Kung hei fat choi

We went to Binondo last Monday in accordance to the Chinese lunar new year. Woah, I told you  last time that I went here before and the volume of people who attended last Monday doubled from 2010.

I was with the same folks along with Mama and Pao for 3 consecutive days. That's what this long weekend means to me-- tingling feet and hyperactiveness. Let me enumerate the places we've been to.

1. Sta. Cruz Parish church

It's a huge church across the Escolta street. In front of it is a fountain, which turns to be a resting haven for people who's gone in celebrating the festivity.

The fountain

2.  Ongpin

What to expect? a large crowd coming back and forth. I'm already geared up. Dragon dances with fire crackers shakening the pavement. Sellers pitching about the lucky charms along the way, which I bought one. Big arks telling about their beliefs. Tikoy (gummy cake) with different colors lined up on a table. Circled fruits, oranges from Sagada which awed me. really? it's a long travel. Searching for the Taoist temples along with apartments, business establishments and restaurants. Mash feet with people because of parades and photographers gorging their cameras to capture beautiful moments.

 The crowd

Dragon dance

Family fortune? might be.

incence's well

The wanderer

Tradition: make 3 bows then blow a wish

Dragon's fire

Side car driver with his 25th Chihuahua 

 Me with a 3 year old Fil-Chi girl

I still feel like I'm a tourist in my own country. Visiting Chinatown send me into a portal of rich and vital culture. Chinese people already brought their preserved culture and traditions in this hamlet.

It was a superb experience. I'm proud to be Pinay after knowing how we embrace other's culture and at the same time maintaining ours.  

3. Binondo church

This enormous, made of stones with stained glasses portraits of stations of the cross served us our resting vicinity, though there's an ongoing mass. Afterwards, we went out to look for a restaurant.

4. Maki's place

It's a small Chinese restaurant with a cool ambience and recommendable for dining in too. The food's price is cheap yet "sulit" (they'll meet your taste expectation).

 Yang chow rice

Sweet and sour fish fillet

Chicken with mushroom sauce 

Go on and a pay visit to our motherland's beautiful places. It will deepen your love for your country.

Lovely night along the Lawton bridge

Photos by  Dave and Michael



Hap chan restaurant (Chinese new year's eve)

 When the blessings rain upon, we're on-guard. After The Feast's service, we hanged out with Uncle John and Aunt Meda in Hap Chan, Harbor Square.

As my sister's childlike and funny remark, "Totoo palang may Chinese new year! (Chinese New year is real!)" when Uncle John and Aunt Meda surprisingly treated us in a Chinese restaurant. Unfamiliar with this couple, I love Chinese cuisine and tea.

while waiting for our food, have some tea first.

Ready to pig out?

Fish fillet's verdict: ★★★★★

Brocolli's verdict: ★★★★★

Their serving, depending on your appetite is worth the pay. Their waiter is accomodating, diligent and enthusiastic in serving, especially Mr. J ( I won't put his name here.) The place was designed with big Chinese lanterns. They're even readying their Chinese dragon dance, save it for the 6 o'clock customers.

Thanks to this sweet couple!

Photo from the uber diligent waiter

Before leaving Hap Chan, we talked to its owner and he assimilated us with new knowledge about Chinese's traditions upon celebrating the Lunar new year. Shem who's so inquisitive, throws her questions spontaneously to Mr. Chan (my fault for not asking his name) that made us delighted to listen.

These may be lucky in the year of dragon

Chicken, fish and pork are their offering to their God

Another lucky offering

The more leaves surrounding the pineapple, the more prosperity comes along.

Good thing, there were no new customers getting inside. They might think, we're having a field trip. ;)

Photos by Shem and Mr. J

Binondo, rejuvenates emotions

Binondo is a Chinatown here in the Philippines. Remember the song from Hotdog, "Manila" and its line: hinahanap hanap kita Manila, mga ingay mong kay sarap sa tenga, mga jeepney mong nagliliparan, mga babae mong nag-gagandahan (particularly in Tondo)? That place can send you into a trance of nostalgia. Wow, how stunning Manila is. Ok, reality bites, in some parts and that includes Binondo, of course.


Another thing, I remember being there 2 years ago to experience the Chinese New year festivity, it was unforgettable, nevertheless rambling there without any purpose can be thrilling too. My officemate, who's Half-Filipino and Chinese (she's the one who kept on sending these photos) told us that we need to have at least 1,000p-1,500p to have a tour around Binondo. Maybe, it's time to do so- ok, this will be part of my 2012 plan, either travelling there alone or with my buddies. Let's see. :)

Kiampong and fishball soup

Dumplings in dong bei dumpling house

The woman makes a dumpling dough

Café mezzanine

Gecko heals ones asthma

Binondo church

Tableau factory

*Google photos