Starting the Year off with a BANG!

Filipinos love holidays. And New Years Eve is no exception! Although it isn't declared an "offical" holiday, there are many traditions, beliefs, and celebrations that occur annually on the last day of the year. Families usually spend all day cooking and setting up to prepare for a celebratory dinner and party.

But the main event is the FIREWORKS! For weeks leading up to the day, malls and street vendors can be seen selling all different kinds of fireworks and firecrackers to the masses. Even this past week leading up to New Years Eve, fireworks can be heard on the street all throughout the day! (And we can be seen jumping in our seats when we hear the loud POP). But on the actual night of New Years Eve, as soon as it gets dark, the show begins! Sitting atop a local hill provides access to firework shows all around the city! And the closer it gets to midnight, the crazier and more frequent the fireworks get.

At the strike of 12:00 midnight, the noise becomes defeaning: churchbells ring, firecrackers rule the sky, kids gape in awe as they see the different firecrackers, blooming in the sky. The banging and booming rises to a climax which includes clanging of old pots and pans, blowing jeep, car or tricyle horns, and ambulances sound their sirens for one full minute as they countdown to the New Year.

To put it mildly, New Years Eve in Manila is like the 4th of July in America... on steroids!! Two years ago I was here in Manila over New Years and enjoyed the experience very much! It's a fun holiday and an amazing sight to see.

Wherever you are, and however you plan on ringing in the New Year, be safe and have fun, and start planning on spending your next New Years in Manila. We guarantee you will have a BLAST!