Sunday, January 29, 2012

Chinese New Year 2012 - My Binondo Day

Kong hee huat chai! Kung hei fat choi! These greetings were all over Chinatown. The hustle and bustle of people trying to take home as much luck as they could with different trinkets, fruits, ornaments, and tikoy.


It was a typical Chinese New Year weekend in Chinatown in Binondo, Manila.

I've always wanted to explore the area, but I was always apprehensive because I speak/understand minimal Chinese. With several Chinese languages used here (Mandarin? Cantonese? Fookien?), I'm doomed. I asked a friend to accompany me, being he's Chinese and a graduate of Hope Christian High School, I'm pretty sure he'll be a great help in navigating the place. We met up in SM Manila and rode a jeepney going to Sta. Cruz. I showed him the list of where I wanted to go... and so the trip began.



First (and my favorite, too) stop: Wai Ying Fast Food


The branch in front of Hope Christian High School


Wanton Mami/Bihon 100php


 This is so filling! Great for sharing :)

Curry Beef Brisket Rice 120php
 A must-try for all the rice lovers :)

Ham Soi Kok 60php
I think this is a spin-off of Empanada(?)

Buchi 60php
My favorite Chinese dessert!


Second stop: Binondo Church

I hope getting married on New Year's eve will brig them luck and joy :)


I'm at awe with this artwork. Come on, a hand-painted artwork on a ceiling? A CEILING!


Third stop: Temple in Masangkay

I will definitely come back to this temple. The keeper is sooo nice :)


Chinatown at it's finest: (photos by Rexter Andrew Urquiola)


Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese Dragon
Incense Burning

We also dropped by Polland to buy some hopias as pasalubong, but I wasn't able to take photos. It was the branch that doesn't have a security guard, and I'm just too scared to take out my phone. :(

All in all, I had fun exploring Chinatown. It was tiring, yes, but I wouldn't mind doing it again. It's actually nice to immerse myself in Chinese culture (though that was just a slice of it, really).

TIPS: If you're planning to do a photowalk, its best you do it as a big group. You don't want muggers messing with your gadgets.
Wear comfy clothes and shoes 'cause you will walk (you will have to, no kidding).
Restaurants are usually jampacked during lunchtime, so if you don't want the hassle of waiting for a table, eat early or after lunchtime.

Lastly, keep an open mind. Appreciate, enjoy, and have fun! :)


What is your Chinatown experience? I would love to hear them. :)
Posted by at 1:50 AM
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34 comments:

  1. NikkiJanuary 30, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    OMG OMG I LOVE WAI YING!! College classmates took me to that place before and shet it's the type of place na sasadyain mo. I love love loooove the food there. Yung fish fillet thing masarap din, tsaka yung spare ribs rice. OH GOD.

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroJanuary 30, 2012 at 3:15 PM

      I know riiiight?!?!? :D It was my first time to eat there. Nag browse lang ako ng mga highly recommended spots tapos ayun nga, even the friend I was with loves to eat there pala. I can't believe how affordable BUT super delicious ng food nila! WE SHOULD GO THERE!!!! :)

      Delete
  2. IreneJanuary 30, 2012 at 11:16 PM

    Great article and pics! Sad tuloy ako ndi ko kinaya mag binondo pa nun after the run. Well, may next year pa naman :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 7, 2012 at 9:09 AM

      Wow ang late lang ng reply ko >___<

      Okay lang yan 'te I, Fun Run naman kasi yun di ba. Hagardo versiza na kayo nun.
      Marami pang Chinese New Year ang darating. :)

      Thanks for visiting! Hehe!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    when i was still assigned in Binondo, ang usual side order namin sa Wai Ying is yun raddish cake.. ok din yun, hehe.. although hindi nga lang sya yun typical na choice..hehe

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 7, 2012 at 9:11 AM

      Waahh really?! My friends told me masarap nga daw yun.
      But I was like "raddish?!" as in "labanos?!". Hahaha!
      Sige pagbalik ko dun try ko din yun :)

      Thanks, JM :)

      Delete
  4. AdminFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:24 AM

    Great photos..belated Happy New Year.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:41 PM

      Thank you! Half of them were taken by my friend :)
      Belated Happy New Year!

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  5. KC CanlasFebruary 20, 2012 at 12:36 PM

    A friend of mine has been recommending that I try Wai Ying for a long time. My first blog post is also about Binondo but wasn't able to go there. I better set a schedule with friends. Yay!

    -KC Canlas

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:44 PM

      YES! You should! I'm planning to go back probably next week.
      I wanna try their Radish cake. I heard it's good, too.
      Let me know how your trip will go! :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  6. Edmar del Castillo GuquibFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:51 PM

    I always dream to have my own food trip in Binondo but, nah, never been here. I'm sure there are a lot of Chinese restos to choose from.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:47 PM

      Yup! Ongpin alone is packed with street of Chinese restaurants.
      I'll try Masuki next time, I heard their noodles are also good AND the serving is big so pwede for sharing. :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  7. atty. stacyFebruary 20, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    I have never toured around binondo and yet its so near home lol

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:49 PM

      Lol. My friend who accompanied me is the same 'cause he lives just around the area. Sabi niya medyo umay na daw kasi siya. Haha.
      Try it sometimes, I'm sure you'll find it fun. I think you'll enjoy more if you do it with friends. :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  8. enzoFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:03 PM

    Wow...a wedding in New Year's eVE...that's something...

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:51 PM

      I know right?! I'm sure that date was hard to get kasi malamang lahat gusto maambunan ng "swerte". :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  9. UnknownFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:46 PM

    Nakakahiya ako Di pa ako nakarating ng Binondo! ;( Good shots! Hope to visit this place soon..

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:53 PM

      Okay lang yan. You have all the time to visit the place. :)
      Natripan ko lang that weekend kasi Chinese New year. Traffic shouldn't be that bad at di rin mahirap makahanap ng makakainan kung hindi naman New Year ka pupunta. :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  10. Vonn Angelie DavidFebruary 20, 2012 at 8:56 PM

    nice i was there too..ehe.. love Wai Ying too

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:54 PM

      Same weekend?! Nice! :)
      Which branch do you prefer? I prefer the one in front of Hope para di crowded. Hahaha!

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  11. Joy Calipes-FelizardoFebruary 20, 2012 at 10:14 PM

    We actually planned to go there last New Year's but hesitated with the thought of people from all walks of life observing it. However I have my fare share of Wai ying restaurants, with my kids, maybe you may want to check it out:
    http://www.gastronomybyjoy.com/2011/10/binondo-kiddie-express-wai-ying-chinese.html

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 21, 2012 at 9:47 PM

      Your kids are so pretty! :) Their noodles are the bomb, right? :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  12. AnonymousFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    My Dad used to live there when he was working at Lorenzo Shipping at the pier. Last 2009 we went there after 25 years he left the town. There are only few Chinese retaurants and shops he remembered, the good thing was when we went to the shop that sells Chinese Medicines the owner still remember him. Binondo has change but it's culture and tradition is still there and nothing has change. Your definitely a Chilipina.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 21, 2012 at 10:56 PM

      They still remembered your dad after all these years?! That's awesome! He's probably a remarkable man. :) Thank you! :)

      Thanks for dropping by. :)

      Delete
  13. kindlehearts.comFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    wow! galing ng tips! nice pictures! hope to visit Binondo this summer.. :)
    - Sionee

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 21, 2012 at 10:57 PM

      Hi Sionee! Thank you! You have to! At least sa summer hindi sobrang siksikan sa Binondo :)

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  14. UnknownFebruary 21, 2012 at 11:11 AM

    You should have gone to Eng Bee Tin. It's way better than Polland. Also try Wan Chai and Carvajal. Also Estero. Halata bang I used to live there? Hahaha.

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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 21, 2012 at 10:59 PM

      Hi Kathy! I AGREE! Kahit na sobrang commercialized na ang Eng Bee Tin, mas masarap pa rin sa kanila. That day lang kasi sobrang dami ng tao. Yung feeling ko magkaka asthma attack ako kasi ang init tapos siksikan na sila sa loob? Hahaha. I'll try Wan Chai next time. :)

      Yung sa Estero kasi, yung friend ko ayaw niya kasi daw 2 lang kami tapos maglalabas pa ko ng gadget. Baka daw umuwi kami ng wala na kaming gamit. Hahaha!

      Thanks for dropping by! :)

      Delete
  15. markpogiFebruary 21, 2012 at 4:17 PM

    Too bad I wasn't able to do a photowalk at Binondo on Chinese New Year for the second year in the row. The last time I did a photowalk to Binondo was last 2012 when I joined Scott Kelby's WWPW

    ReplyDelete
  16. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 21, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    Sayang! But there's always next year naman eh. :) Saan ka pa nag photowalk here in Manila?? :)

    Thanks for dropping by!

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2012 at 10:50 AM

    I celebrated CNY at the Mall :( I wish to celebrate it sa Binondo sana kaso wala akong kasama.. maybe next year :).. PS gusto ko nung buchi

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Chilipina | Ayzee CasimiroFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:02 PM

      Sayang! Pero okay lang yan, may next year pa naman :)

      YES!!! I love Buchi, too! <3 Yan ang di mawawala sa order kapag nasa Chinese restaurant kami. :)

      Delete
  18. ChaFebruary 24, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    My friend usually celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong because they always give her ang pao ha ha ha! Actually I hate Chinese new year my mom died 9 days after Chinese New year and that was the last time we ever celebrated Chinese New Year.

    Please swing by my page too!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Timeless ConfectionMarch 10, 2012 at 10:19 AM

    i'm so looking forward to have a great binondo food tour just like what you had. can't wait to reading more of your posts. btw, just followed you.
    kaye
    http://kayelangit-luistro.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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