City welcomes Chinese New Year
THE city populace joined the Chinese-Filipino community in Dagupan City in welcoming the year of the Wooden Sheep with a theme and float parade highlighted by a bright red color – clothes, trucks and balloons – led by the traditional lion and dragon dances performed by the students of the Pangasinan Universal Institute.
In Chinese culture, red symbolizes prosperity while the lion and dragon dances bring good luck and prosperity and drive away bad spirits.
The February 18 celebration started with a motorcade along the downtown area followed by the display of delicious Chinese delicacies at the Senior Citizen’s Park, simultaneous with the demonstration and field exercise of the famous tai chi exercise with senior citizens.
Chinese goodies and ‘ampaos’ were handed to residents watching the parade.
The city government officially declared the period February 7 to March 5 as Chinese Festival to promote the Chinese trade culture.
The young generation of Chinoy families in the city sold Chinese products mostly Chinese cuisines or foods like ‘Pancit’ and ‘Lumpia Shanghai’, which have been Filipino favorites.
Other activities held on February 17 included a free tai-chi demonstration was held at the Senior Citizen’s Park and a Chinese opera mask painting workshop at the Children’s Park.
The cultural show on February 18 featured presentations of Chinese music and dance by the Philippine Universal Institute (PUI) and the Divine Word Academy of Dagupan (DWAD).
The Panda Lion-dance-wushu dance group also wowed everyone with their exhibition.
The highlight of the show was the search for Little Miss Chinatown.
The night ended with colorful fireworks display.
“I hope and pray for a lucky, peaceful and good working relationship among employees of the city. Also, more services for the poor”, said City Mayor Belen T. Fernandez. (Hilda Austria/PNA/CIO)
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