Manila: More Filipinos have joined the local Chinese community in celebrating Chinese New Year, with Manila's local government sponsoring a two-day non-stop entertainment show at the capital's premier national park and the national government's declaration of a non-working holiday for the event.

"The holiday has allowed Filipinos to join and observe the street fiesta on Ongpin Street at Binondo (Manila's Chinatown). It was a new experience for many Filipinos," said Minerva Tan, a store owner.

"We have eaten three times this lunch time," said student Jonathan Calixto who brought his Filipino-American friends from San Francisco for a stroll on Ongpin Street since cars were not allowed on the street since Sunday, on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Prosperity symbols

Foreign tourists were seen buying fruits from vendors who sells "lucky" fruits, toys, and other symbols of prosperity and joy in the Year of the Dragon.

Exploring Ongpin Street and its tributaries also lured more Filipinos lining up for rice cake (locally known as tikoy) at crowded stores.

"Tikoy was popular only among Chinese-Filipino nationals. Now Filipinos are looking for tikoy, too. They are giving tikoy as gifts, a sign that they are truly celebrating Chinese New Year," said Joseph Co, a publisher.

"Foreigners and Filipinos want their pictures taken with the dragon dancers," said Co, who said he was happy seeing Filipinos and foreigners dancing as Ongpin pulsated with the noisy beats of drums that accompanied the dragon dances."

Calligraphic paintings that were sold on Ongpin attracted the more high-brow observer of the event.

Newcomers flocked to Seng Guan Temple in Manila's Tondo district to see Chinatown's 10,000 Buddha statues.

"I think many Filipinos are now trying to understand Buddhism," said Co.

There were more Filipinos than Chinese who watched the entertainment show held at the Quirino Grandstand at Rizal Park.

Vice-President Jejomar Binay graced the event which was also attended by popular TV host Kris Aquino, sister of President Benigno Aquino..

Chinese-Filipino schools also held cultural presentations at the grandstand.

Fireworks lit up the skies at midnight, to mark the entry of the Year of the Dragon. Manila's five-star hotels were fully-booked yesterday as affluent Chinese-Filipino families made reservations for the night.

"They are celebrating Chinese New Year in a grand way, from Chinatown," said a foreign national.