This will also explain why the traditional Chinese celebrations of the Lunar New Year is very popular not only in Manila but also in other urban areas in the country.

Just like in other parts of the world with large ethnic Chinese communities, the Chinese New Year is considered the single most important holiday among the Chinese in the Philippines.

The celebrations usually last for 15 days and culminate with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. For 2015, it is the Year of the Sheep.

According to old-timers in the Binondo District, Manila's Chinatown, the vigor and enthusiasm in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year have not diminished even with the passage of time.

During the Chinese New Year, there is a big parade of dancing lions or dragons that snake through the narrow streets and alleys of Binondo with participants dressed in colorful red costumes dancing to the sound of drums.

Such festive atmosphere is duplicated in other cities with big Chinese population, such as Cebu city in the Visayas and Davao city and Cagayan de Oro city in Mindanao.

During the celebrations, people in the streets and storeowners greet each other with "Kiong Hee Huat Tsai" in the Hokkien dialect or "Kung Hei Fat Choi" in Cantonese, which means "Congratulations and Be Prosperous" in the incoming year.

Of course, amid the noise and bustle, are the sounds of lighted firecrackers which, in the Chinese customs, would drive away the evil spirits and bring good luck in the year ahead.The food most locally looked forward to during the Chinese New Year is tikoy, a delicacy made from sticky rice. It has to be fried first before it can be eaten.

During the Spring Festival, everyone, especially the women, wear red dress, considered by the Chinese as a lucky color. Also during this occasion, children look forward to receiving fresh peso bills placed inside bright red envelopes, called "ang pao" in Hokkien, with Chinese characters written in it.

Storeowners usually put "ang pao" at the entrance of their stores so that dancers participating in the dragon parade can pick them up as New Year's gifts for them.