Chinatown Binondo, Manila: Happy Chinese New Year 2016!

            

                                                    

Let us enter the arch of new beginning. The day after the Chinese Lunar New Year(2016) Celebration. I remember before someone asked me what were the two important days in your life? I was shocked when he asked me that out of the blue. At the very first place we didn't know each other. After roughly 5 minutes of thinking I gave him an honest answer and that was a tough question though. I said first was my birthday then second was new year celebration. I right away explained why were these special. My birthday because it reminds me of how my mother exerted so much energy just to deliver me into this world. It also gives way for me to assess myself on what I've done in the previous year and my plans in the coming years. New Year Celebration as my second picked gave me a very positive impact towards life. Literally, new year celebration is just the next day of today or tomorrow of today. Everything almost didn't change just the time, date and year on your phone. But there is something really special about this celebration, apart from the loud and amazing fireworks, noisy firecrackers, festive mood and zappy people. This celebration allows you to have "New" in everything, that's why it's New Year! It's like you are entering an arch of new beginning. A second chance. It's like its setting up your mind that you are free to make a "BIG" change in your life. And that's why I love it.

Going forward it was morning after the chinese new year celebration when we went to Chinatown. I was at work during the countdown I thought this eat out would not happen. In the Philippines it is usual to celebrate the december 31 going january 1 new year countdown however for a normal filipino family, chinese new year is not celebrated extravagantly. I guess because like me and my friends instead of celebrating it separately we joined together, went to Chinatown and enjoyed the festive atmosphere with our chinese friends. Much cheaper and closer to the occasion. This is one of the great traits I guess being a Filipino although there is a colonial mentality but embracing different culture and adapting it helped me understand my surroundings. People and their actions.

The other way going to Chinatown, Manila. It was 7am when we went out from our office. We rode MRT from Pioneer station to Edsa-Pasay it was like P20 each then from there we rode LRT 1 from Edsa-Pasay to Carriedo another P20 each. It was rush hour that time and unfortunately we were like sardines inside the train. From Carriedo we walked going to Ongpin, Binondo.

(L-R) Me, Uela and Ise                                             (c) Kenneth Mendoza


When the Dragon danced. While we were walking continuously finding a chinese resto where to eat we did not expect that even if the celebration has already ended we could still see a dragon dance which is part of the chinese new year. Usually its body is made of silk and bamboo and it has gills made of colorful paper. It is maneuvered by young men wearing red shirt. Dragon is known to be a mythical creature in chinese culture. Welcomed the New Year with a Smile!

Young Men, Dragon, Fireball

  Red and Gold Lion. Aside from Dragon Dance we got to see the dance of the lions. That was my first time to watch it up close. I enjoyed it. Red is distinguished in chinese culture which symbolizes fire while Gold means fortune or prosperity. That's why people preferred to wear dress with these colors.

When the lion danced. I accidentally captured this moment when these guys were dancing infront of the store. While the owners were watching.

                     

Red and Gold Lion 2

When they entered the store.

When they lit the firecrackers as part of the tradition to drive away bad luck.

When the lion played with the firecrackers.

(L-R) Me, Uela and Ise           (c) Kenneth Mendoza 

Welcome to Chinatown! Welcome to Binondo, Manila!

Carvajal Street. It was still early that time and we kept finding an open chinese resto so while we were walking we went inside this dry market where we saw different fruits, rice cakes etc. which are usual during new year celebration.

Hanging Fruits with Ang Pao "Chinese Red Envelope" Chinese culture is very rich especially in celebrating new year. Normally you  can see things like these as a symbol to drive away bad luck and welcome prosperity. This has already adapted in the country where even during christmas godfather or godmother put money inside "Ang Pao" and give it to their godchild/ren. This is a belief with the chinese culture influence that has been practiced for many years because they want their godchild/ren to have a lucky money. You'll never know it will multiply and that's awesome, right?

Rice Cakes. These foods perfect to eat on your breakfast with hot coffee on the side have filipino influence. Those white here are "Puto" while brown or dark in color are "Malagkit" and "Kutsinta"

Ang Pao(s) and different symbols.

Ying Ying Tea House. Discovering Chinese Culture through Chinese Foods. At last we were able to see an authentic chinese resto. Located at Dasmarinas, Binondo, Manila.

Groupie before we ordered. The place was ok it was the usual chinese restaurant in chinatown but it didn't matter to me since I went there to eat.

What's on the table?

Lemon Chicken. I like it but it would be more perfect in taste if it's well mixed-the sauce and the chicken. More sauce please!

Veggies. The taste was usual, it's good though.

Siomai. My forever love!

Thank you for the great food!

Jasmine Tea. This is the best tea I've tasted so far. In all fairness, the taste was so not artificial. It has a clean and good flowery smell. It has a calming effect. I actually drunk more tea than water.

Big Scoop Ice Cream House

A must try! Like Ying Ying Resto it was my first time to go in Big Scoop Escolta. I didn't know this place. But when my friend Ise said that we would go to an Ice Cream House I got excited. If you'll ask me which would I choose, cake or ice cream? I'd definitely choose Ice Cream. I'm an Ice Cream lover. She said, I should try their avocado flavor. I fell in love with the place when we went there. It's clean. It has this vintage ambience. I was not sure at first which flavor would I buy even if my friend suggested avocado gladly they had free taste.

(L-R) Me, Ise, Uela and Kenneth. I've almost tasted all the flavors. From the usual chocolate, mango and vanilla. I was in a dilemma which to buy if pistachio or avocado. In the end I still chose the jackfruit flavor not the two. I don't know but I find the taste like you're eating real jackfruit.

(L-R) Me and Uela                                                                  (c) Ise Fabillar            

 With the Big Scoop fridge. Good thing we were the only customers that time so we really took advantage to take pictures with this fridge. I really thought that the ice cream each cone was expensive. The price was right worth 35 pesos.

(L-R) Me, Uela and Ise                                         (c) Kenneth Mendoza 

Polland Hopia. We stopped here to buy souvenirs for my mom. I was thinking which would I buy, rice cake "tikoy" or hopia? In the end I chose to buy 4 boxes of Hopia with different flavors like ube, jackfruit and beans. Aside from siomai I also love hopia its a pastry with different fillings.

(L-R) Me, Uela, Kenneth and Ise                       (c) Ise Fabillar  
Groupie before we went home.

(L-R) Me, Ise and Uela                                    (c) Kenneth Mendoza   

New Chinatown Arch. Despite the controversy about this new arch I honestly was wowed by this. My friend even said we were like in Bangkok. The design and its colours are very inviting to the tourists eyes. You can't resist to go inside and discover the beauty and history of Chinatown.

                                                                     (c) Ise Fabillar

Old Chinatown Arch. And I ended my Chinatown after new year celebration tour here. A perfect imperfect shot behind this old arch. Discovering what's inside Binondo Manila, what's inside Chinatown was worth it and became more special since it happened during the new year celebration. From the chinese food we ate, the entertaining dragon and lion dance we accidentally saw along the street, carvajal street, ow so delicious ice cream from Big Scoop, hopia souvenirs from Polland to the new and old arch. Everywhere has its own story and influence of chinese culture. The place is rich and colorful like its culture and traditions. Perfect for cultural explorers. Chinatown in the Philippines is considered and known to be the oldest Chinatown in the planet(also outside China) Luckily its in the backyard. Being a local tourist just want to kudos the filipino-chinese community with the help of local government for preserving and continuously beautifying Chinatown. This place is a real evidence of very long friendship of chinese and filipinos. Without a doubt I will surely go back here, eat my super love siomai and continue exploring Chinatown. Have a prosperous and colorful 2016 to all of us!!!