According to the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Pig are tenacious and attend to their tasks with great strength. They love to study and gain much pleasure in developing their intellectual capacity.Their fortitude and straighforwardness provide them with a determination that knows no retreat. They're not into any sort of popularity contests; therefore, not very good in making friends, but the few they have are friends for life. They are quick-temepered, though they shy away from any quarrrels. They are very kind to their loved ones and to those they treasure as friends.
They are also good in working out any differences and no matter how grave a problem is, they're able to work things out amicably amongst those involved.
And what better way to welcome the Year of the Pig than to be at Manila's Chinatown. Its streets were filled with the deafening sounds of kettle drums and firecrackers while various groups perform the colorful and mesmerizing lion and dragon dances. There were also loads of tikoy of various flavors, fruits, and a dizzying array of good luck charms.
I was there last Saturday and was pleasantly surprised to run into a couple of fellow bloggers -- Sidney, Anton and Ivan Henares. I joined them for some dimsung before heading back out in the streets to take some pictures of the merriment as featured below.
Xin Nian Kuai Le!
ReplyDeleteGong Xi Fai Cai!
Happy Chinese New Year, Eric! Beautiful shots you got here!
Thanks, Rhoda ... Happy Year of the Pig!!!
ReplyDeleteOnce again, another great shots! Kiong Hee Huat Chai! :)
ReplyDeletevery colorful shots.
ReplyDeletei find it interesting how the Chinese describe each year, and what characteristics those born in a particular year bear. i find it amusing at the same time. some are true, some are not.
Happy Chinese New Year! Thanks for sharing us these colorful and festive Chinese New Year celebration
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Senor Enrique. Lets meet again some time....
ReplyDeleteKung Hei Fat Choi!
ReplyDeleteIt was nice meting you again in Binondo!
Cool shots!
Where else can you get these great celebration shots except in Binondo ! Man, I haven't been to Binondo in yeeeeears!
ReplyDeletebuti nagkita kita kayo... nice pics of the celebration... :)
ReplyDeleteOh, what fun! Happy Chinese New Year Eric! I like the way you play with angles. :)
ReplyDeletesaw your blog. nice photos!! si akira po ito.. remember?? you can check out my blog too..
ReplyDeletekung hei fat choi! i miss chinese new year in the philippines coz filipinos, even if they're not chinese at all, celebrate it! i'm looking forward to this year. Goats will be lucky this year..yey!
ReplyDeletekiong hee huat chai and kung hei fat choi and gong xi fa cai to you! =)
ReplyDeletethe festivities looked... very festive. wih i had thought of going there on saturday insted of sunday hehehe. mr. ube has a new resto over in ongpin, with a free picture taken with a lion.
Many thanks, LAR -- wishing you a great Chinese New Year as well!
ReplyDeleteHing Bing! Better we take it just like the western horoscope -- as entertainment, or just take the good and focus on it :)
ReplyDeleteDo you hve a large chinatown where you are, Belle. The one in New York City gets a little crazy during this time of the year with excessive lighting of of firecrackers to the point of annoyance and danger.
ReplyDeleteHi Anton! It was indeed a pleasure to have met you and your wife! I plan to join one of your popular food trips :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sidney! It was such a wonderful surprise, really! Thanks for the dimsun :)
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a perfect afternoon had it it wasn't for that kid dragging that backpack on wheels ... hehehe.
When you come back, BW, I suggest The President Restaurant before anything else! The best dimsun :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lino! Nakaktuwa nga at I finally met Anton and Ivan!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Toe! I'm sure you had a similar celebration in Cambodia, huh?
ReplyDeleteHi Akira! I was over to check out your blog and I was deeply impressed by your talent as a photojournalist ... and at such a very young age. You are so fortunate to have a wonderful mentor -- your dad!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a Chinese New Year celebration where you are, G.Knotee? As I've mentioned, in NYC, it gets to be hair-raising experience because of the incredible amount of people ligting firecrackers out in the streets. Here in Manila is more tamed than expected.
ReplyDeleteThe ubiquitous Mr. Ube whom I suspect will soon own most of Binondo with his great success :)
ReplyDeleteYes, wish you were there last Saturday, Carla. I'm sure you would've enjoyed meeting those fellow bloggers of ours!
Hey! Ang saya! I was also planning to go there pero me sumabay eh. And I didn't know it was a Sat celebration, my friend was there on Sunday. Well anyway I'll prepare for next year's. Hahaha. Buti nagkitakita kayo :D
ReplyDeleteWith all your good deeds and wonderful interests in life, may the Year of the PIG bring you all the wonderful things in life.
ReplyDeleteKung Hei Fat Choy!
Pasensiya na lang sa mga lechon that will consumed thru this festivities. :D
Hi Ferdz! Tito was in Intramuros that Saturday afternoon, but I was already on my way home he sent me an SMS message.
ReplyDeleteYou know, we really have to get our act together and organize an informal photoblogger EB and spend an afternoon chatting about photography and maybe a bit of shooting also. Heard Tito is quite good in organizing.
It'll be fun, I assure you guys :)
I was thinking of you ReyD while I enjoyed that afternoon in Ongpin. I thought about what the neighborhood was like during Chinese New Year's eve when you were a young kid.
ReplyDeleteI wish you the same and more for the Year of the Pig!