The Chinese New Year Celebration in Iloilo City

As much as we anticipate the upcoming Dinagyang Celebration, the City of Iloilo is also anticipating the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities. As we all know, Iloilo City's Chinese New Year celebration boasts as the first Chinese new year celebration outside Metro Manila and is often considered the biggest Chinese New Year celebration in the Philippines, even bigger than in Manila’s Chinatown. With the help of local prominent Chinoy business organizations, the City's Chinese Schools, the City Government, and many other supporters, the Iloilo City Chinese New Year Celebration is something that everybody should not simply miss. (These photos are from the previous Chinese New Year Celebrations in Iloilo)

Aside from Cultural Shows and Exhibits, the main highlight of Iloilo's Chinese New Year Celebration is the Chinese parade of Chinese dragons, floats, and dancers from the Capitol Area up to the Chinatown and Calle Real area. The Dragon dances give good luck to the city as they dance along Iloilo City streets. This parade leads up to the main cultural show at the Chinatown area, and the fireworks display. This year, the festivities will surely bloom because it is not only a Year of the Dragon, but it also marks the first Chinese New Year to be graced by the newly erected Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch along Iznart Street (this is also the location of the Cultural Show). This landmark pays tribute to the strong relationship between the city government and Chinese-Ilonggo community.

Iloilo Chinese
New Year 2012 Celebration Schedule of Activities

January 20 – 27, 2012
Filipino-Chinese Trade Expo – PNB Hall, General Luna Street

January 27, 2012
3:00 PM – Cultural Parade, Iznart Street
4:00 PM – Chinese Food Festival, Iznart Street
5:30 PM – Cultural Program and Fireworks Display, Iznart Street
[PARADE ROUTE: Bonifacio Drive, Iznart St., J.M. Basa St., Aldeguer St. / from the Hall of Justice area to Calle Real]

January 28 – 29, 2012
10 AM to 9 PM – Ongoing Chinese Heritage Cultural Exhibit, SM City Iloilo

January 29, 2012
Iloilo Scholastic Academy Mall Show, SM City Iloilo