Fireworks: To ban or not to ban? BAN

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Fireworks have a long history in our culture. This was popularized in China during the Song Dynasty by a monk named Li Tian. Fireworks then were gunpowder mix in bamboo shoots. They emit colorful explosions and a deafening sound. According to religion, the sound from firecrackers were used to ward off evil spirits specifically of the beast NIEN (Year) that appears at the end of each year killing villagers. Come 15th century, it had become widely popular in other major celebrations such as weddings, coronations and social celebrations. 

We had come a long way, I believe. Technological advancement and science have developed ways to make fireworks more efficient, sophisticated and through good quality, hazard proof (in the right hands). In this modern age, we have also revised our thinking. Fireworks now are appreciated more as a visual spectacle of colors than a mere loud source of undesirable noise. I vaguely remember when I was a child, two decades back, I would dread the new year's eve because of the deafening sound of senseless explosions. Whenever the neighbors of my father bring out their notorious Sinturon ni Hudas (Belt of Judas), I would try to go under the bed or closet to muffle the noise. I also remember we had a party during christmas and some idiot started a fireworks explosion that sounded like a real dangerous explosion when upon hearing it, your heart will literally jump, your hearing disrupted momentarily and the alarms of cars will tick off.  And just recently, last year, my sister and father were in a minor fireworks irregularity when the kwitis (rocket) failed to launch and ended up in my sister's belly. Though the explosion was faint and the injury does not require a trip to the hospital, it was very traumatic. Surely there were risks involved, them being unprofessionals and the firecracker purchased did not pass quality control. This year finally my father didn't buy any fireworks but purchased really cool torotots (makeshift horn, hooter) instead. 

I'm not saying it should be quiet and plain boring this year, but if there was a very memorable fireworks display I can think of, it's one of those city organized NYE countdown celebrations. A couple of years back my friends and I would meet at Ayala Avenue to witness the fireworks countdown prepared by the city. And I remembered it was magical. There would still be a faint sound of explosion, but it's not deafening. The best part of this fireworks show is the visual spectacle. It was planned, timed and well though of. None of those reckless noise infused explosions. I thought this is how fireworks should be done in any celebration. It's best to be enjoyed in a collective setting, with good quality fireworks, with planned visual spectacle and most importantly with professionals. 

Though the private use of fireworks significantly went down compared to 20 years ago, it's still not enough. People still use senseless and deafening fireworks and irresponsible merchants still sell sub-par quality fireworks to the general public. The result: inconvenience, traumatic experience and painful accidents. According to PDI, the casualties in 2014 NYE celebration was at 400, 17% drop from previous records, but the efforts are still not enough to achieve zero casualties. Governments should crack down the selling of illegal fireworks and parents should be stern enough to supervise their children playing with fireworks  This is where government should really come in and close down those shops selling fireworks. Also this is a call for parents to be firm in not using fireworks and at least supervise their children. I find it quite funny to see pictures of parents holding their devastated children in emergency rooms. Whose damn fault is that? 

I probably have no compassion left for reckless users of fireworks. I hope they feel the insurmountable pain of their wounds. They know very well the risks they are getting into. And I appeal to the government to mean business next year by hunting down these irresponsible establishments selling subpar fireworks. I will also continue to applaud municipalities who have banned private use of fireworks and those who have zero casualties. It's high time to celebrate new years collectively and sensibly.