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.
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).
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.
The night was highlighted with a grand fireworks display, which added spectacle to the event and warded off evil spirits.
happy new year to all my fellow ilongga-chinese people..kung hei fat choy!!