Chinatown slates grand Golden Dragon Chinese New Year fete

Manila City Mayor Lito Atienza announced yesterday the city is welcoming the Chinese New Year on Feb. 5 with a three-day series of activities spearheaded by the Manila Chinatown Development Authority (MCDA) beginning today.

"We are inviting everyone to join us in celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Golden Dragon and share with us its promise of a blessed and bountiful year ahead of us," said Atienza, who created the MCDA as the city government's partner in spurring the redevelopment of Manila's Chinatown as a historic, social, financial and economic center as it used to be in this part of the world.

The festivities roar off today with a dragon parade starting at 10 a.m. from Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo. It will wind its way through Ongpin street, to Plaza Sta. Cruz, right to Tetuan street, right to T. Alonso street, left to Soler street, left to Reina Regente and back to Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz.

Highlighting the event is the debut of the country's longest dragon parade (228 feet from head to tail) hailed as the Manila Chinatown Millennium Dragon.

Sponsor Eduardo Chua says the mythical Chinese dragon replica bears the colors of the Philippine flag and needs 25 burly men to operate it.

Chua said it will be joined by two smaller (168 feet and 70 feet) dragons sponsored by Cecilia Liu, two Southern Lions, two Northern Lions, nine Carps, two Unicorns and a Phoenix.

Event co-sponsor Ling Nam Athletic Association (LNAA) will also perform the Lion Dance on the same day at the San Andres Gym to mark the opening of the First Mayor Lito Atienza Cup Basketball Tournament at 3 p.m.

A New Year's Eve Parade will be held on Feb. 4 around Chinatown at 3 p.m. followed by a variety show at 7 p.m.

A fireworks display goes up later at the corner of Ongpin and Paredes streets into the new Year of the Golden Dragon.

The Chinese New Year Celebration 2000 is sponsored by the Manila Chinatown Barangay Association (MCBA), the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCI), the Chinese Filipino Business Club, Inc. (CFBCI), Eng Bee Tin, Washington Apples, Rainbow Crayons, Pacific Paint and Oil Manufacturing, Inc. and the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and Firefighters of the Philippines, Inc.