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Monday, February 03, 2003
Dragon dance
By CYRUS A. NATIVIDAD
Did you see how they dance, prance and fascinate spectators in downtown Iloilo last Friday? Mighty, bouncy street dancers you might say. But they're the best of the local acrobats performing for the Chinese New Year. We say kudos to whoever thought of giving importance and worked to initiate the first Chinese New Year celebration in Iloilo City. The first time and certainly, Mayor Tre¤as was one on top.
All over the downtown area that afternoon was an outcrop of meddlesome bystanders and curious onlookers, making us think there was a redo of the Dinagyang. The Dragon dance however was what really made it.
The dragon dance represents what other people should envy about the Chinese culture. The attractive design of a dragon mascot consisted of elaborate work and choice of colors. The bulk and flexibility of the mascot also required the right choice of durable materials and several tests. These reflect the perseverance and hard work known about any Chinese businessman. The coordination of the dancers and acrobats is somewhat, somehow familiar with timing and wise directions of any Chinese commerce association - which makes them anywhere progressive and successful. Did you count some `bully boys' among the `singkits' underneath the colorful, fancy concealment?
The Chinese food festival on Iznart street also boosted the local Chinese new year for the first time. There we found out how many Chinese restaurants and delicacies we have in Iloilo City alone. Did you walk past the smiling faces of residents through their little sort of `chinatown' ? Ah, some generous Chinese businessmen were giving away coins and red envelopes that read `Kung Hei Fat Choi! We heard lots of firecrackers of course, and crackling chicharon too. Along this street we know, are mostly Chinese traders - big merchandisers with hardware stores, wholesale and retail enterprises. But we can always find native folks anywhere here sitting by a stall, selling candies and cigarettes by sticks.
The First Iloilo Chinese New Year celebration almost showcased the total Chinese culture. If there was any socio-cultural pressures that influenced the event, it was the unruly crowd and traffic that still remains incorrigible. We were there not only to be curious about the celebration, but also to appreciate the Chinese discipline, unity and cooperation.
We hope that in the midst of Filipino culture, this successful Chinese community will go on helping business in Iloilo City. (Feb. 3, 2003 issue)
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