Iloilo’s Chinese New Year - Ilonggos Welcome the Year of the Rat with a Blast

Posted by Marcos C.


Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Even before the coming of the Spaniards, Iloilo played an important role as a major trading post in the Visayas. Chinese merchants would sail to Iloilo to trade and in effect, building flourishing relationship with the natives. Today, Iloilo holds the distinction of having the third largest concentration of “Tsinoys” or Filipinos with Chinese ancestry or descent in the country. This year of the Rat, the Ilonggos strengthened that Filipino-Chinese relationship with a grand celebration and festivity last February 8, 2007.

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

During the afternoon, a parade was held starting from the Iloilo Provincial Capitol and going through Iloilo’s “China Town” or the Iznart-J.M. Basa-Aldeguer Triangle. The participants of the parade were the different Chinese groups in the City (most notably the Chinese Schools, which entertained the crowd with colorful costumes and street dancing including the popular dragon and lion dance).

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

There was a night market and a food festival, which had on display a variety of Chinese wares and foods. During the evening was a Chinese cultural show.

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

The night was highlighted with a grand fireworks display, which added spectacle to the event and warded off evil spirits.

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

Iloilo's Chinese New Year

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Write a comment about "Iloilo’s Chinese New Year - Ilonggos Welcome the Year of the Rat with a Blast" or read the 1 existing comments.

One Response to “Iloilo’s Chinese New Year - Ilonggos Welcome the Year of the Rat with a Blast”

  1. thea marielle chan tanon 09 Feb 2008 at 5:37 pm 1

    happy new year to all my fellow ilongga-chinese people..kung hei fat choy!!

    reply

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