“Red Lantern Festival” to feature Chinese performances

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City’s annual “Red Lantern Festival” in celebration of the Chinese New Year will feature various performances for free.

The annual event will be held at the Plaza Sugbo grounds on Saturday, February 10.

Cebu City Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, invited the Cebuanos to join and witness the spectacular event.

“Right now if you pass by the Magallanes street, we have already adorned the streets with red lantern and we are hoping that we’ll be able to put up the arches before the celebration, what will conspire on Saturday is that we will have a parade starting at 3:30 at the freedom park,” Pesquera said.

Enumerating the lineup of activities, Pesquera said the parade will be participated by Chinese fire brigade who will serve as marshal. They will be enjoined by the “big families” in the city who will be bringing their own banners.

Pesquera said that it will be followed by the traditional Lion and Dragon Dance in which the Chinese New Year celebration is famously known.

“While waiting for the people or the students at the Plaza Sugbo, we have booths, some are selling and some are giving out free food like ‘tikoy’ and all those Chinese delicacies,” she added.

Setting the anticipation further, Pesquera said the program will start at 5 p.m. where various performances are set to be showcased by the different schools around the city. Traditional dances accompanied by Chinese songs will be presented by the Philippine Gospel.

Among the highlights of the event is the children presentation. The whole event will be hosted by Eva Poon, sister of singer Richard Poon.

“We will also select among the students who have the traditional Chinese attire and we’ll be selecting at least 30 and among the 30 we’ll select the top 3,” said Pesquera.

Aside from the celebration, students will be allowed free entrance at the Chinese museum that will be open for viewing. Pesquera emphasizes that the event will be open for all even those who don't have Chinese blood. The event will be capped with a fireworks display.

“We will have a bigger area now, last year we’re just at the side fronting the Magallanes street, now we will put the stage in the middle of plaza Sugbo so we can accommodate more people this is annual, last year was our first time and this year is our 2nd year,” said Pesquera. — /FPL (FREEMAN)