Video by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
PHOTO by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – The Chinatown District in Manila came to life as local and foreign tourists flocked to Binondo on the eve of the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
The narrow alleys in Binondo started to get crowded Wednesday afternoon as people streamed into the streets of the oldest Chinatown in the world.
The enthusiasm of the celebration was evident as a sea of stalls selling lucky charms, figurines, accessories and red decorations dotted the narrow alleys of the district. Fortune-tellers were also on hand for those who want to know if their lucky stars would smile on them this year, the Year of the Wooden Sheep.
Dancing lions and dragons performing to the beat of the drums added to the excitement in Binondo.
Authentic Chinese restaurants were packed with people getting a taste of various Chinese cuisines.
But going to Binondo and celebrating Chinese New Year won’t be complete without the famous “tikoy and hopia.”
Jeric Chua, one of the owners of “Eng Bee Tin,” said a huge number of people usually flock to Binondo and to their stores during Chinese New Year.
“It’s really different when there’s an occasion,” Chua told INQUIRER.net.
Video by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
Since Chinese New Year is one of the major festivities in the Chinese community, he said, everyone, including non-Chinese always looks forward to the celebration.
“Chinese New Year is the start of the year and people want to start their year right,” he said.
Chua, owner of the 103-year old Eng Beetin, said their business, known for “hopia and tikoy” never compromised the quality of their products.
“We always go for quality instead of quantity,” he said saying their products are hygienically processed.
Asked if there’s a lucky charm behind their successful business, he said that it was pure hardwork and perseverance.
“If you want yourself to be lucky, just persevere, do hardwork and you will get what you want,” he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, many people continue to troop to the Eng Bee Tin store.
Since the Chinese New Year coincided with Ash Wednesday, a Catholic tradition in the Philippines that signals the start of the Lenten season, people also flocked to the Binondo Church to hear Mass.