Davao Tsinoys mark Chinese New Year with 500 led-lighted balloons instead of fireworks

Instead of fireworks, Chinese Filipinos in Davao City on Wednesday night welcomed the Lunar New Year with 500 LED-lighted balloons.

 

Residents also welcomed the New Year with live bands and shouting, as the city government bans the use of fireworks, GMA Davao reported Thursday.

 

Families also got together to share a meal and eat round items that they believe will bring good luck for the year.

 

Davao City is one of the areas that ban the use of fireworks, which have been blamed for revelry-related injuries.

 

Cagayan de Oro

 

In Cagayan de Oro City, families lighted incense and prayed to heaven for good luck throughout the year, GMA Northern Mindanao's Jeik Compo reported.

 

Several Chinese Filipinos ate tikoy, whose stickiness symbolizes family togetherness and is believed to make good luck stick to a person. Also, many wore red to attract luck.

 

They also watched dragon dances and fireworks displays.

 

Gong sounding in Cebu

 

Meanwhile, in Cebu, the sounding of a gong for peace and harmony at midnight signaled the New Year.

 

"Peace and harmony for ourselves, harmony to oneself, harmony to others, harmony to family, harmony to society and harmony to the world," said Master Yo Lin of the Chu Un Temple.

 

Even non-Chinese were welcomed at the temple to welcome the New Year.

 

"Humanistic Buddhism not only for Buddhists but to all people because we share... because we always emphasize the three of goodness, which is do good deeds, speak good words, and think good thoughts," Master Yo Lin said. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News