DUGONG MINDANAW Millennium sunset at Abijod Point

RECENTLY, Caraga in Davao Oriental

was thrust into the limelight for

apparently being the unsuspecting

would-be host of the first rays of the

new millennium's sun.

I have witnessed sunrise in Davao's east coast and I would say,

even in ordinary days, it affords one the ''orange-est'' morning

horizons.

So on Jan. 1, 2000, with nature's cooperation, this ordinarily

breathtaking sunrise would, at the very least, be an arresting

experience, especially while slowly peeking through the

backdrop of the ''new millennium'' hoopla.

Today, with only a few months to go before this thing happens,

everybody is scrambling to get the best seats in the house.

Never mind if they have to go hundreds or even thousands of

kilometers just to get to this very special place for a very special

time for the very special moment.

Understandably, everybody's so concerned about where they

are going to be when the first sunrise of the new millennium

breaks. Newshounds are exerting every effort to do the best

coverage of the phenomenon even before it actually happens.

There is a shared sense of excitement all over the world because

there's this funny business of saying ''hello.''

Every hello is like a promise of forever; good times and bad

times included, joy and laughter, heartaches and tears. Some

preach that the end of the world is near, while others breathe a

sigh of relief for having been given the time to rectify past

shortcomings.

On the other hand, there's this usually messy and maudlin

business of saying goodbye. Since there are about a million

people all over the world welcoming the 2000s, who is going to

send the 1900s off to wherever it is heading? And where is

probably the best place to do it?

To the second question, Abijod Point in the municipality of San

Isidro in Davao Oriental would be a very good proposition.

Why? Because it is just a two-hour ride from Davao City--easy

to go to. It is just about a three-and-a-half-hour ride from

Caraga, which means one could do the sunset goodbye and hie

off for the sunrise hello.

Nothing wrong with having the best of both worlds, literally and

figuratively.

But most important of all, it is where the most haunting sunsets

happen everyday--a little bad weather, notwithstanding.

If the east coast has the most romantic ''morning hellos,'' the

western part of Davao Oriental has the most passionate

''afternoon goodbyes.''

To the first question--who else but sentimental fools like me.

While people would be busy preparing for the grand welcome, I

would be doing an emotional farewell. Forgive me for waxing

poetic, but on Dec. 31, 1999, just before the sun sets on my

beloved country, I'd be at Abijod Point watching the last dying

gasps of the 100 years that I was born in.

There along the rugged shore, I'd be sitting on my favorite

''rock'' stool. And while the waves gently lap on the shore just

below where I am seated, I would be holding vigil while the

century slowly gives up its stake in this world, slowly slipping

away . . .

Of course, songs of thanksgiving would be in order for every

little thing that has ever touched this world the last 100 years--a

fitting accompaniment to the wails of the ghosts of things that

cannot now be undone.

Note: Those who are interested to be at Abijod Point can make

arrangements with the Municipal Tourism Office of San Isidro,

Davao Oriental.