CHINESE NEW YEAR FETE TO ATTRACT VISITORS

The Chinese community in Davao City expects an influx of visitors for the Chinese New Year celebration on February 5.

President Rodrigo Duterte, through Proclamation No. 555 issued in August 2018, has declared the Chinese New Year as a special non-working holiday in the entire country.

“We will be making news by giving away torotot to the audience and simultaneously blowing it during the countdown,” Davao City Chinatown Development Council public relations officer Jasper Huang said.

Expect the city’s Chinese New Year celebration to be more festive with the traditional Dragon Dance, Lion Dance and the different dance competitions, he added.

“There will also be fireworks as visuals on the LED wall and drum beaters during the countdown,” Huang said. A Confetti Blizzard will make the event more colorful and interesting.

Huang said what makes this year’s Chinese New Year celebration unique is the conduct of five performances that will narrate, through dance and other methods, the history of Chinatown in the city.

Like the previous celebrations, the Chinese community has prepared traditional rituals, school performances and games prior to the countdown.

The Philippine Academy of Sakya Davao will lead the traditional offering ritual. The Davao Chong Hua High School will perform the Lion Dance while the Davao Volunteer Fire Brigade will perform the Dragon Dance.

Live music during the celebration will be provided by the Meet Febie band and Punch 9. CIO