The opening of the Year of the Water Dragon last January 23 was celebrated not only by the Filipino-Chinese Community but the Filipinos as a whole all over the country in an explosive manner that there was certainly no need of fireworks and firecrackers. Chinese New Year is one of the most important event in the Philippine’s Chinese community and is also welcomed with grand festivity among many Filipinos.
The festivity has long been practiced in the country but it was the very first time that the Chinese New Year was celebrated in the Philippines as a special non-working holiday which gave the opportunity to both Chinese-Filipinos and Filipinos in the country to enjoy the celebration. This became possible because of the Proclamation declared by President Benigno S. Aquino III, stating that this "is a manifestation of our solidarity with our Chinese-Filipino brethren who have been part of our lives in many respects as a country and as a people."
Like what has been practiced in the past years, Chinese New Year in the Philippines is widely observed, even by non-Chinese locals. History brought us the genuine union of the Filipino and Chinese cultures and they have proven complete assimilation in the highest sense of degree, as we can see how Filipinos observe many Chinese traditions and beliefs and vice versa.
Filipino-Chinese communities in the Philippines celebrate Chinese New Year every year in hope of attracting prosperity, closer family ties and peace. Most Filipino-Chinese families usually clean their homes thoroughly, prepare lucky money in red envelopes, serve sweet foods and display various food and fruits on a table, which is believed to invite good fortune. People also participate in parades and dragon dances that are organized in China Towns in different cities in the country. The most popular among those is in Binondo, Manila, where almost all of the establishments and businesses were owned by pure Chinese and Chinoys.
The Chinese culture in the Philippines had been recognized to be very influential in the country, as Filipinos are known to partake in the celebration by means of having Chinese Food, consulting Feng Shui experts for good luck, as well as reading their Chinese horoscope. But what must be truly remembered at this time is not all the festivities and merriment, but what a good relationship Filipinos and Chinese people had and will still have in generations ahead.
Kung Hei Fat Choi and Xin Nian Kuai Le everyone!
