Start 2012 right: Where to go on New Year's Eve

They say that what you're doing when the new year begins is a preview of what you'll be doing for the rest of the year.

 

This is of course only a superstition, but hey, we can never be too sure right? For good measure, we'd best be up to something fun when the clock strikes 12 on New Year's Day. Thankfully, that won't be difficult with all the New Year countdowns and parties that are happening all over the metro on New Year's Eve. 

 

The Makati government is certainly not holding anything back as they close down two major thoroughfares for Magical, Musical Makati 2012: A New Year’s Countdown which starts at 5:30 p.m. At the moment, they're already setting up the stage where mime performers, clowns, and fire dancers are set to dazzle the crowd. A number of artists are also slated to play nonstop, including The Dawn, The Company, Bloom Brothers, Antimano Band, and Grupong Pendong. More than that, Salcedo Market concessionaires will be providing sustenance, a luxury car will be raffled off, and to top it all, a 15-minute fireworks display will cap the countdown.  

 

Not very far away is the yearly countdown party at the Rockwell Tent. This year, the theme is 31 to 1: 100% Rockwell New Year Party, and DJs about town Cao Ocampo, Yoshi Uy, Amber Davis, David Ardiente, and DJ Buzz are set to break out the tunes. The party starts at 1 a.m. and continues straight through to the first sunrise of the year. 

 

Up north, Eastwood will be hosting its annual celebration, the New Year: Countdown to 2012. Held at the mall open park, the party which starts at 6 p.m. will feature performances from the Philippine All Stars, Billy Crawford, Urbanation, Amber Davis, The Dawn, Gary Valenciano and his sons Paolo and Gab, and the Adlibb dancers. A star drop is a prelude to the fireworks display, which will happen at midnight to ring in 2012.

 

Down in Boracay, you can enter the future by going back to the past at Shangri-la Boracay's New Year’s Eve Medieval Masquerade Ball on Dec. 31 at the Sagana ballroom. The best wine and food will be served up amid a landscape of queens, kings, princesses and princes, fools, bannermen, and other medieval characters. Tickets are priced at P4,500 per adult, and P1,000 per child. To book, call 288-4988. 

 

Of course, Rizal Park is not to be outdone as it says Cheers to 2012 with games, performances from dancers and musicians including Imago, Sandwich, and other local bands and singers, and a 15-minute fireworks display at midnight. The program starts at 6 p.m on Dec. 31 and will be held by the Musical Dancing Fountain at the park, so it's definitely going to be a beautiful show.

 

Over on Seaside Boulevard in the Mall of Asia complex, GMA Countdown to 2012 is set to happen at 10 p.m. A three minute mini-fireworks show, games and performances by GMA stars will keep everyone awake for the grand 15-minute fireworks display at midnight. –KG, GMA News