Every year, there is always a huge spike of burn injuries and dismemberment brought about by firecrackers that victimize those who play with it and bystanders who join the revelry of the holiday celebrations. Most victims are children, who play with these deadly firecrackers like harmless child's-play toys. What's sad is that many victims, who suffered the consequences of that explosion, collect unexploded firecrackers that eventually blow up in their faces and hands unexpectedly.
Every year, there is always a huge spike of burn injuries and dismemberment brought about by firecrackers that victimize those who play with it and bystanders who join the revelry of the holiday celebrations. Most victims are children, who play with these deadly firecrackers like harmless child's-play toys. What's sad is that many victims, who suffered the consequences of that explosion, collect unexploded firecrackers that eventually blow up in their faces and hands unexpectedly.
Curiosity also bring kids to experiment by collecting the firecracker powder by creating their own "bomb." They fill out cans with the powder and cover it tight before trying to blow it up but the shrapnel fragments can fly in the air uncontrollably so the risk of injury is certain. Getting burned on the hands by firecracker powder that is ignited accidentally is also possible. Every year, about 200-300 cases of firecracker-related injuries are reported and mostly are from Metro Manila. How many people have to suffer from these needless waste of money for such noise-making celebration? How many fingers do you have to lose just to learn the hard lesson?
It is a Filipino tradition inherited from the Chinese that firecrackers can drive out all the bad luck from the previous year but the unintended consequence is the same bad luck that will hunt us for the rest of our lives especially if we lose our fingers and limbs. Such tradition is hard to break especially when most of us take pride of it. Some people go to the extreme by buying the most powerful, explosive, and deadly firecrackers just to show off. In fact, many of these firecrackers are not firecrackers at all - these are dynamites, bombs, and improvised explosive devices masquerading as firecrackers. If you check out the streets before and after the New Year's Day celebration, it will remind you the shock and awe atmosphere of Baghdad and the wartime mayhem of wartime Berlin rolled into one!
Whether getting them at the firecracker capital of Bocaue, Bulacan or importing unmarked and erroneously labeled Chinese ones, hearing a loud bang and smelling the gunpowder is the usual aftermath of our New Year celebration. Vendors have become creative in selling their deadly products by wrapping them in Christmas wrappers and providing harmless and interesting names from Piccolo to Gangnam Bomb. What are the deadliest firecrackers in the Philippines that the government decided to put a list of banned firecrackers?
I'm no firecracker expert but I believe these are most deadliest firecrackers in the Philippines in no particular order:
Goodbye Philippines / Goodbye World
These are the so-called "mother of all firecrackers" because technically, these are huge bombs that can kill you! And the name itself, it is suicidal to play around with it because even if you try to get out of the way because shrapnel can hurt you.
Bin Laden
This is not a tribute to the Al-Qaeda leader but the Bin Laden firecracker packs a strong punch that can dismember you. Manufacturers want to name it for a menacing effect and never thought it was named after a person responsible for countless deaths.
Piccolo
I'm no firecracker expert but I believe these are most deadliest firecrackers in the Philippines in no particular order:
Goodbye Philippines / Goodbye World
These are the so-called "mother of all firecrackers" because technically, these are huge bombs that can kill you! And the name itself, it is suicidal to play around with it because even if you try to get out of the way because shrapnel can hurt you.
Bin Laden
This is not a tribute to the Al-Qaeda leader but the Bin Laden firecracker packs a strong punch that can dismember you. Manufacturers want to name it for a menacing effect and never thought it was named after a person responsible for countless deaths.
Piccolo
It may sound like a cartoon character but its destructive force is just like that green alien guy from Dragon Ball Z. Small but terrible, piccolo claims so many victims - mostly kids who collect unexploded pieces on the street.
Watusi or the “dancing firecracker”
It was initially allowed for sale and manufacture under Republic Act 7183, but it was eventually banned because it causes poisoning when ingested, especially among children.
Super Lolo and Atomic Big Triangulo
These two big firecrackers are very dangerous if not handled properly.
Mother Rockets
These are firecrackers with a stick designed as a propellant upon lighting the wick.
Lolo Thunder
This is a powerful firecracker twice the size of a Five Star.
Pillbox
This is a firecracker that causes a series of sparks when lit.
Boga
Although not a firecracker, this traditional canon made from PVC pipe using denatured alcohol as explosive ingredient can be dangerous if it explodes in your face. It looks like a bazooka or RPG.
Big Judas Belt
It is a string of firecrackers consisting of smaller firecrackers that number up to a hundred, and culminating in a larger and more powerful firecracker.
Big Bawang
Literally means "big garlic," this is a firecracker packed in cardboard tied around with abaca strings.
Kabasi
This triangle-sized explosive is twice the size and lethality of a Pla-pla.
Whistle Bomb
This is one of the most recognizable firecrackers, it is designed to emit a whistle-like sound before exploding.
Other banned firecrackers include the “Atomic Bomb,” Five Star, Pla-pla, Og, Giant Whistle Bomb, and unlabelled firecrackers.
Watusi or the “dancing firecracker”
It was initially allowed for sale and manufacture under Republic Act 7183, but it was eventually banned because it causes poisoning when ingested, especially among children.
Super Lolo and Atomic Big Triangulo
These two big firecrackers are very dangerous if not handled properly.
Mother Rockets
These are firecrackers with a stick designed as a propellant upon lighting the wick.
Lolo Thunder
This is a powerful firecracker twice the size of a Five Star.
Pillbox
This is a firecracker that causes a series of sparks when lit.
Boga
Although not a firecracker, this traditional canon made from PVC pipe using denatured alcohol as explosive ingredient can be dangerous if it explodes in your face. It looks like a bazooka or RPG.
Big Judas Belt
It is a string of firecrackers consisting of smaller firecrackers that number up to a hundred, and culminating in a larger and more powerful firecracker.
Big Bawang
Literally means "big garlic," this is a firecracker packed in cardboard tied around with abaca strings.
Kabasi
This triangle-sized explosive is twice the size and lethality of a Pla-pla.
Whistle Bomb
This is one of the most recognizable firecrackers, it is designed to emit a whistle-like sound before exploding.
Other banned firecrackers include the “Atomic Bomb,” Five Star, Pla-pla, Og, Giant Whistle Bomb, and unlabelled firecrackers.
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