Ongpin Chinatown Pilgrimage

I always feel at home whenever I walk on this short street. Although Filipino vendors occupy most of the narrow street, I just feel like I am connecting to my father’s world everytime I am here. There’s just a part of me that feels nostalgic.

With my busy schedule and the hassle of going to Ongpin due to bad traffic, I only get to go once a year. So last week I really forced it otherwise I wouldn’t be able to go, tatamarin na naman ako. Ideally, I time my visit a few days before the Chinese New Year so double purpose. I get to buy Chinese decorations and some food to take home.

Even Filipinos pray here

Is it safe to say that pretty soon, Mayor Lim would be replaced by Erap? So next year, the face of Erap would be all over Binondo.

New fascia board of Mr. Ube

Why is pineapple used by the Chinese as a symbol of good luck?

oranges from China

I never ate Champoy. I found the smell repulsive.
But my parents loved it. They would buy a small quantity to take home to Binangonan everytime they visited Ongpin.

I bought two small container of golden coin candies.  We have some games tomorrow ipang pre premyo ko.

Ang camote rin ba good luck na rin? Baka gawa-gawa lang yan ng mga Filipino vendors sa Ongpin.

My heart jumped when I saw these pomegranates. I couldn’t believe my eyes. yes they’re here. One doesn’t have to travel to the US and my sister doesn’t have to send me poms.
Me——————– “Miss, anong prutas ito?”
Fruit vendor——— “Pongri…. Pom… Pong… ponri..”
Me——————— “Pomegranate. Saan galing ito?”
Fruit vendor———- “sa YOU ES, tatlong daan isang kilo”.

I bought a kilo (2 pieces).

I also bought a kilo of this Bangkok mangosteen for Edmund. He likes this fruit.

I wanted to buy sana a pot of this imported orange tree from China kaya lang P4,000 daw. Tapos P3,500 na lang daw. Tapos P3,000 na lang. Parang mahal pa rin.

pampaswerti din daw ito. Rice stalks. the big ones are P80, the smaller ones are 4 for a hundred pesos.
Pero tingin ko napamahal ako. I didn’t haggle. I was tired na and it was already getting dark.

I’ve decided that next year,  I won’t buy na this, kasi makalat, nalalagas yung mga palay.

I bought 10 Machang for tomorrow’s Chinese New Year celebration.

I bought several of these, for our offices and house. Pampaswerti rin. Sana effective.

Nakasakay na ako ng van, bigla kong naalala si Nyke ibibili ko ng pasalubong na food.
I got off and walked to the nearby President Seafood Palace Restaurant.
Ang sarap medyo naka relax ako ng konti, kasi wala pang mga tao, kasi super ingay dito pag oras ng kainan.

The kutsero or cuchero was encouraging to have my picture taken while riding the karitela. Good suggestion but no thanks.

We passed by the Peace Hotel on our way out of the Ongpin area. Eto yun pinupuntahan namin nung maliit pa ako, para kumain. Same location.

Siguro eto na nga ang pumalit sa Peace Panciteria, the Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant.