A Solemn New Year? Hello 2018

New year has always been celebrated with a lot of noise and fireworks all around here in the Philippines. It is because we believed that by doing so, we will be able to shoo away bad luck and welcome good luck all throughout the year. It is also because of these that every year during new year's eve that many Filipinos were being rushed to the hospital due to fire cracker accidents. But this new year is way different from the past years.

Every year I noticed na paunti na ng paunti ang nagpapaputok tuwing new year's eve. I just don't know if it's because of growing economic crisis o dahil nagiging aware na ang mga tao about the use of fireworks and firecrackers. Though every year naman ay laging may advisory sa T.V na mag-ingat sa paggamit ng paputok, it was only this year that the government actually implemented some restrictions for fireworks and firecrackers usage. Ngayon, may mga certain types lang ng paputok na pwede sa mga residential area, habang meron namang mga assigned places para sa mga fireworks display. Maraming demayado sa aksyon sa ito ng gobyerno, especially those who are in the industry of making fireworks and firecrackers, but to be honest, masaya ako sa naging decision ng gobyerno. President Duterte really lived up to what he said, "change is coming."

Welcoming 2018 is a bit unusual for it was quiet. There were some noises but not from fireworks or firecrackers, but from children's "torotot" and loud speakers of our neighbors. By twelve midnight, the sky is unusually clear and not too many smoke fills the air. Instead, laughter, greetings, honks of the care is what I can hear. There were few fireworks but its not as overwhelming as what it used to be before. New year 2018 is solemn but more secure and a lot more fun. Mas masaya pa ito kaysa noong mga panahon na puno ng tunog ng paputok ang paligid. Welcoming 2018 is peaceful, much safer, and much less polution. I will still miss those years na maingay at makulay ang pagsalubong sa bagong taon. But I wouldn't trade it sa bagong taon na naranasan ko ngayon.