Renxkyoko Iglesias here, wishing you all a Happy New Year ! !
As the title says….. to see how the Philippines welcomes the new year, click on the video. ( you can start at 2:12, I think that’s 11: 55 PM )
And it’s not some government – sponsored spectacular fireworks display……. anyone with a pocketful of change can buy fireworks and shoot them up on New Year’s eve. The one on the video is just a small area of Metro -Manila. The fireworks on the ground are worse. The Judas belt….. sheesh .
My own father would start buying firecrackers ( yep, also that Judas belt ) in September. * shakes head *
Even though there are so many injuries , the government can never make this illegal….. it’s like making eating adobo illegal, too.
By the way, international flights going to the Philippines are cancelled on New Year’s day. ….. the haze over Manila is deadly for arriving planes.
Over here in the US, we can hear a pin drop on New Year’s eve. It was a culture shock on our first New Year’s eve in the US.
Oh, well. Happy New Year, everyone. And to my Filipino readers, be safe.
.
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by nkdwhtguy on December 28, 2016 at 6:28 pm
I’ve experienced NYE in the Philippines. I forgot how hazy it got. Thanks for the memory! And Happy New Year’s to you.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 6:37 pm
Happy New Year to you, too ! !
Posted by Goin' the extra...aaamile on December 28, 2016 at 6:44 pm
Happy New Year in advance to you too dear 😘
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 8:10 pm
Have a good one, as well ! May 2017 be peaceful and prosperous. Cheers !
Posted by John W. Howell on December 28, 2016 at 6:54 pm
So glad to see this and that I’m in a quiet place. Thanks. Happy New Year
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 7:00 pm
So many injuries year in and year out…….but that’s the way it is over there…. to make this stop will never happen… because tradition.
Posted by John W. Howell on December 28, 2016 at 7:12 pm
I understand. 🙂
Posted by andy1076 on December 28, 2016 at 7:35 pm
Fireworks in September, You folks really do know how to celebrate big lol
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 7:45 pm
No fireworks in September, Andy….. that’s when he woud start buying fireworks, and stash them somewhere ” safe ” outside the house….. The fireworks aren’t cheap.
But that’s the way it is, Andy. It’s tradition, no matter how dangerous it is.
Hey, I did suggest you should visit Glaiza during the holidays and to stay there till New Year’s Day.
I’ve seen videos of foreigners going crazy while they watch the fireworks in Manila.
Posted by andy1076 on December 28, 2016 at 8:07 pm
I would of LOVED to be there for the holidays if ticket prices weren’t so crazy high :S so I hope there will be SOME celebration while I’m there in Manila lol
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 8:23 pm
You have to buy in June, ha ha…… We bought our tickets in January for our June summer vacation in the Phlippines….. and still, we were not able to buy the tickets for the day we wanted to go…. we bought the later dates….. the earlier dates we already full, and that was 6 months early booking ! ! !
Posted by andy1076 on December 28, 2016 at 8:34 pm
geeeeeeeez I did it backwards then, I bought the tickets just the other day because I thought I’d get more competitive prices, Bleh I suppose 860 is still alright :S
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 8:43 pm
860 Canadian dollars ? That’s a good price…… I’m sure that’s not Philippine Airlines…. PAL’s ticket is like, $ 1, 500, regular, and since we booked it 6 months earlier , we got it for $1,200. PAL’s ticket is rather steep, but it’s always fully booked.
Posted by andy1076 on December 28, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Actually, The flight I booked IS Philippine Airlines, I used the app ‘Hopper’ to watch out for pricing, Then i jumped to PA’s website and leaped on it right away, That’s regular economy window seats for 12 hours flight direct, no layover and I will return via the same airline 21 days later. Yep! I will be tanned and fully baluted by the time I get back haha!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 8:53 pm
Bwahahaha ! You’re going to eat balut ! ! Seriously, I don’t get why people think it’s ” bizarre ” food, lol…… it actually tastes good….. just don’t look , just swallow it quick, he he. ( and don’t forget to add a pinch of salt before swallowing )
Posted by andy1076 on December 28, 2016 at 8:57 pm
Okay, Now that you tell me I should add salt I’m worried! Glai wants me to even try one day old chic with sauce and stuff which was okay but then I saw the photos and went ‘Okay! now i KNOW i’m trying new foods’ lol
Posted by Eddie Two Hawks on December 28, 2016 at 7:39 pm
There will be fireworks here too, my dog hates them.
Happy New Year to you
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 7:53 pm
I know, right. We live near a US AirForce base, and just the sound of jets flying overhead scares our dogs.
Posted by Elyse on December 28, 2016 at 10:23 pm
Happy new year to you, Renxyko! Even if it will be quiet!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2016 at 11:00 pm
Happy New Year, too, Elyse. Quiet is good ! The one in the Philippines is over the top and dangerous.
Posted by joey on December 29, 2016 at 1:29 am
Fascinating! I love fireworks 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 4:06 pm
I do, too, but the ones n the Philippines are like a warzone. I remember I was not allowed to go out on New Year’s eve, but I could hear the sounds.
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on December 29, 2016 at 2:20 am
happy new years!
I am going to stay in and watch Sherlock series4! ha ha isnt that nerdy!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 7:47 am
I’ll be playing BloodBorne on PS4, both Christmas gifts from my brother. Geeky ! Ha ha ha
Posted by Rebecca Dawn on December 29, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Oh wow ps4! Lucky you!
It will be fun no doubt! 😄🙌
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 4:07 pm
You bet, if I can find the time, ugh.
Posted by disperser on December 29, 2016 at 3:33 am
I’d love to hear a pin drop . . . alas, I’m well on my way to being deaf.
Happy New (quiet) Year.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 4:09 pm
Happy New Year, disperser.
Yep, that one in the Philippines is quite something, isn’t it? Batshit crazy.
Posted by girlisart on December 29, 2016 at 12:03 pm
That must be a wonderful experience on New Years Eve! Wishing you a Happy New Year!! 🎆🎊🎈
Posted by Don on December 29, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Wow! What a celebration. Happy New Year to you. What happens to the animals, dogs etc when these fireworks go off?
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 4:13 pm
Don, I remember I was not allowed out of the house on New Year’s eve. The dog and I huddled together in a corner farthest from the street, windows and doors closed.
Posted by Maxima on December 29, 2016 at 4:25 pm
Bonne annee!With loveMaxima
Posted by renxkyoko on December 29, 2016 at 4:35 pm
And to you, as well ! Happy 2017 ! ! !
Posted by Jay on December 31, 2016 at 2:20 am
Happy new year & all the best.
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2017 at 11:01 am
May 2017 be a good one, peaceful and prosperous. Cheers !
Posted by guidanceofgod on December 31, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Happy new year! Ganyan talaga sa Pilipinas! Hehe 😁
Posted by renxkyoko on January 2, 2017 at 5:03 am
Although we left the Philippines when I was about 6 yo, I can still remember the noise
Posted by macalder02 on January 2, 2017 at 4:33 am
.There is nothing like Asia to enjoy the fireworks. A good year. Greetings from Venezuela
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2017 at 10:59 am
Greetings from the US !
I don’t know if other Asian countries celebrate NYs eve that way.
Posted by chris13jkt on January 2, 2017 at 11:55 pm
Happy New Year to you and yours, Renx! 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 4, 2017 at 2:22 pm
And to you, as well, chris13jkt ! Cheers !
Posted by Steve.... on January 3, 2017 at 5:28 am
Ren, Happy new year sweetie…..
Posted by renxkyoko on January 4, 2017 at 2:20 pm
Happy 2017 to you, as well, Steve ! Cheers !
Posted by Steve.... on January 4, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Cheers sweetheart😘😘
Posted by Ste J on January 3, 2017 at 3:28 pm
Happy New Year Ren! This year I ended up Skyping to the Philippines on the 1st and saw a bit of the party atmosphere, it was neat that technology allowed that but it would have been so much more fun in person. Maybe next year though!
Posted by renxkyoko on January 3, 2017 at 4:49 pm
You know, the Philippines is not a country a tourist should not visit ALONE. Not that it’s unsafe for visitors, but I don’t think you’ll enjoy it solo. You should bring someone, your wife, GF, best buddy…… I cannot imagine a visitor drinking a margarita alone at the beach enjoying the sunset, ha ha ha. The Philippines doesn’t have ancient temples , and real ancient culture like the ones in India, for example. You can go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, Italy and see the Colosseum, etc…….. in the Philippines, there’s …….. o_o ….. the beaches, maybe ? Filipinos are party animals, and the friend you Skype with will confirm that….. there’s a fiesta going on somewhere in the country, especially in January, so I think the best month to visit ‘s in January. NOT from June to November, as it’s the rainy/typhoon season over there. And when I say typhoon, it’s a 200 km. an hour baddie.
I’ll devote a post on this, for you.
Happy New Year ! ! and Cheers !!!!!!!
Posted by Ste J on January 4, 2017 at 2:32 pm
I have a number of friends in Manila who have offered to show me around although I will enquire about the partying, I’m getting a bit too old for all that stuff possibly. Thanks for your advice though, I will travel sooner rather than later, I am happy to take a break from ancient buildings and just discover a new culture. I picked up Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere in order to begin my education properly.
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2017 at 10:34 am
There are two novels. El Filibusterismo is a sequel of Noli Me Tangere ( Touch Me Not )….. The novel is a social commentary of the time…. you can ask me, or maybe you can read up on that. True during Rizal’s time, still true today… and that is sad.
Anyways, if you don’t mind the heat ( very hot, and extremely humid ) , the best months to visit are from Dec to Feb when the weather is fine…. March , April and May are extremely hot, and I’m not exaggerating.
The traffic there is hideous, but to a visitor , this is a revelation. You’d see how Filipino drivers behave during traffic, ha ha ha ! Oh my gosh. I’m not exaggerating. Everything in the Philippines is exaggerated. Like, from our house in the subdivision to the entrance /exit is 2.5 km…… sometimes it takes us an hour to reach the exit . ( there used to be a entrance gate with security guards, but gate caused so much traffic they finally took it out. )
By the way, I think I’ll buy my own copies of Rizal’s books.
Posted by Ste J on January 7, 2017 at 3:51 pm
More books, excellent!
It seems like I have a lot to look forward too and will probably end up going when it is really hot but I will persevere, I am intrigued by the totally different nature of the country. I like a challenge.
Posted by Hemangini on January 5, 2017 at 7:21 pm
wow, you are back in Phillipines or its for New Year celebration? The last time I knew you were in Dubai and then in USA and then London and now this surprise ( I wonder if I put them all in right order though)… Beautiful post… Wish you a very happy new year dear 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on January 6, 2017 at 10:56 am
I’m Phil-American and my home is the US. I haven’t been to Dubai , I got a picture of a Dubai mall from the internet ), but I did go to Europe a few years ago.
Posted by Hemangini on January 6, 2017 at 11:06 am
Wow, well traveled person. So this NY in home country. Cool, have fun 🙂 See you.
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Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on January 12, 2017 at 7:59 am
congrats sa pagwelcome ng new year dito sa pinas. andito ka pala.
Posted by Juan Bird on October 7, 2019 at 10:47 am
I can related to that! I’ve spent New Year in both places, and I still prefer the loud war zone atmosphere of a Filipino New Year anytime (and I personally recommend it to any foreign tourist for that matter)! For me, it is NOT a New Year without explosive, ear-splitting noise (so much so when I was in the US I even forget it is already a new year two weeks into a new year). And yes I could relate with everything (except the “buying firecrackers in September” bit – my family usually bought them on Dec 30th) you wrote about our New Year! Hehehe… 😛