Around 17,000 people gathered in Binondo, Manila on Friday night to welcome the Chinese New Year which belongs to the Year of the Wood Dragon.

The Manila Police District (MPD) said that around 10,000 people flocked to Jones Bridge to watch the fireworks display for the Chinese New Year countdown, while around 7,000 people attended a concert at Lucky Chinatown Mall.

The program for the countdown started at 10 p.m. with cultural performances at Jones Bridge. At midnight, a spectacular fireworks show synchronized with music and lighting at the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge mesmerized the spectators.

Vice Mayor John Marvin Yul Servo-Nieto said that aside from welcoming the Chinese New Year, the city is also celebrating the 430th anniversary of Manila Chinatown.

“This celebration will be a momentous event as we step into the year of the wood dragon and ultimately the 430th anniversary (Chinatown) a few weeks from now,” Nieto said.

“This musical fireworks display, aside from welcoming the year of the wood dragon, will also be a representation of the abundant contribution of Manila Chinatown to the city,” he added.

Dr. Cecilio Pedro, president of the Federation of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., also graced the event, saying that the event is not only to celebrate Chinese New Year but also to celebrate the Filipino-Chinese friendship and partnership.

“Ang pagsasama ng Filipino at ng Tsino mula beyond 430 years, napakatagal [nang] samahan 'yung Filipino-Chinese dito sa Pilipinas. Kami po ay naniniwala [na] itong pagsasamahan [ay] itutuloy pa natin; until death do us part ang samahan (The Filipino-Chinese community has been here in the Philippines for over 430 years, and we believe that this relationship will continue until death do us part),” Pedro said.

The vice mayor was joined at the event by the Consul General of the Embassy of China Wang Yue, Manila City Administrator Bernie Ang, Malaysian Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, and Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines Ambassador Tull Traisorat.

Also present were Mayor Marjo Reyes of Coron, Palawan, Mayor Malou Morillo of Calapan, Mindoro, the city councilors, and representatives of different organizations.

As part of  the celebration of Chinese New Year, a grand parade will be held in Binondo at 4 p.m. today, which will be participated in by around 20 floats.

Red envelopes, or "angpao," will also be given away during the float parade to bring good luck both to the giver and the receiver.

The local government warned motorists to expect heavy traffic along the route of the parade.

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by MANILA BULLETIN

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