Tales of Binondo

Year after year, thousands of people troop to the City of Manila to have a distinct experience. Aside from the historical landmark located around the suburbs, the city also boasts of its rich culture and tradition. From the Spanish relicts preserved within Intramuros, the sites then diversify as tourists turn into Ongpin Street in Binondo.

Known as the Chinatown of the Philippines, Binondo is the ultimate destination for travelers who want to absorb and experience the Chinese culture even without flying to China. Aside from the great number of Chinese people transacting there, it is also the home of various Chinese goods and merchandise. These products range from the famous authentic cuisine and food products to lucky charms and garments.

It is during the month of February that the culture is most highlighted among the hundreds of days of maintaining the abundant culture. The practices is attractive not only to the Chinese and the foreigners, but to the Filipino nation as well. Locals and visitors alike are usually enticed to roam around the busy commercial street of Ongpin when traditional Chinese festivities are held in anticipation of the Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year is considered to be the most important holiday of the entire year. This part of their tradition showcases the unique but strong traits of their race – close family ties and togetherness.

Over the years, a lot of friends and colleagues showed interest in going to Binondo during the weeks of festivities. Though I was hesitant to visit the place at first, the chance presented to me was just hard to pass. It was already forecasted that Binondo will be filled with lots of people even on the 9^th of February, a day earlier than the actual celebration of Chinese New Year. True enough, I saw thousands of enthusiastic locals and foreigners who joined the festivities upon going there.

Beatrice Felix, a third year student of University of the Philippines Diliman, goes to Binondo to attend the Chinese New Year festivities annually. She usually enjoys the lighting of incense, eating of Chinese cuisine, and buying pasalubong such as tikoy and lucky charms.

Although she admitted not having any Chinese lineage, her family still continues to visit and celebrate at Chinatown. Bea, as she is fondly called by her friends, insisted, “They say it was for good luck and for the family bond to strengthen.”

Though many find it fascinating for Filipino families to practice Chinese traditions, others oppose it because they really find it irrelevant to celebrate the coming of a brand new year twice. It must be remembered that Chinese New Year follows the Lunar Calendar.

Bea dismissed it by saying, “New Year’s Eve is more family oriented while Chinese New Year is more of a socialization event for us who don’t have Chinese blood.”

“It is a must try. Celebrating Chinese New Year can help the ordinary Filipino family to learn more about the Chinese cultures and hopefully learn some values from them,” she added.

Though Bea’s story is fascinating, not everyone comes to Binondo to merely enjoy the festivities.

Jonathan, an accommodating yuppie who visited Binondo on the same day, is a perfect example. I spotted him in a jewelry store while looking around in a street filled with lucky charms and crystals vendors.

“I was trying to canvas the wedding rings here,” he said with a shy yet radiant smile.

           

 Since the celebration is highly regarded in the country, Jonathan was expecting that the jewelry stores in the area will be having their mark down sales just like during the Holidays. It was his main reason for going to Binondo, aside from his partial hope of catching luck for his and his fiancé’s future together.

“I was really hoping that they will have a sale, but this is just a canvas anyway. It just so happened that today is my free day, but I still find the festivities as both fun and entertaining,” he explained.

Though Bea and Jonathan had different reasons for going to Binondo during the Chinese New Year celebration, it is still a must see destination for local and foreigners alike. For travelers, nothing beats being given the chance to immerse into the culture of any race and/or destination.

(P.S. This is the third article requirement for J 195)