Manila ready for Chinese New Year countdown, activities

The City of Manila is ready for the celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Activities have been lined up after health protocols have been relaxed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Jhomer Apresto on Super Radyo dzBB.

A countdown with fireworks display will be held at midnight at the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, and people can view it from the Jones Bridge.

The Manila Public Information Office earlier said the southbound side of Jones Bridge will be closed starting Saturday, January 21, at 7 p.m., while the northbound side will be closed at 10 p.m. to give way to the countdown.

Ilang aktibidad kaugnay sa pagdiriwang ng Chinese New Year sa Binondo, Maynila, kasado na. | via @jhomer_apresto pic.twitter.com/xC7sqroUKv

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) January 20, 2023

The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge meanwhile was closed to traffic on Saturday to give way to the preparations and celebration.

At 8 a.m. on Sunday, a dragon boat competition will be held starting from MacArthur Bridge going to Binondo.

A solidarity parade meanwhile will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Meanwhile, on Saturday along Ongpin Street in Binondo, vendors were busy selling tikoy, round fruits and lucky charms.

Prices of tikoy have gone up by P15 to P40 compared to last year, as prices of some ingredients such as sugar have increased.

The big tikoy, which used to have a price of P90, now sells for P130. The medium-sized tikoy is now P75 from P60, while the small one is being sold at P70 from the previous P55.

Round fruits which are believed to usher in good luck are also sold along Ongpin Street, with apples and pears at P50 a piece, kiwi at P40 each piece, and melon at P250 per kilo.

Dragon dances are also being held in Binondo.

A food festival has also been ongoing since Thursday at Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz.

"Hindi siya as festive siguro katulad ng sa pre-pandemic years pero unti-unti po nagkakaroon tayo ng activities para maramdaman ng Filipino-Chinese community ang pagsalubong ng Chinese New Year sa Lungsod ng Maynila," Atty. Princess Abante, spokesperson of Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday.

(It may not be as festive as during the pre-pandemic years, but slowly we are having activities to let the Filipino-Chinese community welcome the Chinese New Year in Manila.)

"Napaka-rich ang history ng Filipino-Chinese community sa Lungsod ng Maynila and this is one thing we want to celebrate," she added.

(The history of the Filipino-Chinese community in the City of Manila is very rich, and this is one thing we want to celebrate.)

Around 3,200 police personnel will be deployed to secure the celebrations related to the Chinese New Year on Sunday, Manila Police District (MPD) chief Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon said Friday. —KG, GMA Integrated News