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By Perry Gil S. Mallari
As the clock strikes 12 every
31st of December, the Philippine sky, without fail, lights up into
one grand visual and aural spectacle. It’s the fireworks of New
Year’s Eve. A tradition we got from the Chinese whose presence in
the archipelago predates the coming of the Spaniards
in 1521.
The traditional paputok during
New Year’s Eve is one sensory blast that many Filipinos are
unwilling to give up even at the cost of an eye, an eardrum, or a
limb. But what is alarming is besides the obvious wounds, burns, and
aural damage, fireworks and firecrackers can inflict surreptitious
damage to human health by polluting the air and contaminating water
supply.
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