Welcome to the Year of the Wooden Horse

   Chinese New Year isn't just celebrated in China - it's a popular celebration all over the world. In our country, Manila’s district Binondo is the focal point of the Chinese New Year celebrations welcoming the year of the Wooden Horse.

This year, the city government of Manila vowed to amplify the joyous mood with activities enjoining the local Chinese community and officials in welcoming the year of the wooden horse.

Wishing each other ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy’ would not be enough without the traditional ‘niangao’ or the New Year’s Cake ‘Tikoy.’ Some 6,000 tikoys distributed at Plaza San Ruiz followed by a solidarity parade from Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz to different parts of Chinatown.

 Another Chinese tradition were the hanging of red lanterns and banners in their homes, dancing in traditional costumes and watching fireworks. In connection with this, a crowd of around 8,000 was mesmerized by a 35-minute fireworks display following a countdown to the lunar new year.