SM CITY Iloilo served as premier host of the recent Chinese New Year opening program and celebration in Iloilo City, making itself a channel of protection, good luck, health, and prosperity at the start of the Lunar New Year.
In Chinese culture, the eyes reflect the spirit. So for the lions to be awakened and do their dancing rituals to bring down the positive spirit element from heaven, they must first be blessed through an eye-dotting ceremony.
The traditional eye-dotting ceremony was carried out at the mallās main activity center on Jan. 27.
Following it were the grand cultural presentations of four big Chinese-Filipino schools in Iloilo City ā Sun Yat Sen High School of Iloilo, Ateneo de Iloilo, Iloilo Scholastic Academy, and Hua Siong College of Iloilo.
The mall was filled with festive vibes as students showed off their skills and talents through magnificent performances showcasing Chinese culture and heritage.
The Chinese New Year opening program wrapped with a spectacular fireworks display at the mallās car park.
The 2023 Chinese New Year celebration, the Year of the Water Rabbit, was anchored on the theme, āIlonggo Tsinoys: Celebrating Resiliency and Strengthā.
Key officials of Iloilo City, leaders and officers of different city-based Chinese-Filipino organizations, and SM City Iloilo officers graced the celebrations.
Present during the celebration were Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, Uswag Ilonggo Rep. Jojo Ang, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, who also represented Mayor Jerry TreƱas, City Councilors Leila Luntao, Urminico Baronda, and Candice Magdalane Tupas.
Also joining the festivities were Charles Ho (Chairman of the Chinese New Year Task Force), Alex Li (President of the Philippine Chinese Chamber and Industry, Panay Chapter), Ramon Chua Locsin (President of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Panay, Inc.), Vicente Tang (President of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce-Iloilo), Oscar Chua (President of the Philippine Jinjiang Chamber of Commerce), Private Wealth Management ā Singapore Director Keith Halley, SM Group Marketing Manager Kristine Yap, and SM Supermall Regional Operations Manager Girlie Libo-on./PN
