After Dinagyang, city celebrates Chinese New Year
Iloilo City -- The Chinese-Filipino community of Iloilo will celebrate Tuesday, January 31, its 2006 Chinese New Year with parade, lion dances, firecrackers and cultural presentation reflecting the rich Chinese culture.
Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo Inc. vice president Charles Ho said the Chinese community has prepared several activities to celebrate their new year. The Chinese celebration should have been celebrated last January 29 but was postponed to pave way for the 2006 Dinagyang festival.
The Chinese New Year marks the Year of the Fire Dog. The Chinese New Year celebration starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The Chinese use of lunar cycle to determine the New Year dates from about 2600 BC. It is the oldest calendar in use.
Ho said there will be a Chinese food festival at 1:00 pm until midnight of January 31 along Iznart Street. There will also be a parade before the cultural show at Plazoleta Gay in the afternoon. There will also be a night market to add more color to the Chinese New Year.
Among those who will be around for the program are Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Cultural Foundation president Felipe Uygongco, Mayor Jerry Treņas, Rep. Raul Gonzalez, Jr and Iloilo Chinese-Filipino Foundation Inc vice chairman Henry Chusuey
Treņas told the media that Mayor Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City will again be around for the activities.
For the cultural show, the Iloilo Central Commercial High School, Ateneo de Iloilo, Iloilo Scholastic Academy and Collegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus will render different performances manifesting Chinese Culture. The Iloilo Sun Yat Sen High School will give the lion dance to welcome the New Year. While, the world-class pyrotechnics display to commemorate the New Year is sponsored by SM City.