Goodbye Philippines, indeed!
It may take a bit of time before our concerned officials succeed in their efforts to minimize, if not entirely abolish the practice of exploding firecrackers to welcome the New Year, but the celebration last weekend has shown that it could somehow be controlled in the coming years. Of course the statistics still show an alarming number of injuries from ‘crackers, but the figures are somewhat lower than in previous years.
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What is disturbing, however, is the introduction of really deadly pyrotechnics that have been noted to have caused the most serious harm to people, among them little children. Just imagine how anybody could be so suicidal as to buy one that is called “Goodbye, Philippines”. By its name alone, one can tell how dangerous it can be. And, in truth, some of the most serious cases reported in Metro Manila really involved this killer noisemaker.
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The move of some local governments to, instead, put up colourful and spectacular fireworks to entertain, as well as distract those who would ordinarily opt to purchase the most powerful and the biggest noisemakers, is laudable, but still some people, even the adults who should know better, go for the thrills of exploding the deadliest ones. Those are the people who had to rush their bleeding children or relatives – if not themselves being the ones being rushed – to hospitals with dangling extremities, blinded eyes or mutilated faces. One of the most unsightly scenes shown on TV late yesterday was of a child, both of whose hands had to be amputated. Would anyone want that to happen to his children?
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There is a move from Health Department officials to seek for the total ban on firecrackers in the country. But is it true that businessmen from a certain foreign country, known for its adulterated and defective products, are now shipping to the Philippines low-grade firecrackers bearing the label “Made in the Philippines”? Are our Customs people aware of this? As for the total ban, it might turn out that the country will be spending more on the arrests, trials, and imprisonment of the culprits than it would in treating the injured.
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While the rest of the world was partying and celebrating the coming of the New Year, another strong quake hit a part of Japan near its south sea. The temblor, recorded at 7.0 in magnitude, fortunately occurred in a sparsely populated area, and although it is located about 600 kilometers from the capital, Tokyo, several buildings in the southern part of the city were also shaken. At least there was no tsunami, and there is no nuclear reactor in the area.
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Yesterday, it seemed as if many people were still on holiday mode and could hardly function at their best when they reported for work after the hiatus. Well, reality will soon sink in that the celebrations are over, we have to wait for 12 more months before we can experience such enjoyment and bonding with our loved ones again. But I’m sure many will perk up when they realize that, with the new year, they will also encounter new tax rates, the increased ones that they had hedged for 18 years already. So, be good sports now, all ye business people and private earners, give your province and city the help they will need to work for you.
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By the way, another blight brought by the use of firecrackers, especially the big and powerful ones, is that they create smog that could be dangerous to our respiratory system. In Metro Manila, even airplanes flying in from other countries could not land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport because the smoke rising from all the crackers and pyrotechnics had so fogged the air that aircrafts could not land due to poor visibility. Some flights had to be diverted to Clark in Pampanga, and other airports. Just imagine how worried the families of the arriving passengers had been, and the trouble they had in meeting them. Another reason for stricter control of ‘crackers and similar noisemakers. By the way, those buying the powerful firecrackers should be warned that what they are doing when they use them is just like playing Russian Roulette.
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First, two young girls suspected to be rebels disappeared. Then the man believed to have ordered their arrest, has himself disappeared. Former General Jovito Palparan, who has been charged for the disappearance of the girls is now nowhere to be found. Will the search for him be as fruitless?*
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