Kapuso stars welcome the year of the dog

Last week was a packed one with Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday falling on the same day, and the Lunar New Year celebrated two days later. Filipinos nationwide got to enjoy a three-day weekend after Malacañang declared the Chinese New Year (Feb. 16) a holiday.

Most non-Chinese might picture fireworks, ang pao (money envelopes) and tikoy when this time of the year comes around but the Lunar New Year is really more about family -— spending time with them, remembering ancestors and giving thanks for a new year.

iBilib host Chris Tiu said that every Chinese New Year, they make sure to clear their schedules.

“We make it a point that there are no other obligations on Chinese New Year’s Eve. We have a nice Chinese meal with everybody present wearing red kasi dapat festive, dapat masaya.”

When they were younger, Chris and his family used to go to Binondo to witness the dragon and lion dances, and the different festivities.

David Licauco with his family

For GMA Artist Center heartthrob David Licauco, Binondo is very memorable for him since he was the first runner-up in the Mr. Chinatown 2014 competition.

“When I hear Chinese New Year, the one thing that comes to mind is ‘dragon dance.’ It just gives me that satisfying feeling and happiness when I see a giant dragon head and hear the drums. And of course, there is the famous red envelope with money inside that my family and relatives give out to the children,” he said.

Meant To Be star Ken Chan, who was born in Beijing, feels very strongly about his Chinese heritage. The Chinese-Filipino actor said that he and his family always make offerings to their ancestors on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

“We prepare fruits as well as fish, pork and beef dishes that we place in front of the three Buddhas in our house. That’s one of our traditions. We also hang rice stalks outside our doors because rice symbolizes prosperity. We hang them at our doors so luck will enter into our homes,” he said.

Since this is the Year of the Dog, they placed a canine figurine on a plate. Next to it was a piece of ginger or taro root (gabi) tied with a red ribbon.

Ken shared that his father has been giving them ang pao since they were kids and that they used to place the money envelopes under their pillows. They would only spend the money the following day.

“What I do now, however, is slip the ang pao in my wallet with a bit of cotton and a money coin. I keep it there for the entire year and only use the money after the next Chinese New Year,” Ken said.

Ken Chan with his family

Like Chris and his family, the Chans also wear red on the eve of the New Year. This year, however, Ken’s father told them that the lucky colors to wear were violet and gold.

Unang Hirit hosts Lyn Ching and Luane Dy look forward to the Lunar New Year for the food shared with family. For the former, it’s tikoy, hopia and dimsum while the latter cherishes the big family celebration “with fireworks and a lot of food.”

Despite heeding the different traditions linked to the Chinese New Year, our Kapuso stars are more pragmatic when it comes to their Chinese zodiac horoscopes.

“I never read the books or I never asked the feng shui master but they said that since I’m an Ox, 2018 is supposed to be a good year to expand our businesses and that it will be a prosperous year,” Chris said.

“Personally, I try not to listen (to) and believe too much (in) the predictions of the feng shui masters. Although you follow the basics — take precautions, take care of your health, take care of your family and relationships — it’s not like you should believe everything they say to you,” he added.

This year is also supposed to be good for David “in all aspects... but of course, it will still depend on how hard I’ll work for them.”

Ken headed to Ongpin in Binondo earlier this year to get advice from a feng shui master and was told to wear a bracelet for Water Monkeys. “Still, what I always do is pray. That for me is more important,” Ken said.