Makati to hold New Year's countdown

MANILA, Philippines - After two years, Makati City will hold its New Year’s Eve countdown with a nonstop concert, a magic show, a pyro-musical display and a raffle draw with a brand new luxury car as the grand price.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the “Magical, Musical Makati 2012” countdown will be at the intersection of Ayala and Makati Avenues, where revelers will be enthralled by the magic tricks of Jeffrey Tam and entertained by the performances of the Antimano Band, Bloom Brothers, Grupong Pendong, The Dawn, The Company, and many more.

“The city government and its private sector partners are pulling out all the stops to ensure that this year’s New Year’s Eve countdown will outshine all previous countdowns we had staged. We aim to derive the utmost enjoyment of residents, visitors and tourists, especially those who have missed it for the past two years and are excited to once again take part in the festivities,” Binay said.

For the countdown, food booths of traders from the Ayala Center, Salcedo Weekend Market, and major hotels in the city will provide revelers with a wide variety of choices for the traditional New Year’s Eve meal.

Binay said this year’s event will to raise funds for the Makati Festivals Foundation’s relief assistance operations in calamity-stricken communities. The countdown is supported by Ayala Land and Makati Commercial Estate Association.