Iloilo City Chinese New Year parade on Feb. 8

ILOILO CITY welcomed the Chinese New Year with a Fireworks Display at Iloilo City Grandstand in Muelle Loney street on Feb. 4, 2019.

A parade and cultural show at the downtown on Feb. 8 will culminate the weeklong celebration.

The Chinese New Year Grand Parade will start 4 p.m. Friday from Capitol to Iznart St. to JM Basa St., turn to Aldeguer St. and to Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch where it culminates with a Cultural Presentation at 6 p.m.

The Chinese New Year Food Festival will be held at Iznart St. on Feb. 8 from 8a.m. to 2a.m. the next day.

The City Government will be hosting Chinese New Year Luncheon at Ker Building at the back of City Hall on Feb. 8 at 11:30a.m.

“For the first time, we celebrated the Chinese New Year’s eve with fireworks for the public to enjoy and as bonding moment for families and friends. The celebration is a recognition of the significant contributions of Filipino-Chinese community benefiting the Ilonggos,” Mayor Jose S. Espinosa III said.

Chinese New Year falls on February 5 declared as a special non-working day through Proclamation No. 555 of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Spectators were treated to spectacular fireworks show sponsored by SM City Iloilo that ushered in the Year of the Earth Pig as it brightened up the night sky with reflections on the picturesque Iloilo River.

Cultural dance was also presented by Iloilo Scholastic Academy and lion and dragon dances were performed by Federation Sun Yat Sen, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, and Ateneo de Iloilo. Wushu exhibition was rendered by Iloilo Tinagan School of Martial Arts.

Iloilo City’s Lunar New Year event is among the grandest festivities of its kind in the country. (Iloilo City PIO)