A shopper touches one of the 10,000 golden horses hanging from a prosperity tree, a symbol of good luck at a mall in Binondo, Manila a head of tomorrow's celebration of the Chinese New Year ushering in the Year of the Wooden Horse. Manila's district of Binondo's celebration of Chinese New Year is one of the most festive in the Philippines if not in the South East Asia, according to festival observes at home and abroad. This year the City Government of Manila vowed to amplify the joyous mood with activities enjoying the local Chinese community and officials in welcoming the year of the wooden horse. A solidarity dinner will be held today from 9 pm to 11 pm at Lido de Paris, Ongpin St., Binondo, Manila. The dinner will be followed by a musical fireworks display and a countdown toward the new year. The countdown will be held at the Sta. Cruz Plaza in front of the North Gate of the Ongpin St. at 11:15 pm. Wishing each other 'Kung Hei Fat Choy' would not be enough without the traditional 'niangao' or the New Year's Cake 'Tikoy'. Some 6,000 Tikoys will be distributed at Plaza San Ruiz at 1pm today followed by a solidarity parade from Plaza San Lorenzo Ruizto different parts of Chinatown. The parade will gather city government officials, barangay officials, Chinese community leaders and Civic leaders. 10 dragons and 100 lions will dance in the streets of Chinatown during the parade to boost the festival spirit. The parade will end at the Lucky Chinatown Mall. According to the officials, this is the first time the city government is spearheading the celebrations. Erap hopes the 2 day festivity could jump start the yearly government led Chinese New Year affair in Binondo, the largest Chinatown outside China as local officials claimed.
