It has always been part of Philippine tradition to welcome the New Year with firecrackers (those noisy things that explode on the ground and some fireworks (those things that explode in the sky).
When I was a kid it was almost impossible to go out on New Year's Eve as early as 7pm because of the many firecrackers going on (unless you wanted to risk having 1 less finger on your hand) and would end around 2AM of the New Year. As years flew by i noticed that the noise of firecrackers started later in the evening. By New Year's Eve 2001 the noise of firecrackers started becoming noticeable only around 10pm and would end at 1AM.
2004 was the quietest (in terms of firecracker noise). It was already 11:30pm when the celebrations could be heard and around 12:15am it was aready quiet.
It was a surprise for me this past New Year that around 9pm celebrations were already underway. Plus there were a lot more fireworks now than the previous years. Things quieted down around 1AM.
This could only mean 1 of 2 things:
1. Despite the political turmoil, natural disasters, and increasing gap between the rich and poor - 2005 wasn't that bad; or
2. it really was a bad year and the people were so glad that the year was done that they just had to celebrate!
Whatever the reason, Happy New Year, Philippines!!!
When I was a kid it was almost impossible to go out on New Year's Eve as early as 7pm because of the many firecrackers going on (unless you wanted to risk having 1 less finger on your hand) and would end around 2AM of the New Year. As years flew by i noticed that the noise of firecrackers started later in the evening. By New Year's Eve 2001 the noise of firecrackers started becoming noticeable only around 10pm and would end at 1AM.
2004 was the quietest (in terms of firecracker noise). It was already 11:30pm when the celebrations could be heard and around 12:15am it was aready quiet.
It was a surprise for me this past New Year that around 9pm celebrations were already underway. Plus there were a lot more fireworks now than the previous years. Things quieted down around 1AM.
This could only mean 1 of 2 things:
1. Despite the political turmoil, natural disasters, and increasing gap between the rich and poor - 2005 wasn't that bad; or
2. it really was a bad year and the people were so glad that the year was done that they just had to celebrate!
Whatever the reason, Happy New Year, Philippines!!!
