Chinese New Year in the Philippines can be one of life's natural highs. Walking through Manila's Chinatown during the New Year celebrations is an experience in itself. It's quite colorful and the air is permeated with the aromatic smells of burning incense and the pungent spices used to enhance the many exotic meals prepared and served for this very special occasion. There are many dragon parades with "dragons" whose tails span entire city blocks, accompanied with noisy gongs, loud bells, and clanging symbols that make a joyful din reminding residents and tourists alike of the mysterious and diverse land of China.
In Manila's Chinatown, oriental arts and culture come alive with a particular character during the celebration of the New Year. Each year commemorates its own special animal borrowed from the Chinese Zodiac and 2008 has been designated the Year of the Rat.
Some of the finest Chinese and other Asian restaurants do a brisk round-the-clock business serving meals familiar to most non-Chinese as well as some pretty exotic fare known only to local gourmands. During Chinese New Year, restaurants serve mouth-watering meals that are both delicious and easy on the wallet. The American dollar still goes a long way in the Philippines and other parts of Asia.
Another great thing about visiting Manila's Chinese district is that it's relatively safe. On previous visits to Manila's Chinatown, I had no problem going from store to store either buying things or just plain looking. I wasn't preyed upon by those who tend to seek out defenseless tourists. The people treated me as one of their own. However, as in all of my travel articles, I warn people: don't look like a tourist! When visiting certain places—and Manila is no exception—dress down! Also, don't go it alone. Since there's an active press corps roaming around Chinatown during CNY, anyone seeing your camera dangling around your neck people might mistake you for a roving press photographer; so you're okay.
Suggested attire: jeans, plain shirt, and sneakers are all right. Loud Hawaiian shirts, short pants, expensive shoes, Rolex watches, and stand-out hats are definite no-nos. Case in point: Last year I saw a man, an American tourist, get ejected from the Vatican Museum in Rome for wearing short pants, big sun glasses, and—you guessed it—a very loud Hawaiian shirt. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Hawaii, but the loud shirts are cool for the Hawaiian Islands, not the Philippine Islands. See what I'm sayin'? Use common sense. Blend in with the crowd, don't be part of the parade.
What started Chinese New Year? Nobody really knows for sure when the Chinese first celebrated their version of the New Year. But we do know this: In China and in every place on the planet where there's a sizeable number of ethnic Chinese, it is celebrated in a very big way and in some places it is a national holiday. This year the Chinese New Year officially begins Thursday, Feb. 7.
Chinese New Year—like Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, and Easter Week on the Christian calendar, Muslim Ramadan, the Jewish High Holy Days, and many other special days both religious and secular—is a moveable feast. All of these important days fall on different dates depending on the lunar cycles and a number of other factors.
Many Chinese avoid making any major decisions since they are in a "holiday mode" and hold back business negotiations until after the holiday. In many countries, a statutory holiday is added on the following work day when the New Year falls on a weekend. In some places, the actual celebration starts before and after the official holiday in similar fashion as the pre-Lenten carnival, Mardi Gras.
Chinese New Year is a must-do event for me. My wife and I plan our vacation around this joyous event, making sure that we always arrive "back home" in the Philippines a few days before the actual holiday. The Philippine version of this popular time is also celebrated with certain festive foods. One of the more popular ones is asado siopao, a Philippine snack that is a larger version of the Chinese dumpling, and is a steamed rice flour bun with a meat filling. Another popular dish is bola-bola, a snack with a Chinese-style filling that consists of chopped pork and Chinese sausage, all baked with egg and flour. Both meat-filled buns are served with a sweet asado sauce, which is a mixture of soy and oyster sauces simmered with brown sugar.
We ended our day dining in one of the many family-style restaurants in the Chinese district. What we had, I can't remember. All I know is that it was delicious, nine courses, inexpensive, and more than what we could eat during a single sitting. We doggie-bagged the rest.
Whenever I visit Manila during Chinese New Year, I always take along extra rolls of film to capture and preserve the highlights of this happy season so that I can enjoy the pictures when I get back home alone or with family and friends.
One more thing: Don't drive to or through Chinatown at any time especially during Chinese New Year. The place is as overcrowded as could be expected during the annual festival. Do what we do and hire a professional driver (chauffeur). They know where to park, the best places to eat and to watch the New Year's festivities. Plus, they have driving skills we Americans can scarcely imagine.
If you're serious about travel to the Philippines, send me an email at: vamaxwell2@gmail.com or vamaxwell@yahoo.com and I'll be more than happy to give you some pointers. See you in Manila!
 DANCERS PREPARE: These dragon dancers get ready to parade. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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 CROWDS: Though it's the New Year, it's still business as usual. These crowds make hiring a driver a more pleasing experience. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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 TALISMANS FOR SALE: Red is the Chinese color for good luck and this shop owner offers plenty to choose from. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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 YOUNG DRAGONS: These dancers await the grand dragon parade. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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 CATHOLIC OUTDOOR SHRINE DURING FESTIVITIES: Many Chinese-Filipinos are devout Catholics. Parishioners make offerings here. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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 MERRY MUSIC MAKERS: Chinese musical instruments are played during the dragon parade. (Fred C. Wilson III)
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