When Chinese New Year was declared a special non-working holiday in the Philippines in 2012, it wasn’t just a cultural gesture but a recognition of economic reality. Ethnic Chinese Filipinos comprise roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of the Philippine population, yet according to Yale Law Professor Amy Chua, they control an estimated 60 percent of the Philippine economy. In the 2024 Forbes ranking, 14 of 16 Filipino billionaires have Chinese heritage—including the Sy siblings of SM Group, Tony Tan Caktiong of Jollibee, Lucio Tan of LT Group, and the late John Gokongwei Jr. of JG Summit.
This deep economic influence means Chinese New Year business traditions have permeated mainstream Filipino entrepreneurial culture. Walk through Binondo’s streets or browse any small business’s social media during the Lunar New Year, and you’ll see these practices in action—even among non-Chinese Filipino entrepreneurs who adopt them “just to be safe.”
The cultural integration between Chinese and Filipino communities dates back over a thousand years, with Chinese traders arriving in the Philippines as early as the 9th century. This relationship deepened during the Manila Galleon Trade era beginning in the 1560s, creating centuries of shared traditions that continue shaping how Filipinos do business today. From temporary shop closures to elaborate lion dance performances, these practices remain visible across Metro Manila’s commercial districts and beyond.
Here are the business traditions Filipino entrepreneurs still follow during Chinese New Year:
In this article:
- Temporarily Closing Shops in Observance of the New Year
- Visiting Chinese Temples for Fortune Readings
- Adorning Shops with Zodiac Ornaments and Lucky Charms
- Giving Tikoy to Loyal Customers and Colleagues
- Giving or Receiving Ang Pao (Red Envelopes)
- Lion and Dragon Dances in Shops and Establishments
- Wearing Red During the Festivities
- Exchanging Well Wishes (“Gong Xi Fa Cai”)
- Why These Traditions Persist in Filipino Business Culture
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Temporarily Closing Shops in Observance of the New Year
Many Filipino-Chinese business owners close their shops, offices, and establishments during Chinese New Year celebrations. In Binondo, Manila—the world’s oldest Chinatown—most Chinese-owned shops shut down during the holiday. Many of the smaller, independently owned shops close, while larger malls like 168, 999, and Lucky Chinatown Mall typically remain open.
The temporary closure symbolizes a complete reset and prioritizes family gatherings over business operations. It’s rooted in the Confucian value that family devotion takes precedence over commercial pursuits. Business owners use this time to reflect on the previous year’s performance and set intentions for the coming year.
2. Visiting Chinese Temples for Fortune Readings
Temple visits mark the beginning of each new year for Filipino-Chinese families, who pray for health, prosperity, and business success. These visits often include consulting fortune readings about business prospects for the coming year. Families bring offerings of incense, fruits, and food to deities and ancestors.
What makes this tradition distinctly Filipino is the blending of Catholic and Chinese spiritual practices. Many Filipino-Chinese families visit both temples and churches during celebrations. A notable example is the Santo Cristo De Longos, a street-side shrine at the corner of T. Pinpin and Ongpin Streets in Binondo where people queue up to pray and light incense sticks, representing the “marriage of beliefs between early Chinese settlers who embraced Catholicism but still return to their roots”.
Filipino-Chinese business owners regularly consult feng shui experts during this period to ensure their businesses align with auspicious directions and elements for the year.
3. Adorning Shops with Zodiac Ornaments and Lucky Charms
Filipino businesses transform their spaces during Chinese New Year, displaying zodiac animals corresponding to the current year’s sign alongside red and gold decorations, lanterns, paper cuttings, and banners with Chinese characters for luck and prosperity.
Common lucky charms include the Lucky Cat (maneki-neko) priced from ₱150 to ₱600 (prices vary by vendor), positioned near entrances or cash registers. A raised left paw brings in more customers, while a right paw attracts money. The Laughing Buddha (₱100–₱1,000) represents happiness and abundance. Chinese Lucky Coins—three gold coins with red ribbon for about ₱50—are carried in wallets to attract wealth.
Other popular items include the Dragon Turtle for career luck, Money Frog (three-legged toad), Kyat Kyat Trees (money trees) at ₱2,500, and Bonsai Kiat (fruit-bearing bushes) starting at ₱4,500. Feng shui placement follows specific principles—the southeast area of a business is tied to prosperity, while the front door gets red decorations to block negativity. Binondo charm sellers see brisk sales as Chinese New Year approaches.
4. Giving Tikoy to Loyal Customers and Colleagues
Tikoy (Chinese sticky rice cake, or nian gao) is the quintessential Chinese New Year gift in the Philippines. Business owners give tikoy to loyal customers, employees, and business partners as a way of sharing good fortune. This tradition has become deeply embedded in Filipino culture, regardless of ethnic background.
Tikoy symbolizes several auspicious concepts. The sticky texture represents relationships sticking together and growing stronger. The sweetness signifies harmony. Most importantly, tikoy represents higher income and higher position—it’s considered good luck when eaten during the New Year. The word “nian gao” sounds like the Chinese words for “higher year,” which can translate to “a more prosperous year”.
Filipinos enjoy tikoy in unique ways beyond traditional preparations. The most popular method is slicing it, dipping in egg, and frying. Distinctly Filipino innovations include tikoy with cheese and tikoy with ube or chocolate. Beyond tikoy, businesses also give baskets of mandarins, traditional seafood like abalone, and gift boxes featuring Caishen, the Chinese God of Money.
5. Giving or Receiving Ang Pao (Red Envelopes)
Ang pao (红包, hóngbāo in Mandarin, ang pao in Hokkien) are red envelopes containing money, given as tokens of good wishes. In business contexts, business owners give ang pao to employees, and elders give them to younger family members.
The etiquette follows specific rules. Business owners use new, crisp bills symbolizing a fresh start. Amounts with the number 4 are avoided, as it sounds like “death” in Chinese dialects. Even numbers are preferred, with amounts ending in 8 (wealth) or 9 (longevity) being especially favorable. Givers hold the ang pao with both hands as a sign of respect, and recipients never open the envelope in front of the giver.
Typical amounts: ₱500–₱2,000 for own children, ₱200–₱1,000 for nieces and nephews, ₱100–₱500 for children of friends, and varying amounts for employees depending on the company. The tradition has evolved digitally with GCash’s “Send Ang Pao” feature, which became especially popular during the pandemic. Google data shows that searches for “Angpao” spike dramatically during the Chinese New Year season in the Philippines.
6. Lion and Dragon Dances in Shops and Establishments
Filipino-Chinese business owners hire lion and dragon dance troupes to perform in and around their shops during Chinese New Year. These vibrant performances, accompanied by drums, cymbals, and gongs, serve dual purposes: attracting good fortune and driving out bad spirits.
Dragon and lion dances are mainstays in Binondo celebrations and in major malls across the country. At Seng Guan Temple in Manila, dancers usher in Chinese New Year annually. Lucky Chinatown Mall hosts spectacular celebrations that draw thousands of spectators. These performances have been reported across the Philippines, from Manila to Tuguegarao, showing widespread adoption of the tradition.
7. Wearing Red During the Festivities
Red is the Chinese color of luck, and business owners ensure everyone in their establishments wears red during Chinese New Year. Bright colors like gold and orange are also welcome. Red symbolizes energy, happiness, vitality, strength, and good luck in Chinese culture. The color is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
Beyond clothing, red appears throughout businesses during the season. Restaurants and offices use red tablecloths and décor. Products get red packaging. Fresh produce for deity offerings gets tied with red ribbons. Storefronts hang red lanterns and banners. This color scheme dominates Filipino commercial districts during the season, creating a unified festive atmosphere—red symbolizing happiness and gold representing wealth.
8. Exchanging Well Wishes (“Gong Xi Fa Cai”)
“Gong Xi Fa Cai” (恭喜发财) translates to “May you become prosperous!” and is the most common greeting during Lunar New Year festivities. In the Philippines, the Hokkien version “Kiong Hee Huat Tsai” is more commonly used, given the predominantly Hokkien heritage of Filipino-Chinese communities.
The greeting is exchanged between business partners, customers, employees, and friends. Filipinos, even those without Chinese heritage, flood social media with Chinese New Year greetings like “Kung Hei Fat Choi,” “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” or simply “Happy Chinese New Year.” Filipino businesses use the greeting in various forms—from storefront banners to email signatures to social media posts. The phrase serves as both a seasonal greeting and a relationship maintenance touchpoint.
Why These Traditions Persist in Filipino Business Culture
Chinese New Year business traditions continue in the Philippines because they serve practical purposes. Shop closures create pauses for reflection. Temple visits coincide with annual planning. Lucky decorations generate foot traffic. Tikoy gifts maintain customer relationships. Ang pao shows employee appreciation. Lion dances create community spectacles. Red clothing creates visual unity. Well wishes maintain business networks.
Filipino businesses from small sari-sari stores to major corporations continue embracing these traditions. The practices have survived centuries, evolving to incorporate modern elements like digital ang pao while maintaining their core cultural significance.
FAQs: Business Traditions on Chinese New Year
Why do Filipino businesses follow Chinese New Year traditions even if they’re not Chinese?
Ethnic Chinese Filipinos comprise roughly 1 to 1.5 percent of the Philippine population yet control an estimated 60 percent of the economy according to Yale Law Professor Amy Chua. In the 2024 Forbes ranking, 14 of 16 Filipino billionaires have Chinese heritage. Filipino businesses follow these traditions to demonstrate cultural awareness and respect, with many non-Chinese entrepreneurs adopting practices after observing successful Filipino-Chinese business communities.
What are the most accessible Chinese New Year traditions for small businesses?
Displaying round fruits like mandarins (₱50–100), wearing red clothing, and giving tikoy to customers (₱100–200 per gift) are the most common low-cost traditions among small Filipino businesses.
Do Filipino businesses actually believe feng shui works?
Beliefs vary. John Gokongwei Jr. stated he doesn’t rely on feng shui, while others like Lucio Tan are known believers. Many business owners consult feng shui experts because the practices align with annual planning and spatial organization regardless of spiritual belief.
How much do businesses give in ang pao to employees?
Typical amounts are ₱200–500 for general staff, ₱500–1,000 for valued team members, and ₱1,000+ for key personnel. Businesses use new crisp bills in proper red envelopes, with amounts varying by company size.
Are these traditions only in Metro Manila?
No. Chinese New Year traditions are practiced throughout the Philippines. While Binondo has the highest concentration, businesses nationwide participate. E-commerce platforms have made purchasing tikoy, lucky charms, and ang pao envelopes accessible everywhere.
When do businesses put up and take down decorations?
Decorations go up 1–2 weeks before Chinese New Year and stay for the 15-day celebration period, coming down after the Lantern Festival. Many businesses keep lucky charms like the Lucky Cat year-round, while red and gold seasonal decorations are removed after the celebration.
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