SO THE holidays have come and gone, and now people are giving away those ubiquitous red boxes of tikoy as gifts. It can only mean one thing: Chinese New Year!
On February 14, we officially bid goodbye to the ox and welcome the year of the tiger with a roar. Coincidentally, the first day of the Lunar New Year also falls on Valentine?s Day, so expect this year?s celebrations to be redder hot than usual. On top of the usual predictions and feng shui rituals, here are five more meaningful ?and relevant ? ways to usher in the Lunar New Year.
1. Learn about your Chinese roots. Although only approximately 2 percent of our national population is Tsinoys, many of us have a Chinese ancestor somewhere in our genealogy. The Tsinoys have contributed a unique thread to the Filipino tapestry for many generations now. Visit the Bahay Tsinoy Museum (tel. 526-6796) in Manila to learn more about Chinese contributions to Philippine society. It?s an engaging, 3-dimensional journey of a thousand steps from the 9th century to the present, from Fujian province in China to how Chinese migrants began new lives in the Philippines. This is the story of the Chinese-Filipino experience through dioramas and exhibits.
2. RSVP to a lumpia party. If you know any Tsinoy, now is the time to ask them how they prepare for their New Year?s Eve. Chances are they might go out for a 12-course lauriat dinner or have a simple (but totally filling) lumpia (spring rolls) party. Try to get yourself invited and enjoy a first hand experience at an intimate Tsinoy family gathering. You will surely savor the yummiest Hokkien-style lumpia ? probably from a recipe that amah (grandmother) handed down a generation ago.
3. Have a Chinese food fest. Food is central to the festivities during Chinese New Year. Here are some traditional treats to start the year in abundance without burning a hole in your pocket: Huat Keh or prosperity cakes, which are similar to the local puto but denser and sweeter in texture. Ong Lai So or pineapple cakes, ?ong? in Hokkien means ?luck? and ?lai? means to ?come? thus the symbolism. Oh Yi, literally round gabi, is similar to radish cake but has a stickier, more glutinous consistency. Like the popular tikoy, it symbolizes the binding and wholeness of the family. Lumpia or spring rolls were traditionally eaten in Fujian province to usher in the coming of spring. It symbolizes a new start and new hope in the new lunar year.
4. Join the Chinatown street parties. Nothing quite beats joining in the festivities amidst the narrow streets of Binondo ? Manila?s iconic Chinatown. Celebrations start this week as the whole district gears up for the big day. Festive banners are hung and seasonal merchandise are sold everywhere in stores and on the streets. The fun reaches fever pitch on New Year?s Eve, and peaks on the first day of the lunar new year as there are stage shows, parades and firecrackers, as well as the ubiquitous lion and dragon dances. Be sure to bring your cameras. To get the most of your Chinese New Year DIY experience, grab yourself a copy of the just released Big Binondo Food WOK map (P100) and explore Chinatown?s cultural and culinary treats step-by-step. Or better yet, join the special edition of the BIG Binondo Food WOK culinary tour run by the folks at Old Manila Walks (+63917-3291622 or www.oldmanilawalks.com) on February 13 and 14 to get right in the heart of the action without getting hungry.
5. Read up on Tsinoy literature. If you?d rather have a quiet celebration at home, you can enjoy a nice warm cup of tea and read up on the following books that capture the Tsinoy experience: ?Ongpin Stories,? a powerful collection of eight short stories written by R. Kwan Laurel, a third generation Chinese-Filipino editor and writer; the award-winning ?Intsik: An Anthology of Chinese Filipino Writing? edited by Caroline Hau; and ?An Embarrassment of Riches? by Charlson Ong, second place winner of the 2000 Centennial Literary Prize. You can also check out ?Tsinoy: The Story of the Chinese in Philippine Life? (published by Kaisa Para sa Kaunlaran Foundation), a handsome coffee table book that chronicles the Chinese diaspora story in our country from the 9th century to the present Tsinoy generation.
If all else fails, you can always rush out and buy a box of tikoy to enjoy and share with Tsinoy and Pinoy friends and family. Kiong Hee Huat Tsai! ?
