEDESTRIAN DAY IN CHINATOWN. Means the whole stretch of Ongpin street here in Binondo is closed to motorists. Car-less for once. Little China is for promenaders today! Less pollution, cleaner air. And no obstruction for today’s cultural festivities.
I hear xie xie everywhere. Feels like Beijing once again!
Ongpin Street is by and large a humming commercial hub which is also flocked by people for its great jewelries and delectable Chinese cuisines. Today however, the multitudes are in for the stars of the occasion: lucky Feng Shui charms and ornaments and tikoys and hopias. And they’re amazingly much more willing to wait in line for these. So how’s your tikoy, Donna?
Chinese – Filipino Business Club Dragon Dance Troupe bringing the motionless body of the creature into life. The longer the dragon, the more luck it will bring.
The heavy bulk of the beast. They say the head part alone of the larger dragon effigies can weigh as heavy as 90 lbs.
On with the Year of the Water Dragon!
True blue Filipino-Chinese damsel in red qipao.
The flames of a showstopper. This fire breather can disrupt the movement of strollers in a single blaze.
Ongpin Street is filled with showcases featuring Chinese culture and traditions such as Chinese Calligraphy, Fan Painting, Paper Cutting and Paper Folding, Abacus Demo, Chess Demonstration, Feng Shui and Fortune Telling, Lantern display, Acupuncture, Dragon and Lion dances, Wu-shu exhibitions and the list never ends. Big gala in such a limited space.
An amusing prayer on the Wish Tree: “That I may get rich quick”
Leaving you now with a bang! K.H.F.C!
(In fact last year was a very good year — for me at least. So Happy Old Year!)
