Sky over Macasandig lights up as Chinoys greet monkey year

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent

THE sky over Macasandig lit up at 12 midnight yesterday as Chinese and Chinese Filipinos greeted the Year of the Fire Monkey with a grand fireworks display.

Spearheaded by Taoists, the fireworks display at Bell Church in Macasandig was witnessed by hundreds of mostlt Chinese Filipinos.

The same group distributed some two thousand boxes of the Chinese sticky rice cake delicacy called nian gao or “tikoy” that has become popular in the country during the Chinese New Year season.

But other Chinese Filipinos opted to greet the Chinese New Year’s Day in silence.

Councilor Leon Gan, a Buddhist, said his group chose to give more importance to thanksgiving and prayers.

“Wala na kami anang pagpaboto sa fireworks kay we are more on prayer before the new year,” Gan said.

Gan’s group started prayers at 8 pm, and then again at 11 pm on Sunday.

Former councilor Juan Sia’s wife Adelfa, Bell Church’s cashier, said her group greeted the Chinese new year with a festive atmosphere, and together with the City Tourism Office, gifted many families with “tikoy.”

Sia said they see “tikoy” as a symbol of family unity and “sweet life.” (nitz arancon)