THE traditional Chinese Lunar New Year celebration in Davao City, which is on February 12, will be conducted online due to continuous restrictions on movement and mass gatherings brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday, February 1, that the city will forego the traditional activities since mass gatherings are still prohibited due to health risks posed by Covid-19.
"There will be a celebration online also, for Chinese New Year. That will be discussed with the Chinatown Development Council. We have that council when we want to talk matters about Chinese New Year and other developments diha sa identified Chinatown area nato diri sa Davao City (There will be a celebration online also, for Chinese New Year. That will be discussed with the Chinatown Development Council. We have that council when we want to talk matters about Chinese New Year and other developments in the identified Chinatown area here in Davao City)," Duterte-Carpio said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.
The mayor also suggested some alternatives on how to celebrate the Chinese New Year amid the pandemic.
"What we can do is play recorded music or recorded video of a dragon dance or a lion dance and we can look for other activities na pwede nato buhaton on our own para masunod gihapon atong tradisyon pagsulod sa Chinese New Year (What we can do is to play recorded music or recorded video of a dragon dance or a lion dance and we can look for other activities that we can perform on our own to follow our the tradition of welcoming the Chinese New Year)," she added.
The mayor also reminded everyone that aside from the alternative activities, physical performances in stores are still not allowed.
"[Ang] Dragon dance ug lion dance dili sya buhaton didto sa mga tindahan because it will attract people to gather para motan-aw (The dragon and lion dances are not allowed in stores because it will attract people to gather and watch)," she said.
Dan Salvan~a Jr., the event organizer of the 2021 virtual Chinese New Year Program, said the virtual event will highlight previous Chinese New Year celebrations in the city.
"This will be the first time to celebrate it online because of the restrictions. This will be a throwback of the celebrations, so kahit may pandemic, the pandemic will not stop the Filipino-Chinese communities in celebrating the Chinese New Year (This will be the first time to celebrate it online because of the restrictions. This will be a throwback of the celebrations, even if we are still experiencing a pandemic, it will not stop the Filipino-Chinese communities in celebrating the Chinese New Year)," he said.
The virtual event will be made available online through the City Government's social media account on February 11.
February 12 is a special non-working day under Proclamation 986.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox. (With reports from CIO)
