Ongpin St.: A Business District in China Town

Binondo, Manila is the commercial center of some Filipino Chinese. They are many businesses that you can find here. You will see the rich culture of Tsinoy from foods, clothes and much more items. The most popular street is the Ongpin St.   

But not only with the Chinese blood are the costumers of Ongpin St. But also those people who want to experience the Chinese culture. This place is one of the best destination in Manila. Although the streets are not too wide and there’s always a heavy traffic.

While roaming at Ongpin Street, you will see a lot of Chinese restaurants that will fit to any budget you have. You may try how to use chopsticks when you’re eating. One of the best restaurant here is the President’s Restaurant. Their best selling products are shrimp dumplings. Sipao asado and many more. Besides restaurants, of course you can buy here original hopia where the ingredients come from China. You will also see many diffirent statues in Ongpin and one them is the dragon that symbolized about prosperity.

Ongpin is also known because there are many gold vendors here that selling pure gold. Most of their buyers are men who want to give special jewelry to their love ones. But of course, Chinese people love herbal medicines that’s why these are also available. If you want, you may find lizard powder. They said it is a medicine for those people who have asthma. But please, if there’s someone offering fake medicines. Don’t buy it because it is dangerous to our health.

Every Sunday evening, Ongpin will become a happier place because it seems there is always a party. The busy street becomes crowded. They are conducting a firework display; it seems that every Sunday is a new year.

Based on history, Ongpin St. Was named after by Don Roman Ongpin, a Chinese businessman who became an avid supporter of the guerilla group Katipunan during the Spanish revolution in 1896. He supported the group by giving financial assistant. There was also a story that he burned his own house and he gave the insurance proceeds to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Even during American occupation Don Ongpin continued his advocacy which is to support the revolution. Because of his martyrdom, they made a statue of him that you can find besides Binondo Church.