Rizal Park to hold New Year countdown

MANILA, Philippines - The National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) invites the people to come to the Rizal Park in Manila and enjoy an unobstructed view of the fireworks display during New Year’s Eve on Dec. 31 to welcome Year 2011.

The NPDC said the public could avail of an alternative place to welcome the New Year by going to the Rizal Park.

The 54-hectare open space of the Rizal Park is an ideal place to shoot colorful fireworks up into the night sky since there are hardly any tall buildings nearby that could block the view.

“This is the first time NPDC and Department of Tourism (DOT) are hosting a fireworks display and we are inviting everyone to join in the celebration of the ‘Rizal Park New Year Countdown to 2011’,” said NPDC Media Information Bureau chief Kenneth Montegrande.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and NPDC executive director Juliet Villegas would lead the “Rizal Park New Year Countdown to 2011.”

Radio DJ and TV5 reporter Leila Chikadora would host the program that starts at 9 p.m. tomorrow.

Villegas hopes that through this initiative, they would be able to convince Filipinos not to buy and play with firecrackers anymore since it has been reported by the Department of Health (DOH) that more than 160 people suffered from firecracker-related injuries.