As dusk falls, a group of Binondo residents in downtown Manila gathers to assemble a DIY wooden platform, transforming a basketball court into a stage where a lion costume is brought to life to the lively sounds of gongs and drumbeats, as onlookers peer through the fences.
The dance troupe is led by Jhayvee Sicat, a 31-year-old food delivery rider and member of Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group. He and his dance partner King Noah, 34, and their team of drummers are preparing to defend their title in an upcoming Lunar New Year competition.
Sicat began performing the lion dance at age 7, growing up in a family of dragon and lion dancers. They live in a creekside slum, where their family also run a small business making and selling lion and dragon figures.
"Hindi lang namin libangan ‘yan, trabaho talaga namin ‘yan," Sicat says. He and his crew also offer their services to clients looking for performances for restaurant openings, birthdays, weddings, and other Chinese cultural events. Sicat even adds that he will fly to Singapore on 19 February to perform.
“Ganito sila kaliliit noong sumasama sila sa akin,“ says Sicat’s sister-in-law, Melanie Labriaga, pointing to Sicat’s toddler as she recalls bringing him and the rest of the troupe to Ongpin Street in Manila’s Chinatown to train and perform. “Pagkatapos nila [mag perform] sa isang araw, bibigyan ko sila. Mag McDo silang mga bata.”
But since the income is not stable, members of the troupe have taken on flexible jobs to allow them to take breaks when needed so they can focus on their lion dance work.
The Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group is set to compete on Sunday, 8 February 2026, hoping to repeat their last year’s luck and bring home the P50,000 cash prize for their family.
Lion dancers Jhayvee Sicat and Noah King, along with their drummers, practice at a basketball court in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026. The troupe will be competing for the annual lion dance competition in San Juan City, aiming to defend their title and take home the 50,000-peso cash prize.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat warms up ahead of practice for an upcoming lion dance competition in Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026. Sicat and his team are vying to repeat their championship run in celebration of the Chinese New Year.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat memorizes his dance steps atop a wooden platform as his crew, the Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group, prepare for an upcoming lion dance competition.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat walks along the wooden platform as he internalizes his dance steps during a practice inside a basketball court in Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026. Sicat says his troupe typically spends two to three months preparing for the country’s biggest and only lion and dragon dance competition in the country.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat’s son sits beside a lion head costume during a practice session in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026. Sicat is a second-generation performer, who grew up in a family of dragon dance artists. He says he plans to pass his skills on to his children.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat and King Noah rehearse their lion dance performance in preparation for an upcoming competition. Aside from competing, the troupe also performs at Chinese cultural events like business openings, weddings and birthdays.John Carlo Magallon
Drummers shout in unison as they pound out rhythms during a practice at a basketball court in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat's son mimics his father’s movements during a practice in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
Children watch through the basketball court fence as Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group practices in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
Members of the Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group look on as Jhayvee Sicat ang King Noah rehearse their lion dance routine at a basketball court in downtown Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
Drummers play during a practice session. They are referred to as the heartbeat of the lion by setting the pace, rhythm, and mood of the performance.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat animates a lion snake during a practice in Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
The Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group rehearses for an upcoming lion dance competition.John Carlo Magallon
King Noah stretches atop a wooden platform during a practice for an upcoming lion dance competition. As demand for lion and dragon dance performances peaks only during the Chinese New Year, members of the Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group maintain their own day jobs to make ends meet.John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat and Noah King catch their breath after a practice session at a basketball court in Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026, a week before they defend their Lion Dance competition title.
John Carlo Magallon
Jhayvee Sicat and his crew, the Philippine Rui Dragon Dance group, share a laugh as they discuss their practice at a basketball court in Manila on Friday, 6 February 2026.John Carlo Magallon
