Welcoming the Year of the Metal Rabbit

This year we welcome the year of the metal rabbit, some say this is a good year others say no.  But to say the least it is still a start of the new year, so let me show the sights around Chinatown, the place I call my home.

Ongpin Street, is the center of Chinatown in Binondo, where you would feel like you have been transported  to Hong Kong or Taiwan or even China.  Chinatown in the Philippines dated back as early as the early 1940's and became more productive after WWII.  Since then Chinatown has blossomed to become the  central business district of Manila and  where good food and people meet.  Many food finds can be tasted here as such that there has even Binondo walk tours with many food finds led by Mr. Carlos Celdran for one.

Here are some pictures I took as I walked thru Ongpin St. and find such sights quite a fancy.

 Lucky charms, lucky pendants, lucky rings whatever you need they are all here.  Much like the street vendors in Balintawak selling vegetables and fruits, here in Ongpin scatters loads and loads of so called lucky charms that are supposed to give you good luck and good health as well, it's up to you if you believe or not.  I say it's all in the state of mind.

 Look at all those fruits and vegetables tied with red strap.  I have been an audience to the much changing beliefs and superstitions that Ongpin has transformed herself to be, but judging by how many of these have been constantly added to the yearly event, I say people are now believing a lot in Feng Shui and indeed the Chinese tradition is growing in the Fil-Chi community as well as our fellow Filipino countrymen.

 

Pineapples, a very common fruit, but when the Chinese new year season arrives it becomes a big hit why? because of its translation in Fookien which is "Ong-Lai".  Ong is for Properity and Lai is to arrive.

Pongkan, has been a good luck fruit for years as far as I can remember, we even put the small ones called "Kiat-kiat" with little leaves and tie it up our front doors.

Now this is new to the tradition which has only been seen during the past five years, yes it is...

Ga-bi, Taro in English.  It is said that the more bumps coming out the taro itself is better, meaning it will give you more and more luck and money.

as in the case of Lu-ya or Ginger in English.  the more bumps the merrier.

 Sugarcanes are a hit as well...

as you can see the pineapple has been designed into quite a lot of variations just to make it nicer for customers to buy and to display it at home as well.  As for the turnip, well I only saw that this year so I really have no idea what it means, but I would say it bring wealth and good health as well.

What else is in Chinatown, TIKOY!!! lots and lots of it!!

Tikoy is Fookien is basically Ti- is sweetness and koy - is cake thus Sweet cake.

Almost every corner you would see stalls, shops, street side vendors selling Tikoy, which symbolizes and promotes unity among family.

But one of the most famous is ENG BEE TIN

they have revolutionized their products, using their trademark ingredient Ube, which has made the brand a common household name nationwide, with their products being available to all the provinces that may want Eng Bee Tin.  Such as is their success that more and more flavors of hopia, and even tikoy have sufficed such as butterscotch, buko pandan, the original tikoy and of course their Ube version of the tikoy

The famous Ube tikoy by Eng Bee Tin

And before I end this post, I would like to leave you with at least how you should make your new year right for you, meaning to say hope that you would have good health and good fortune.   What better way than to accessorize yourself with lucky charms to drive yourself up the good fortune ladder right?  Do visit my friend Denise or Evelyn at New Victory Trading at 754 Ongpin St., very near President Seafood Restaurant.

 look at that, so much stuff, do approach Evelyn or Denise to show you your good fortunes and accessorize yourself the right charms to guide you to the new year.  The year of the metal rabbit.

 the money tree

loads of lucky charms and amulets for good health and fortune.

 

And now since you're already at Ongpin, do stroll around the many food finds, the places, the busy streets that Ongpin is famous for.  Surely it will be traffic so I would suggest if you're bringing your car, suggest to park somewhere outside the busy streets then walk... great exercise and great views as well.  Heres hoping for the best for you and your family in the coming new year.

Feb. 2 is Chinese Christmas

Feb. 3 is Chinese New year

If you have time do drop by Ongpin, and enjoy the festivities!!  Many Lion dances and dragon dances to watch and amaze your kids with, but be careful of the firecrackers.  Hope it was a holiday though so that the whole Filipino nation could visit and watch.
Happy Chinese New Year to all from Manila Life.