CAGAYAN de Oro City Hall will usher in the celebration of the Chinese New Year on January 21 with a series of activities in coordination with the local Chinese community, a top City Hall official confirmed today.
“The consul general of the Chinese embassy visited Cagayan de Oro City last week and will deliver a written invitation by (Cagayan de Oro City) Mayor (Rolando) ‘Klarex’ Uy to Chinese ambassador Huang Xilian to attend the celebration of the Chinese New Year on Jan. 21 which is the eve of the celebration,” City Administrator Roy Hilario Raagas said in Visayan during Monday morning’s flag-raising program.
Raagas said Mayor Uy formed a committee that will oversee the calendar of activities for the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
“The committee will be chaired by (Oro-Trade Investments Promotions Center) chief John Asuncion and acting City Tourism Officer Rico Libre. They will coordinate with the local leaders of the Chinese community and the Chinese chambers of commerce and industry,” Raagas said.
Raagas said the calendar of activities to mark the Chinese New Year will be inclusive in that the whole city of Cagayan de Oro will join in the revelry with the local Chinese community.
“There will be lion dances performed by groups from the three districts in Cogon and Divisoria. The committee also planned for a week-long performance of lion dances to be held every night at City Hall grounds leading to the January 22 celebration,” he said.
Raagas said the Chinese embassy officials were happy about City Hall’s efforts under the Uy administration to spearhead the Chinese New Year celebration with the local Chinese community.
“The nightly lion dances will be held while City Hall is lighted up while Chinese lanterns will be placed in strategic areas in Gaston Park and Divisoria,” he said.
“The Chinese embassy said Cagayan de Oro City is the first local government in the country to initiate the Chinese New Year celebration in coordination with the local Chinese community…we’ll also see if we can require every City Hall department to organize their respective groups to visit the Chinese temple in the city for an appreciation of Chinese culture,” Raagas said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)