This Week in Western Metro Manila: Binondo and Pasay (Feb. 7 - 13, 2016)

Several activities for the Chinese New Year (also known as Spring Festival or Lunar Year) celebration have started in Manila last week, but the main events such as public concerts and fireworks display will happen all over Binondo during the Chinese New Year's Eve on February 7 and on the New Year’s Day itself, February 8.

Lucky Chinatown Mall has set up a Wishing Wall for the Chinese New Year celebration. People can purchase an ema board on which they can write down their wishes for the Year of the Monkey.

Special Lion and Dragon Dances will be held on February 7 and 8 in most hotels in Manila and Pasay such as The Manila Hotel (eve of Feb. 7), Diamond Hotel (Feb. 8, 11 AM), and Manila Pavilion Hotel (Feb. 8, 6 PM) in Manila, among others; and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila at its Sunset Bar (eve of Feb. 7), and Midas Hotel and Casino (Feb. 8, 10 AM) in Pasay City.

To welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey, Sincerity Café and Restaurant has been offering the Lauriat Set Menu since February 1, 2016. This special New Year Menu worth Php1388 that is comprised of six dishes (Xiamen Special Lomi, Crab Meat Spinach, Deep Fried Prawn Balls, Sweet & Sour Lapu-lapu, Patatim, and Lumpiang Shanghai) comes with Fried Rice and watermelon drinks.

The Manila Ocean Park has released an advisory that on February 14, the last ticket sales and entry at its Oceanarium is at 5 PM instead of 8 PM. The Oceanarium Tunnel will be closed for the parks’ Valentine's Dinner show.

On Valentine’s Day, Star City in Pasay will give 50% discount on the Ride-all-you-can tickets purchased by guests wearing red shirts.

February is also peak season for most hotels and lodging places and early reservation is advisable especially if hotel booking on or before Valentine's Day is desired. Valentine hotel promos start as early as January 2016 such as the “Valentine Romance” promotional package of The Manila Hotel from February 12 to February 14, 2016. For Php14,000 per night, couples can enjoy complimentary breakfast for two and dinner buffet at Café Ilang-Ilang and massage at The Manila Hotel Spa, plus a surprise gift to make the couple’s stay even more special.

The Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students, an exhibit of Western and Chinese painting, will have its Grand Launch on February 7, in Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

This week promises a nice sunny weather with temperatures ranging from 29◦C to 33◦C, so those looking forward to do outdoor recreational activities this week are advised to bring umbrellas and wear sunblock during the peak hours of the sun, or opt to travel when the sun is not too hot.