By Dona Pazzibugan, Carlito Pablo and Juan Escandor Jr. PDI Southern Luzon Bureau
WHEREVER New Year frolickers plan to party tonight--Ayala, The Fort, Rizal Park and Quezon Memorial Circle--seasoned partygoers advise that the regular party ''rules'' don't apply.
Here's how to stay safe while having the fun of the century based on the rules culled by the INQUIRER from party animals, the police, organizers of the various public parties and other groups concerned with the safety of the end-of-the century bashes.
o One should never be caught alone in millennium party.
o Don't wear drop-dead fashion. Come in something silver and gray, the millennium colors but come comfortable, not provocative. You could end up walking for miles as no vehicles will be allowed inside the party areas.
o Don't tempt the thieves; don't wear expensive jewelry.
o Don't drink too much. Stay alert for anything untoward that may happen.
o Bring small handbags just enough to accommodate a cellphone, extra cash, and maybe first-aid medicines.
o Bring picnic food as food will not be given free. Food, drinks and souvenirs will be sold at different booths at the Ayala party to be set up by Makati's five-star hotels. So, your cash will come in handy.
o You may bring alcoholic beverages as long as they are in plastic containers. Bottled drinks, water, juice, soft drinks, beer, liquor are strictly prohibited.
o Don't bring a gun, firecracker or any pointed objects. Roving members of the Western Police District at the Rizal Park will make sure that you don't. They will screen all suspicious objects seen on your person.
Enjoy life
Despite the dos and don'ts, enjoy the privilege of being there to witness the turn of a century.
Scientists have a simple advice to people who fear the unknown with the changing of the millennium.
''Live your daily life . . . Enjoy life!'' said Edmund Rosales, astronomy instructor at the Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development at the University of the Philippines.
Dr. Leonila Bautista, seismology division chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the countdown was ''just a man-made thing.''
''The course of nature continues and we can't force nature to obey our rules,'' Bautista said.
According to Rosales, the only difference in today's eve of the New Year is that it's one in a thousand years.
He noted that each year, self-styled visionaries and seers would predict deaths and destruction due to health reasons, natural and man-made events, and even the destruction of the world.
''But these are normal occurrences,'' Rosales said. ''Not even God revealed in the Bible when the world is going to end.''
Dealing in his area of specialization, Rosales said no giant asteroid was about to hit the earth like what happened 65 million years ago when one did and wiped out the dinosaurs.
Rosales noted that one asteroid, called the Tautotis, which is three kilometers in diameter was expected to pass by near the earth in the year 2028.
This asteroid will pass at a distance of seven times farther the distance between the Earth and the moon, the latter having a diameter of about 4,000 kilometers.
''But this won't have any effect on us,'' Rosales said. ''So what's there to worry about?''
Biggest party ever
No one's worried down Bicol where the local governments of Naga City and Camarines Sur are geared to host the biggest party today in two separate occasions to welcome the advent of the new century.
In Naga City, the central business district will be closed starting 1 p.m. today to give way for three outdoor concerts and the festivities.
Mayor Sulpicio Roco Jr. said the major streets near Plaza Quezon will be laden with long tables filled with native food and pastries for everybody during the media noche.
A lantern parade will snake down the main streets in Naga called kiri-kiti followed by rock concerts in three designated areas in the city.
At 11 p.m. tonight a fireworks display will be held near Plaza Quezon. The Misa de Milenyo will follow.
Street dancing
In the morning, the Baraylehan sa Tinampo (Dance in the Street) will be held until the first sunrise of year 2000.
Some 15 minutes away from Naga, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Villafuerte will also host the provincial government-sponsored festivities at the Freedom Sports Complex in Pili town.
The festivities will include singing, dancing and fireworks display to last until the next morning of the first sunrise of the last year of the 2010s decade.
The Filipinas Broadcasting Network will honor 120 persons in Camarines Sur who have contributed to the development of the province for the past 1,000 years.
Oragon Award
Henry Briguera, the organizer of the occasion, dubbed the awarding as the Oragon Award of the Millennium which recognizes individual contribution of persons in Camarines Sur in the field of science, art and music, economic development, leadership, heroism and politics.
Briguera said the Oragon Award was one way of popularizing the unique Bicol term, oragon, to mainstream it as a positive trait of the Bicolanos in this millennium.
''Oragon for Bicol has two meanings depending on what context one is using. But basically oragon means greatness and excellence, if not, the word can also mean shrewdness, wiliness, cunning and craftiness,'' Briguera explained.
Among the awardees are Rep. Joker Arroyo, Sen. Raul Roco, Gov. Luis Villafuerte, former Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo, the 15 martyrs during the 1898 Philippine Revolution, and the founding datu of the settlements in Camarines Sur.
The Oragon Award was held last night at the University of Nueva Caceres Gymnasium.
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