The first day of the Year of the Water Snake was welcomed with a bang by the Chinoy community with Chinoy Hao Bang 2013 at SM by the Bay at the SM Mall of Asia. Touted as the biggest Chinese New Year Celebration in Manila, Chinoy TV and Chinoy businesses, schools and organizations brought the best of Chinese culture in a spectacular display for everyone in attendance to see and experience. 

The exhibition grounds were filled with booths from participating clubs, organizations and businesses wanting to wish everyone luck and prosperity and had games, prizes and giveaways to all those present.  Early in the day there was a Chinese lantern-making contest with participants and their creations reflecting the Year of the Snake in their designs. There was then a cultural show that saw amazing performances from talented Filipino-Chinese students in beautiful, colorful costumes.  They woiwed the crowd in singing, dancing and acrobatics.  

There was also a cosplay competition for Chinese-themed characters. The cosplayers performed on stage to the delight of the crowd.  There was then a delightful dragon dance performance as it turned evening, providing a festive mood up to the end of the program. To cap it off, a wonderful fireworks display was set off and it was beautiful as it was by the bay, the lights reflecting and illuminating off the waters of historic Manila Bay.

All in all, it was an amazing event that set a great start for the Chinese New Year.