QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista joins leaders of the Chinese-Filipino community and embassy officials from the People’s Republic of China in this year’s celebrations for the Chinese New Year in the city’s Banawe district come Jan. 28.
A firework display, cultural and musical performances, and lion and dragon dances will highlight the celebration, the city government said.
Business establishments along Banawe Street, touted as Metro Manila’s second Chinatown, will mount a bazaar where shoppers may enjoy special discounts.
“All roads lead to Banawe Street on Jan. 28 for Quezon City’s celebration of the Chinese New Year,” Bautista said.
The Quezon City government is hosting the event in partnership with the QC Association of Filipino-Chinese Businessmen Inc., QC Chinatown Development Foundation Inc., and QC Chinatown Business Association Inc.
Among the schools performing in the event starting at 1 p.m. are Grace Christian College, Philippine Institute of Quezon City, Pace Academy, Philippine Cultural College, Philadelphia High School, Lourdes School of Quezon City, Philippine Buddha Care Foundation, Ramon Magsaysay High School, and the National Orthopedic Hospital-School for Crippled Children.
Scholars of the QC Performing Arts Development Foundation, Inc. will also render a special number.
Quezon City has been hosting the Chinese New Year celebration at Banawe Street for the past three years to transform the area into a “world-class” Chinatown.
Two Chinatown arches have already been installed along Banawe Street, part of a concerted effort by the city government and the Chinese community to transform the area into an authentic Chinatown district. Barangays Sto. Domingo, Lourdes, Siena, St. Peter, Manresa, Tatalon, Doña Josefa, Maharlika and Paang Bundok joined the effort as well, the mayor said.
Bautista’s administration has already poured in considerable investments to transform Banawe into a major tourism district, including the expansion of sidewalks along its streets and the improvement of traffic along the area as provided under Ordinance 2453.