Makati welcomed the new year in full color as thousands gathered along Ayala Avenue for the Make It Makati New Year’s Eve Countdown — a night packed with music, nostalgia, laughter, and moments people will probably be talking about long after the fireworks faded.

The celebration eased in with performances from XCEGON and DJ Cupcakes, who slowly built up the energy and warmed up the massive crowd. Their sets didn’t rush anything; instead, they steadily guided everyone into the celebration, letting excitement grow naturally as the night went on.

Then Juan Karlos Labajo took over and completely shifted the mood. The cheers grew louder the moment he stepped onstage. Singing hits like “Demonyo,” “Ere,” and “Shot Puno,” he turned the avenue into one giant sing-along. People were jumping, screaming, and shouting lyrics like confessions, the kind of crowd moment where strangers briefly felt like friends.

Theater fans got their turn next, lighting up when Theatre Group Asia gave a glimpse of their upcoming production of A Chorus Line. It felt like a love letter to theater kids and musical lovers in the crowd — a reminder that live performance isn’t just entertainment, it’s storytelling, dreams, and community rolled into one. For a few minutes, it almost felt like the city paused to just appreciate art.