CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Filipino-Chinese community here concluded its week-long Lunar New Year celebration with festivities that highlighted cultural heritage, spiritual renewal, and a shared commitment to the city’s continued growth.

The celebration gathered traders, civic leaders, city officials, and residents, underscoring the long-standing cultural and economic ties between the Filipino and Chinese communities in Cagayan de Oro.

On February 16, Lunar New Year’s Eve, Mayor Rolando “Klarex” A. Uy led the opening ceremony at Rio de Oro Boulevard in Barangay Puntod, welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse with a grand pyro-musical fireworks display that drew thousands of spectators.

In his message, Uy emphasized the city’s identity as a community built on diversity and cooperation.

“Diversity is our foundation in the City of Golden Friendship. Let us continue to build a city where every family feels they belong, culture is honored, and progress is shared by all,” he said.

Students from Kong Hua School and Oro Christian Grace School showcased traditional Chinese dances, musical performances, and dragon dances, filling the stage with vibrant colors and dynamic choreography.

The mayor also reflected on the intertwined history of Filipino and Chinese families in the city.

“Our ancestors built businesses together, raised families together, faced difficult times together, and even fought hostile invaders together,” Uy said, noting that Cagayan de Oro’s progress is rooted in unity and shared enterprise.

Efren T. Uy, president of the Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., reaffirmed the community’s continued investment support and recalled more than 160 years of Chinese cultural presence in the city.

He recounted the story of a businessman from Amoy, China, who established one of the earliest ventures in the area and built a brick-and-stone residence now known as Casa del China Ygua.

The structure was declared historically significant by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines on April 7, 2000.

Consul General Zhao Xiuzhen of the People’s Republic of China, based in Davao City, lauded the celebration in a media statement.

“China and the Philippines share geographic proximity and deep-rooted people-to-people bonds, with cultural exchanges serving as a vital force in the development of bilateral relations,” Zhao said.

She described the event as both a festive Spring Festival gathering and an opportunity to further deepen cultural exchange between the two nations.

Traditional rituals continued on February 17 at the Bell Church in Barangay Macasandig, where around 300 boxes of tikoy—symbolizing harmony and good fortune—were distributed to residents.

Other activities included Chinese food stalls at Rio de Oro Boulevard, medical missions, and dragon dance performances at major commercial hubs across the city.

Dragon boat race highlights

The festivities also featured the 4th Mayor’s Cup Spring Festival Dragon Boat Race at Isla de Oro, where 10 teams competed across seven categories.

Champions received trophies and medals, along with cash prizes of P25,000 for the champion, P20,000 for first runner-up, P10,000 for second runner-up, and P5,000 for third runner-up.

Among the notable winners were:

Bakunawa Dragon Boat Team, which dominated multiple categories including DB12 24U Mixed, DB22 24U Open, and DB22 Mixed.

Philippine Coast Guard Dragon Boat Team, champion in DB12 Masters Mixed.

Aklan Dagyab Dragon Boat Team, champion in DB12 Women.

Bugsay Pagpukaw Dragon Boat Team, winner of the DB22 Novelty – Dragon’s Loop: Figure-8 Challenge.

The week-long celebration closed with colorful lion and dragon dances, symbolizing prosperity, unity, and renewed hope for the year ahead.