By this time, most geomancers have given their 2012 forecast and a lot of the Filipinos who practice a synchretic belief have acquired most of the amulets they perceive would bring them goodluck and protect them from the troublesome star that wreaks havoc on their good fortune.
Oh yeah, Binondo was awash with the buntings and the red lanterns that ushered in the year of the water dragon. The special date was 23 January, 2012. They new year bodes well for the country as this means it will be a more prosperous year. Water in Feng Shui signifies liquidity... that means more money.
For those of you who are new to Chinese Astrology, each year signifies a creature that was summoned by the Great Buddha to his kingdom. There were twelve animals that were successful in their journey. Monkey, Ox Rooster, Dragon, Snake, Rabbit, Horse, Dog, Tiger, Goat, Pig and Rat. It doesn't end there though, each twelve year cycle is represented by one of the five elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Metal and Wood. So whatever year you're born, depending on each cycle, your birth year would take on the qualities of the element that rules your sign. I'm an earth pig... and you are?
To be one with the Chinese community, we went to Binondo a day before Chinese New Year. It so happens to be the celebration of the very first Pedestrian Day. Ongpin was closed to vehicular traffic and booths were set up for the celebration. A lot of non-chinese turned out to celebrate with our Chinoy brothers, me included.
The first booth that welcomed us was the Bahay-Tsinoy booth and manning it with the staff was no less than socio-civic activist Teresa Ang Sy. Bahay-Tsinoy is a museum located along Cabildo Street in Intramuros Manila that focuses on the rise of the Chinese community in the Philippines and their contribution to our society from pre-colonial times to the present. It's worth a visit if you're in the Intramuros area.
A few steps away, who else should I bump into but MR. UBE himself, Garry Chua himself who introduced me to his companion ABS CBN news correspondent Domenic Almelor. There were a lot of booths set up that were geared for fund-raising and charity work. That's certainly a great way to celebrate! One of the booths (Charity First) is a non-stock, non-profit organization that supports livelihood training programs in the Quezon City/ Payatas area.
We weren't too hungry as we had brunch after Mass at HongKong Noodle House along Carlos Palanca. The new spanking restaurant had a menu of Chinese meals that were priced right and tastes delicious. I liked the fried spring rolls and the Shanghai fried rice. The staff is young, though, and a little unprepared. Nonetheless, they serve you with wide smiles and they're only to willing to oblige your requests. We left Binondo and sped home.
Later in the evening, I visited the Taoist Temple International in Vasquez Street, Malate. There was the usual new year celebration of hired drum and lyre bands and a lot of merry-making. There was also a wave of Filipino-Chinese garbed in red who came with bunches of rolled paper money and red candles to invite prosperity luck and to honor their ancestors. I saw David Celdran who came with foreign guests in tow.
Before midnight, the bands gave way to the fireworks set-up. I've never seen a Judas belt that long! I did take photos and footage of the fireworks. I was gonna insert footage of the fireworks to let you decide it if was that much fun. Too bad the script is running an error... maybe I'll attach it next time... =)
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