Cagayan de Oro’s Chinese Filipinos ring in Lunar New Year with hope, tradition

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Cagayan de Oro's Chinese Filipino community celebrates the Year of the Snake with fireworks and traditions, highlighting their contributions in the city's cultural and economic landscape

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Fireworks lit up the sky over Cagayan de Oro City’s Bell Temple in the village of Macasandig on Tuesday night, January 28, as the local Chinese Filipino community shed bad energy while ushering in the Chinese New Year of the Wooden Snake, a time for renewal and regeneration.

As dragon dancers snaked through the temple, Greg Marten Lao, former president of the Bell Temple, clapped his hands with hope for new beginnings and a willingness to move on.

“In our tradition fireworks and noises drive away the bad vibes and toxicity,” Lao said.

The night also ushered in a week of parties and feasts at Chinese Filipino-owned stores and establishments in the city, a celebration rooted in traditions that have long shaped Cagayan de Oro’s economic and cultural landscape.

For generations, Chinese Filipinos have been woven into the fabric of the city’s growth, their contributions evident in commerce, education, and local development. 

INCENSE STICKS. A worker prepares incense sticks for the celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Snake in Cagayan de Oro, on January 28, 2025. Froilan Gallardo/Rappler

From corner stores to sprawling enterprises, their presence in trade and investment is undeniable. The community played an important role in shaping the local economy, their influence deeply embedded in Cagayan de Oro’s progress.

The city’s Bell Temple itself, modeled after its namesake in Baguio City, has served as a religious sanctuary for some 300 members of the local Filipino Chinese community since its establishment in 1989. Over the years, its doors have gradually opened beyond its members, offering the wider public a glimpse into its traditions.

DANCE. Snake dance performers during the celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Snake at Bell Church in Cagayan de Oro, on January 28, 2025. Froilan Gallardo/Rappler

Local trader John Asuncion, who heads the Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investments Promotions Center, said it was good that the local Chinese Filipino community allowed the city to peek into the temple and their lives.

“Local Chinese here are generally shy and it is only lately they opened this temple to the public,” Asuncion said.

Beyond business and religious traditions, the Chinese Filipino community’s influence extends into education. Schools like Kong Hua School stand as proof of their commitment to preserving language and culture while preparing the next generation for a fast-changing world. 

COSTUMES. Snake dance costumes lay on the ground at Bell Church in Snake in Cagayan de Oro, on January 28, 2025. Froilan Gallardo/Rappler

The community’s success has been acknowledged by the local government, which credits them with helping drive Cagayan de Oro’s economic expansion.

As fireworks faded into the night sky, the spirit of renewal and regeneration remained, a reminder of a community that has played an integral role in the city’s story for decades. – Rappler.com