Chinese New Year in Chinatown

“There is a given time for everything under heaven: a time for tears and a time for laughers, a time for loving and a time for hating...” And yet it was the time for encountering, widening, learning and being with the people and culture that are so attractive and mysterious, the Chinese.

With the great excitement, we -Japanese, Philippine and Vietnamese- walked down to Chinatown in the late afternoon on February 13, 2010 an undiscovered place for us. After passing all kinds of transportation, we arrived at Sta. Cruz Church which is in front of the gate of Chinatown. It was built by the Jesuit fathers for the Chinese community. We entered to see the church where there are so many statues of Jesus, Mary and saints. At the end of the road is another old church, the Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo which was built with a Spanish style. It seemed that the beginning and the end of the main road are covered by churches, even the atmosphere of Buddhist and traditional beliefs were everywhere. It might be right that in Chinatown there is no division of religion. It is the mixture of all under a very strong and influential culture. It also might be said that the people live in unity like the people of the same home rather than that of different religions. It was a beautiful culture. Along the way, we enjoyed watching Dragon Dances and Lion Dances which are part of the Chinese tradition for the Lunar New Year. There were many people on the roads and in each store. It was noisy and yet happy in the moment of ending the year. The sellers offered all kinds of food and decoration for New Year which express the wishes for good health, peace, happiness, prosperity... for a coming good year in general. Everyone bought something, shared some stories in their own language with their big smiles. It was so warm!

For the first time we rode the horse carriage (kalesa) to go to visit one Buddhist Temple, the Seng Guan Temple. It is the most important Buddisht Temple in the Philippines. It was so great. The beauty was in each corner of the temple. There are the statues of Buddha with his very peaceful and happy face in each room. We burned the incense and greeted Buddha before visiting the temple. It was a silent place and filled with a solemn atmosphere. There were people who came to pray and others to prepare for the celebration of the New Year. I felt that for all religions, either Christianism or Buddhism or Hinduism or Islam... the only desire asked from God is the happiness for all humankind. I was blessed to be there at the end of the year with a thanksgiving heart and to share the joy with people I even did not know. In a small Chinese restaurant, we shared our last supper of the year. I felt joy and warmth as I saw many families were also having their meals, both poor and rich. It seemed the time of union and gathering as a family. I was glad to see all the happy faces of being together. It was so touching.

The prayer at the moment of the New Year when the hand of the watch pointed 12:00 was the prayer of PEACE. I prayed for peace in each person, each family, and each country and all over the world where we desire so much for peace. I prayed for my country, for China and for all places and people that are still struggling to live their faith and moreover their being as a PERSON. Hopefully it will be the year for the better life of loving and giving love.

By Phuong Anh Giang, odn