| AS SEEN ON TV | By Stanley Palisada |

Manila - Mang Rodel, a fireworks vendor in Quezon City said it was not until New Year’s eve that people began to crowd his stall. Many of his customers held off buying fireworks in deference to the miseries Sendong befell on their Mindanao brethren, or the massively gory warnings by DOH. But they took their promises back in the 11th hour.

In their final (and last minute analysis) Filipinos could not forgo of New Year traditions, so in the spirit of bahala na, they gave in to their weaknesses.

MALING AKALA. Many heeded the government’s appeal to avoid using firecrackers (Piccolo, Super Lolo et al) but people opted for fireworks (fountains, luces) caught up in a wrong notion that fireworks are safer than firecrackers.

“Mas konti ang bumili ng paputok, karamihan fireworks talaga,” added Mang Rodel. It turned out that the poorly-made fireworks caused even more harm this year when the “luces” exploded (when it shouldn’t have) and the fountains spewed sparks in all directions, burning bystanders, many of them children.

CAMPAIGN UP IN SMOKE. I especially feel bad for the Department of Health which did a great job with creative campaigns, Aksyon Paputok Injuries Reduction (APIR) which spun off from the decades-old “Iwas Paputok”. Days into the new year, the warnings have been sent out, alongside firecracker raids by cops on illegally sold pyrotchnics. We thought we had it all figured out.

DOH’s Dr. Eric Tayag had even been dancing his way to a safer New Year but all these seemed dwarfed by the incessant flow of burn and trauma victims rushed to our emergency rooms, not to count all the firecracker-related blazes our firemen had to put out all night long.

ONE FOR THE BOOKS. On Jan. 1, 2012 global media reported the peaceful New Year celebrations across the globe, in contrast to “firecrackers injure over 500 in the Philippines and fireworks’ smog delay flights due to poor visibility”.

We are now known as people who risk a finger or two, for a moment’s explosive high—us and Italy cowering in shame for such an explosive reputation.

Italy had 2 dead and 576 injured during the New Year revelry there mostly due to home-made fireworks and in spite of a firecracker ban by the government. It appears this is not a uniquely Filipino mischief but that’s beside the point. Let Italy see its lessons while we learn ours.

RISKING HEALTH IN REVELRY. Smoke from fireworks also caused heavy smog resulting in flight delays. But more dire are the health threats of pollution, our new year salvoed by respiratory diseases.

The DENR monitored record levels of air pollution from firecrackers aggravated by lack of rains on the windless eve of December 31st. Normal levels of Particulate Matters 10 (PM10) on New Year's Day, was six times higher than normal.

DENR said it will push with President Aquino a total fireworks and firecracker ban.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST. Again we cannot expect the government to act on this with one mighty resolve. An entire industry depends on our addiction to firecrackers and fireworks and as a nation, we don’t do well outlawing anything that’s lucrative.

Fireworks are also deeply entrenched in our culture. The loud bangs are believed to ward off evil spirits and misfortune during fiestas, weddings and other celebratory activities since Spanish time.

Mass production of fireworks can be traced as early as 1867 in Santa Maria Bulacan, when Spanish priests used “kwitis” to awaken parishioners attending dawn masses.

TO LEGALIZE OR NOT. In the Martial Law years fireworks were illegal as these were used in subversive activities such as anti-Marcos rallies. But the industry thrived underground despite the prohibition.

In 1992 after the government saw Filipinos still struggling with a centuries-old perilous tradition, RA 7183 was passed regulating the sale and manufacture of pyrotechnics.

But after seeing the real costs to lives of legalized fireworks consumption and realizing than no less than a total ban could make New Year’s survivable, maybe it’s time to ditch firecrackers for good.*