It’s been some months since the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year. I’ve often thought about going after seeing photos of past celebrations, but it wasn’t until this year that I finally got to experience it for myself. Some buddies and I decided to check out the celebration at Manila’s Chinatown in Binondo on New Year’s day.
It was crazy!
Ongpin street was packed with people, and there was no place to eat. All the restaurants were full with long lines of customers waiting to be seated. The bakeries were also full of people buying tikoy, hopia and other stuff that people normally get during the new year celebration.
So we just went around to snap some pics, and of course buy some tikoy, then off we went to another part of Binondo to have lunch.
We took a tryke to Lucky Chinatown to have lunch (well my buds did, I just had coffee because I really wanted to eat that siopao from Wai Ying) and check out the New Year Celebrations there. It was also packed with people, some of which were gathered around a golden tree outside in the strip between the two buildings.
There were also others offering incense to a golden buddha, and those writing their wishes on thin pieces of wood and hanging them on a screen. Beyond these attractions was a food market that catered to the hungry crowd.
Inside the mall, there was a variety show going on with singers, dancers and acrobats entertaining the crowd. Even though all the restaurants were full with patrons, we managed to get a table at one where sat down and rested our tired feet.
After eating, we went back to Ongpin to get my siopao fix. Waiying was still full, but atleast I was able to get inside and order take-out. After that, I bought some tikoy and off we went.
It’s my first time to go there for a New Year’s day celebration and it was very overwhelming due to the sheer number of people. Even though it was like that, it was an experience made more fun because I had some awesome company. Hopefully, next year won’t/ will be as crazy.
