'Dragons' won't dance for 2nd Chinese New Year in Manila amid COVID-19

The costumes of dragon and lion dancers will remain in storage for the second straight year in Manila after the city banned street celebrations for the Chinese New Year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mariz Umali's report on "24 Oras", a group of performers were expecting to resume the dragon and lion dances this year especially after the COVID-19 cases went down in December.

"Malungkot sa amin kasi matagal na namin 'tong ginagawa yearly. Parang kulang 'yung year 'pag hindi namin nagawa 'tong tradition sa lion dance," said James Wong of the Lee Quiang Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association.

According to Chinese tradition, the dances drive away evil spirits while the new year is ushered in.

Aside from the dragon and lion dances, the pandemic has also affected the sales of lucky charms and popular Chinese New Year fare such as tikoy and hopia. —NB, GMA News