As blogged on an earlier post, Tutubi went to Binondo particularly on Ongpin St. in Manila Chinatown on Chinese New Year (also Valentines day). He didn't bring his car to Binondo just to avoid heavy traffic and parking woes typical in Binondo area.

Some photos of Lunar New Year celebration in Manila Chinatown:

the welcome arch of Manila Chinatown on Ongpin St
the hanging of the ang pao, red envelopes, given on Lunar New Year and other festivities on the door of business establishments. this one's Hong Kong Chinese Drug House on Ongpin St.
here comes the dragon
after dancing in front and inside the chinese drug store, the dragons will get the ang pao hung on the door, all to the beat of drums and noise of firecrackers


People wear red, the color of Valentines Day...err...lucky color for the Chinese/Tsinoys

even nearby Carvajal Street, a narrow alley where you can buy exotic fruits have lots of ang pao hanging overhead

prosperity cake and lucky charms are there for the taking where even Pinoys patronize to have good luck for the year of the metal tiger

It took Tutubi only less than two hours on Ongpin to take a few pictures then hurried to New Po Heng Lumpia House on Quintin Paredes St (Rosario) where he again partook of, what else, but the house specialty-- lumpia.

The day was capped with a visit to nearby Divisoria for a few things then hurried home to celebrate valentines day.

---
Notes:

Ang Pao, in Hokkien Chinese means red package or envelope.

Tutubi, stricken again with "dysfunctional motor system syndrome" didn't use Nikki, his bulky D80 DLSR and just contented himself with Ixie, his trusty old Canon Ixus 30 point and shoot camera.

Few surprises of the trip were accidentally catching Old Manila Walks conducting the famous Big Binondo Food Wok at New Po Heng Lumpia House and also a group of bloggers led by Dong Ho including Chyng who's a new blog friend of Tutubi.

Nice meeting you both though it's a very brief encounter. Wouldn't have known if not for Ivan noticing the presence of Tutubi.

Labels: Binondo, Festivals, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

Come February 14, Valentines Day coincides with Chinese New Year, what sort of romantic valentines date suggestions do you have?

Tutubi's not asking for "tremors" happening in fully-booked motels (the notorious ones in Pasay, Sta. Mesa (Manila) and Pasig) but simple as Tutubi, memorable but not to create a hole in his pocket.

Actually, Tutubi intends to visit Manila Chinatown again to catch a glimpse of dragon dances, people giving away angpao (red-colored envelopes with money given for good luck), shop for tikoy and hopia and witness other Chinatown events on Chinese New Year celebrations.

Tikoy: usually given away on Chinese New Year

Things you can do in Manila Chinatown not just during the Chinese New Year:

Visit Binondo Church
Light incense sticks at Sto. Cristo de Longos
Chinese Temples: Te Ya Kong Temple, (or Seng Guan Si Temple near Tutuban)
Shop for fruits on Carvajal Street
Buy hopia at Eng Bee Tin, Ho-Land and Polland
Eat at Estero eateries (turo-turo style)
Sample fresh dumplings at Dong Bei on Nueva St (now Yuchengco St.)
Partake fried chicken of Sincerity Cafe on Calle Nueva
Buy old-fashioned tablea at La Resureccion on Ongpin St.
Sip vacuum brewed coffee at Lido's Panciteria on T. Alonzo
Partake fresh lumpia at Po Heng Lumpia House on Quintin Paredes St.

These are just some of the various come-ons of Manila Chinatown that beckon curious tourists, food-trippers and people going to Binondo on a whim.

Stay tuned to get to know where Tutubi did on Valentines Day :P

Related Posts:

Chinese New Year Tikoy Symbolisms
Tutuban Mall
168 Shopping Mall

Labels: Binondo, Fiestas, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region

binondo church
post office bvilding

national press club
the old and the new with carlos and klasmeyts
jones bridge and post office bvilding

Related Posts:

Historical Tour of Binondo and San Nicolas

Labels: Binondo, Churches, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Walking Tour

After many failed attempts to join Carlos Celdran's tours, I finally found the chance to join him in a journey of rediscovery through the old districts of Binondo and San Nicolas on kalesas (horse-drawn chariots of Manila). We met up at Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz commonly known as Binondo church. A motley crew of an Australian, French, balikbayans from NY and myself completed formed the eclectic group who joined that day.

As with all other tours with comic Carlos, we sang the Bayang Magiliw (Lupang Hinirang) to boot at Plaza Ruiz then hurried to our kalesas-in-waiting to tour us around the old districts of San Nicolas.

Meandering through the streets of San Nicolas in our horse-drawn chariots, countless houses reminiscent of a long gone era are in various state of decay and neglect. Some already demolished or ready for demolition. Carlos made us entered one of the decaying buildings where an entire barangay (hyperbole that is) considers their home yet the usual notion of the place as stinking or reeking of unwanted smell is absent. Learned later the proceeds of our donations will buy "rubber items" for those indigent souls.

We rode again our kalesas and took us to the north bank of the Pasig River turned into a linear park buy the present mayor of Manila. It's here where the El Hogar Filipino building, a magnificent beaux arts building by Irureta Goyena stands forlorn. The ground floor of the building is flooded but the dank smell of the inside is bearable. This building is familiar to the youth of today as the site where contemporary music videos were shot. Beside El Hogar still stands the old headquarters of Hongkong and Shanghai Bank but also in a sorry state.

Continuing our journey, we can see the beautification of the present Manila mayor by clearing the banks of the Pasig of informal settlers, brick paving of the road, planting trees and putting up lampposts making them linear parks ideal for strolling.

Passing by Escolta and up to Carriedo fountain in Sta Cruz, the fountain was dedicated in honor of Don Francisco Carriedo who donated money to build Manila's first water system.

Winding through the narrow streets we ended up on an alley where designer hopias are being sold, then proceeded to a place where Carlos vouched to serve the best dumplings.

Short visits to a Chinese temple on Kipuja Street, a detour at Eng Bee Tin, sample of old-fashioned chocolate factory La Resureccion then finally back at Binondo Church completed the tour.


Wonder why I didn't mention the names of some places we visited? It's so that you'll check Carlos' tours out yourself!

(the crucifix where incense are being offered by Chinese instead of candles)


Related Posts:

Part 2

Labels: Binondo, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Walking Tour