Since it's 12/31, I should mention that New Year's Eve in the Philippines is a fun, and always explosive event. Tons of San Miguel beer, many parties, great food, family gatherings, and lots and lots of fireworks. Both official city celebrations and thousands of people on the streets launch fireworks in the sky and/or at each other. The smoke is so thick from the fireworks that the lack of visibility causes major airports to close. The mayor of Manila recently suggested residents skip the fireworks and bang pots and pans instead. Good luck with that.During my year in the Philippines, I spent New Year's Eve in the city of Cebu, in the central Visayan islands. Together with a few of my fellow AIESEC trainees, we wandered the town, getting invited to a couple large family celebrations which obligated us to eat two huge meals. We road in the back of a pickup truck across town, unwittingly offering ourselves as big white targets for many little kids with bottle rockets. We teamed with a beautiful but depressed Chinese woman and an exile from Miami to go to an empty nightclub. We figured it was just as well that it was empty, because it was the sort of place where they had to post a sign saying "please check your firearms and weapons at the door." Despite being orphans for the evening, we became enough of a family together to enjoy our night.
For the long version of the story, check out this chapter from my epic work in progress.
For the long version of the story, check out this chapter from my epic work in progress.
