New Normal Chinese New Year 2021 Celebration

We arrived early to visit some relatives and friends living in Chinatown,Manila. The new normal Chinese New Year celebration is very much subdue with very little fireworks display, dragon and lion dance is limited only to IATF approve guidelines.

This marks the arrival of 4719 year of the metal ox, since the Chinese lunar calendar was invented.

New Normal Chinese New Year 2021 Celebrations

Unlike the previous Chinese New Year celebration, 2021 celebration is more of close knit with fewer people ever ventured in Chinatown’s Manila and Chinatown in Quezon City.

fewer people came and joined the celebration

People had to wear face mask, face shield, one must observe minimum health protocols, guidelines set by the local government and IATF. This was is stark contrast prior to the coronavirus 2019 lock down in middle of March 2020. Before the pandemic, Business was brisk with hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life would visit Manila and Quezon City Chinatown to celebrate, buy their favorite nian gao, ti ke or tikoy and even dine-in their favorite restaurants.

New Quan Yin Chay Vegetarian restaurant Ongpin street corner Salazar street

The annual parade and other activities were canceled by the Manila City government via executive order no. 4 series of 2021 stating that no dragon dance, street party, stage show, parade or any other similar activity will be held for the celebration of Chinese New Year from February 11 to 12, 2020.

charm store along Ongpin street

We were not able to visit some sites like Buddhist temples and Chinatown Museum located at Lucky Chinatown Mall . There were also fewer ambulant vendors and peddlers along Ongpin street.

Heritage advocates like Mr. Allan Martinez, Ms. Mabelle Tenorio visited the Masuki Noodles along Benavidez St, Binondo and some parts of Manila’s Chinatown later part of the day and enjoyed the noodles.

Masuki mami

We decided to leave to leave the place at around past 11:00 am after shopping and visited Banawe, Quezon City.

Note and special “Thanks” To Mr. Allan Pardilla Martinez for some of the photos posted in this site.

Kung Hei Fat Choi, Gong Xi Fa Chai , Kiong Hee Huat Chay !!!!!

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Memorable Valentine’s Day Sweets and Chinese New Year Treats at The Manila Hotel

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Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year 2021

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Chinese New Year 2021

The Manila Hotel also sells ( Red Bean Round )Tikoy for just Php 888 and handmade nian gao – (Almond Round ) or locally known as tikoy/ tike for just Php 888

These sweet surprise variants can be pre-ordered from The Manila Hotel’s Delicatessen, or by calling 85270011 or 09989501912.

Chinese New Year Celebration in Quezon City’s Chinatown

Big celebration were held at the intersection of Banawe street corner Calamba street which highlighted the countdown to the Chinese New Year 2020 celebrations in Quezon City.

Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alumurung together with PROC Ambassador Huang Xi Lian, councilors and federation officers.

This was held last January 26 Sunday from 3:00 pm till past 8:00 pm where fireworks display and a concert was held.

Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc (FFCCCII) members, Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen Inc. ( QCAFCBI), Quezon City Chinatown Development Foundation (QCCDF)

Mr. Joseph Lim Bon Huan waves his hand ( President , QC Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen Inc.) before the parade started

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Special guests includes Chinese ambassador Huang Xi Lian of People’s Republic of China, Quezon City councilors, barangay officials from different districts, Filipino Chinese

Quezon City’s councilors

Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen Inc. ( QCAFCBI) officers and PROC Ambassador His Excellency Huang Xi Lian

group photo

Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alimurung along with Quezon City’s Barangay officials and well wishers

program emcees Ms. Candice Tan and  Mr. Giru Mercado

 Quezon City Association of Filipino Chinese Businessmen Inc. members

Before the program started, Mr. Vince Gordovez of Quezon City Tourism office had a short trivia contest were lucky participant won tikoy and charms.

Mr. Wilson Lee -Flores of Kamuning Bakery

lion dance performed by jing Shen Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Group

Shou La Mien and Fruitas stall

The event had about 20 stalls selling different kinds of street foods, noodles, hopia, tikoy, cookies, moon cakes, milk teas, pork barbecue, rice, snacks, hand pulled noodles among others.

Doña Maria Rice Puff being sold for Php 35 per pack

cultural dance

Cultural dances were performed by students and alumni of Philippine Cultural College Dance group, Philippine Cultural College Alumni Association and Philippine Institute of Quezon City.

Among the cultural dances came from Uyghurs and Tibetan group performed by the two Filipino-Chinese school based in the city.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aeTs6mx4SZ8VYCQE7

Rev. Father Wong Seng Tian gave a general predictions for the metal rat

The evening also capped a presentation of musical rendition performed by Ms. Maria Teresa Tirona and a representative from Filipino-Chinese association “Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin” or ” The Moon Represents My Heart ” which is a popular love song by Filipino-Chinese and Chinese all over the world. First sang by Ms. Teresa Tang.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tYkymcrxP7NFKpZm8

live concert

fireworks display

jam packed place

The crowd seems very happy and elated with all the freebies and happening within Chinatown Quezon City.

Special Chinese New Year Tour 2020 (Part 1)

Royal Postal Heritage Tour in partnership with WalkwithChan, heritage advocate group bloggers and social media influencers conducted a guided tour within the heart of the Chinatown’s Manila district.

photo collage courtesy of Ms. Lin Deres

Unlike other guided tours, The tour focus on the vast Chinatown district which encompasses part of Santa Cruz, Tondo, San Nicolas and Binondo.

Special Chinese New Year 2020 Tour

early bird participants

 We met at the Carriedo fountain within Plaza Santa Cruz around past 6:00 am. Ms. Melody Abuan was the early bird and won 2 gift certificate from Yakikai restaurant worth Php 1,000. followed by Mr. Ray Ong, Philip Reyes and Ms. Lin Deres among the early participants who brace the overcast saturday morning. Slowly followed by two  participants who came all the way from San Pedro, Laguna province to join the fan fare.

Kim Sha Temple

After the short tour of the Santa Cruz church, We went to have a blessing at Kim Sha Temple located at 1021 Ongpin street which is part of Santa Cruz district.

breakfast buffet selection

buffet dishes consisted of fish with tausi, noodles, fried rice, pechay, hotdog, raddish, scrambled egg, tasty bread, two kinds of soup and bottomless ice tea and brewed coffee.

group photo

Chinatown LaiLai Hotel Buffet

group photo

We arrived past 7:00 am at the Chinatown Lailai buffet area, Compared to the previous year, there were fewer dishes offered at the buffet area. While Ms. Rebecca Bucad and her companion followed.

Address: 801 Ongpin Street corner Sabino Padilla Street (aka Gandara), Santa Cruz, Manila

different kinds of ornamental and flowering plants for sale

Chinatown Arch

Manila Chinatown -Welcome Arch

The mood was festive, but fewer crowd on weekend. The threat of the novel corona virus may have affected the crowd participation.

Chinese New Year revelers in costume

parade

We spotted group of mendicants asking for cash or donations. Some are dress in ati-atihan costume and darna giving the Chinese New Year celebrations new type of entertainment.

mendicants giving some envelope

Salazar Bakery

zesto cola flavored tikoy (nian kao)

The group then decided to visit the famed Salazar bakery and bought some popular pastries like hopia, lao po pia ( sweetheart pastry), mamon and tikoy at the bakery before walking along Ongpin street.

Address: 783 Ongpin St, Binondo, Manila

children imitating a dragon dance

Santo Cristo de Longos ( Popular Shrine)

 Santo Cristo de Longos shrine along Nueva Street ( aka Yuchengco Street) corner Ongpin street is the most popular shrine of the holy cross. This shows how Catholicisim, Taosim, Buddhism syncretize and create a unique harmony between these major religion.

Mr. Ray Ong together with some of the participants

Carvajal Street

We went to Carvajal street also nicknamed the umbrella street alley of Chinatown and bought some hopia and pastries from Holland bakery.

home cooked meals sold in one of the stall within Carvajal street

Mr. Ray Ong gave a short talk on the interesting fruits, vegetables and food found within the street alley.

Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila

We spend about 20 minutes inside the minor basilica and pointed out the important religious images and the real Santo Cristo de Longos which was located in the baptistry of the church.

Lucky Chinatown Mall

Lucky Chinatown Mall is one of the posh mall located within the district. it is site for various event in the Chinatown Manila. It is like a one stop shop for everyone.

dragon dancers in front of Lucky Chinatown Mall

The group arrived about 10:00 am. There was a lion and dragon dancers outside the mall.

bright lantern

Chinatown Museum

Ms. Beverly Ann Tan ( curator)

Chinatown Museum is located 4th level of the mall which showcases 18 galleries.  A visit to the museum is a MUST for those keen to learn history, heritage, heroism and anything about Chinatown’s -Manila.

well-loved Chinese foods in the Philippines

The group was greeted by Ms. Beverly Ann Tan (museum administrator) who gave an interesting history behind some of the practices of the Filipino-Chinese community.

panaderia ( bakery)

local produce

For those planning to visit the museum, Do not forget to pre-reserve in advance especially in big group.

candid shot with some of the participants

A minimal entrance fee of Php 150 for the general public, Php 100 students with valid Id’s,Php 80 for senior citizens, people with disabilities.

Address: 4th Floor Lucky Chinatown Building- A, Reina Regente Street, Binondo, Manila

Operations: Everyday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Contact: (632)8293-2584/ (0917-1164047)

Ilang-Ilang Restaurant

appetizer meal which consists of kikiam ( ngo hiong), sliced century eggs, pork asado, radish cake and pickled raddish.

We ate at the famed Ilang-Ilang restaurant. Some of the famed dishes includes the appetizer meal, pata tim, shanghai fried rice, nido soup, fried buttered chicken, birthday noodles, buchi/ botchi, braise steamed fish, almond fruit cocktail.

pata tim

Ilang-Ilang Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurant in the district, established in 1910. The restaurant is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and closes only during Holy Week.

steamed fish fillet

buttered fried chicken

birthday noodles

For dine-in services, the restaurant can accommodate up to 180 persons on ground floor and 400 persons on 2^nd floor function hall.

group photo

Address: 551 Ilang-Ilang Street, Binondo, Manila

Operations: Everyday

8:00am to 11:00 pm

(02) 241- 9297, 241-9298, 242-3266

Chinese New Year 2020

The group got a hearty Chinese lauriat style lunch and spend almost two hours at the restaurant.

Modern Tao Ke by Globe Academy at Chinatown Museum

Modern Tao Ke was promoted by Globe Business Academy, Chinatown Museum, Lucky Chinatown Mall, ChinoyTV and with special guests Master Feng Shui Ms. Marites Allen, Chiang Kai Shek College, Philippine Postal Corporation among others.

Modern Tao Ke

Ms. Yuriko Tsumura together with participants of the event

Tao Ke means “Boss” was derived from Hokkien language which is one of the major Chinese languages spoken in the country. In fact, more than 80 % of the Filipino-Chinese in the country can trace their origin from Fujian province.

Most Filipino-Chinese would like to know what type of business would they open this time.

Globe Business Academy usherettes

Ms. Marites Allen together with Mr. Alvin Kingston Tan of ChinoyTV

participants were able to ample meal serve at the Cafe de Chinatown

The pre-event started with the registration of participants who wanted to visit the Chinatown Museum and a FREE afternoon buffet meal at the nearby Cafe de Chinatown in Lucky Chinatown Mall before the guided tour of the museum which was led by Ms. Yuriko Tsumura and Ms. Beverly Ann Tan.

religious icons and statues venerated within Chinatown, Manila featured in one of the exhibit area.

The group was divided into first group and second group, We toured the 18 galleries and enjoyed every nook and cranny of the museum. This is my second time to visit the museum.

 horse drawn tranvia

Chinatown museum curator forgot to include that the first postage stamp issued in the country which bore the portrait of Queen Isabel 2 in February 1, 1854. The postage stamp was made by the Company of Plana, Jorba y Cia at Plaza Binondo. ( Source: page 4, The Issued Stamps, Peter w. A. Harradine, Philippine Postage Stamp Handbook 1854-1982)

stickers and postcards for sale

There were several stickers and postcards for sale at the museum. Each postcards cost between Php 40 and Php 50 each which bundle packs cost between Php 110 to Php 350 per pack.

trivia questions

Ms. Earth 2019 Janelle Tee was the emcee. She asked the participants questions about Chinatown, museum and on the spot raffle were conducted before the program started. The author was among the lucky individual who won an exciting pouch bag courtesy of Globe.

movie premiere tickets

Globe Business Academy executives, ChinoyTV’s Mr. Alvin Kingston Tan and Miss Marites Allen

Year of the Metal Rat

As rats are known to be mischievous creatures, the Feng Shui master warned all animal signs to be careful with their material things and temperament. The Violence and Robbery Star has flown to the Center sector in 2020.

The negative energy it brings may result to loss of material things and good reputation. There is also a higher chance of possible break-ins, trust betrayal and even lawsuits.The lucky signs for 2020 are Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Ox, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

The overall forecast was good for the year of metal rat but be cautious for some industries.

Aside from the on the spot raffle, the participants also got tikoy ( nian gao from Polland) and lovely bag from Chinatown Museum.