Quezon City Government Announces Resumption of Banawe Chinatown New Year Activities

On January 16, local time, the government of Quezon City in the Philippines said that the traditional Chinese New Year celebration on Banawe Street would return.

The city government, through the Quezon City Tourism Bureau (QCTD), led by Tetta Tirona, will hold a celebration on Sunday, January 22 at the junction of P.Florentino Street and Banawe Street.

According to the No. 53 series of executive orders in 2022 or the "Reorganization of the Chinese New Year Celebration Organizing Committee", the city government stated that the event will return with various face-to-face activities, including Chinatown float parade, dragon and lion dance performances, Food festival, as well as bazaar and fireworks show.

Tirona said: "This is a way to show solidarity to our Filipino Chinese community, who are our partners in developing and strengthening the city. We have decided to hold the Banawe Street Chinese New Year celebration again to show that we are gradually returning to normal from the impact of the pandemic."

The city government said that it invited local and international performers such as the lion dance team of the Philippine Guanghan Guoshu Museum, the Chinese Orchestra of the Philippine Overseas Chinese Academy, the Chinese Dance Company and the Philippine Jishun Children's Choir to perform for the audience. The event will be hosted by actor Enchong Dee.

The martial arts association of Philippine colleges and universities will also hold martial arts or kung fu exhibitions, while feng shui master Wang Chengtian will predict the luck of the new year.

The city government also stated that it will continue to improve the accessibility, environmental sustainability, infrastructure and amenities of Chinatown in Banawei after it is officially designated as one of the city's tourist destinations under City Regulation No. 2453-2015.