It's 2 hours and 14 minutes past new year, the roads are fogged from all the fireworks and everyone is probably drinking their livers out tonight. And here I am, chewing yemas and pastillas to my heart's delight while killing time with my dad who's chugging what might be his 10th glass of wine for the night. I guess I'm too old to be asleep as this time of new year, but then again to young to be going out. I guess that's why I'm just here, making chronicles of my oh-so-awesome new year's experience as if it were the most interesting thing I could think of doing.
Enough with my bitching and explanatory disclaimers. Let's talk about my new year.
So I've been really really curious about this local ball drop that Makati City is trying to pull off. Last new year, I was in the snowy congested streets of Times Square, N.Y. with my family, greeting 2011 with the world-renowned ball drop. Well at least that means I'm critiquing this Makati ball drop with an on-hand witnessing of what it's trying to imitate.
I arrived in Ayala Avenue at exactly 10:15 PM, preceded by a glorious 8-course meal at the Makati New World Hotel which is just a good 5 minute-walk away. With a bloated stomach and nothing but a portalet(those shammy portable toilets) as the nearest to a comfort room that I can get, the thought of standing for almost 2 hours just to see a local version of the ball drop was unfathomable for me. They tried to ease the audience's discomfort and boredom by putting The Dawn's and some Chinese magician on stage to entertain us. As expected, The Dawn played songs which are NOT from my era, thus the continuous prevalence of my boredom. The Chinese magician, on the other hand, did a great attempt to amuse us with his guessing skills, but the great discomfort from standing up for hours surrounded by semi-drunk or semi-grumpy crowds got in the way of his magnum opus.
I'd have to admit, time went by much quicker than I expected. Soon enough, the one-minute-till-2012 countdown began. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 HAPPY NEW YEAR! There were fire works in the sky. I, being my eerie self, found more interest in observing the faces of the people around. Filipinos, foreigners, foreigners with filipina girlfriends, small dogs of the wannabe-Paris Hilton filipinas, just everyone around. All the grumpy frowns, impatient faces and lifted eyebrows suddenly disappeared and turned into faces of awe and amazement. Everyone stared up at the beautiful, colorful, voluminous fireworks as the best of 2011 party music was played--you know, the typical holiday playlist: Moves Like Jagger, Party Rock Anthem, I'm Sexy and I Know it and all those other songs you play during 20122 Christmas parties.
The fireworks were of different variations, most of them I have never seen in my life (and I've seen a pretty darn lot of fireworks, I'd like to believe. HA HA) They even had one that when thrown to the air, forms a shape of a smiley face in sparkling pink and green lights. But it's not the quality or diverseness of the fireworks that amused us all--- it's the length of the show and how much fireworks were used. (And perhaps the lingering question "HOW MUCH WAS SPENT FOR THIS?")
The fireworks show lasted for 15 good minutes. I'm guessing those "paputoks" causE about 500/pc, and judging by the amount of fireworks sparkling in the sky, Binay could have spent about 5-10 Million pesos to light up the Makati sky for 15 minutes. That could have helped an entire city in Iligan impaired by Sendong, or maybe feed a great amount of hungry Filipinos spending New Year in the streets. Nevertheless, the lavish lights-show amazed everyone in the crowded Ayala Avenue and has raised the standards of local New Year's celebrations once again.
Regardless of the over-the-top fireworks, in terms of the "ball drop" itself I'd have to say that Makati failed. From the first part of my post I have made my ranting about the crowd quite evident. I'd like to blame this unwanted crowd on the extremely LOW ball drop (yes. we're talking altitude here). Unlike in Times Square, despite the crowd being a million times more in quantity, there was no demand for them to congest themselves in one corner of the street, considering that the ball drop is coming from one of the highest buildings, hence it can be seen even from a far.
The only two differences (that I could spot) this Makati ball drop has from the Times Square original is: (1) The weather. It is practically snowing in New York at this time of the year. When the place is warm, people swear and their moods are like those in the sims whose bars are all shaded red and has been purposely neglected by the player. (2) The celebrities. All we had on stage was the Dawn and some Chinese magician. But who are we to compare our locals to New York's hollywood stars? Nevertheless, I (and Im pretty sure the rest of Makati) was still blown away. I didnt expect such extravagance from Filipinos. I entered Ayala Avenue almost sure that what I was going to watch had nothing on the original. I was wrong.
And for that, Mayor Junjun and Vice President Jejomar Binay(s), I give you two thumbs up! Kudos for the wonderful night! Pinaalala ninyo sa akin na magaling talaga ang Pilipino!
