Time indeed flies fast. Seems it was only yesterday when you gobbled up on some tikoy, the Filipino-Chinese term for nian gao or glutinous rice cake popular during Chinese New Year, and by this time, malls and groceries are displaying them again at their storefronts.
Don’t be surprised, but even if Christmas decorations and lights are still up in the country’s biggest shopping malls, it’s almost Chinese New Year as well. What’s great about this celebration in the Philippines is that you don’t have to be Chinese to join in the festivities because the Filipino-Chinese community is welcoming to every Pinoy who wants to experience this gathering. Here are the best Chinese New Year 2025 events you must be part of in Manila.
Must-Experience CNY 2025 Events In Manila
Chinese New Year is happening on January 29th to celebrate the Year of the Snake. Here are your event choices:
Good Fortune Begins At Okada Manila – Chinese New Year 2025 Celebration
Unfortunately, the Philippines does not have a Disneyland or Universal Studios, unlike in Hong Kong or Japan, where special Chinese New Year events are held. So, those who are not traveling to these destinations for the celebrations should check out the events at the country’s major hotels and malls for the Lunar Year.
This MetroLinks list begins with the Chinese New Year celebrations at Okada Manila. You’d want to make sure you arrive here early for New Year’s Eve as there are activities all over.
At Yu Lei, they are serving enhanced dishes featuring Shanghainese-Chinese recipes, and there are also prosperity treats for the sweet tooth at The Lobby Lounge and Pastry Shop, among other food adventures.
Or, you might want to head over to Okada Manila’s spa treatment spaces for a scalp or hand treatment offered at discounted prices for Chinese New Year. You’ll get a holistic Yin and Yang therapy for slashed prices. Otherwise, avail of the deep sleep wellness session and the Gua Sha Back treatment also at marked-down prices.
And, as the clock ticks midnight, there will be festive Dragon and Lion dances and fireworks, perhaps. In the gaming area, prizes include a brand-new Tesla Model Y.
Flavors & Traditions Of The Chinese New Year 2025 At The Peninsula
With sister locations in China, particularly in Hong Kong, The Peninsula Hotel holds Chinese New Year dear in its heart.
The hotel will conduct its traditional, yearly Peninsula Lion and Dragon Dance at The Lobby. Lion and dragon dances are believed to dispel evil spirits and invite good luck, adding a burst of excitement to the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Also at The Lobby, you can get to experience the auspicious tossing of Lo hei, together with the Chinese New Year-themed buffet at Escolta. Lo Hei is a Chinese salad made with raw fish, smoked salmon, julienned vegetables, seasonings, and condiments. The higher you and your family toss it, the better the fortune and togetherness to come at you for the year.
Dessert lovers might also want to indulge in Nian Gao Rice Pudding and chocolate selections to share with your loved ones also at The Lobby, but specifically at the hotel’s pop-up kiosk.
Manila Hotel’s Early Bird Tikoy Promo
Where do you usually get your dose of nian gao every Chinese New Year? Perhaps at Eng Bee Tin or Polland, right? Well, you might want to consider getting them from Manila Hotel this time as they are offering an Early Bird Tikoy Promo that will let you enjoy lots of tikoy at lower prices.
The promos started on January 6th and are running until the 19th. The discounted tikoy is from the in-hotel Red Jade Restaurant, and they are not just your usual tikoy, but handcrafted ones. Terms and conditions apply, such as buying a minimum of five tikoy boxes.
Year Of The Snake At SM Supermalls
Look around online and you’ll see there are no official news yet about the Chinese New Year 2025 festivities at SM Supermalls as of this time of writing. But, don’t worry because the country’s leading mall is always at the forefront of CNY affairs every year. Generally, around their Activity Center, some branches like SM The Block in North EDSA display a giant creature representing which animal is for this year, which only started recently. However, it is quite a challenge for the SM team to showcase a snake from where kids might jolt in fear. Let’s wait and see. Usually, they also display predictions for each anime year.
Binondo, The World’s Oldest Chinatown
Every Chinese New Year, when malls are already closed at around midnight, the Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, run by Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, is fully awake and illuminated. Shops are open and crowds are all over the place. Stalls selling Chinese street food are also present during Chinese New Year, and the fireworks can be seen from the mall’s outdoor space.
Otherwise, you can catch the lion and dragon dances along the streets of this Chinatown that go louder and louder until the stroke of 12 midnight and the hours after, together with the parades and fireworks.
What Makes Chinese New Year In The Philippines Unique?
You are familiar with the Filipino diaspora, but the Chinese people are also spread around the globe. When you travel to New York, for instance, and meet a Chinese, you’ll be surprised when they tell you they’re not tourists, but actually American citizens also living there.
Last year, Beijing, the capital of China, held no holds barred when going all out for the Lunar New Year occasion. Extravagant, grand, and classy. Meanwhile, in the United States in 2024, there were also the traditional lion dances, as well as the floral art display and parades in Los Angeles making the beginning of the new Lunar Year.
In the United Kingdom last year, the festivities went through the British Chinatown, with the dragon dancers parading Trafalgar Square. Revelers also enjoyed delicious food, opera, and martial arts performances.
Chinese New Year celebrations in the Philippines are unique primarily because of the harmonious blend of cultures with a symphony of colors, tastes, and sounds. This intergenerational exchange and the spearheading of the Filipino-Chinese community ensure the essence of the celebration endures over time. Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year 2025!