Thursday, November 08, 2007 Balloon explosion jolts crowd in peace congress By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Loud explosions caused by a bunch of balloons bursting into balls of fire sent to panic the crowd that attended Tuesday’s congress for peace and unity at Wow Hilaga (formerly Paskuhan) in this city.
With the recent Glorietta 2 explosion that killed at least 11 persons still fresh in the memory of Filipinos, the blast in the jam-packed plenary hall of the Paskuhan caused the more than 2,000 individuals scampering to safety.
Had it not for the quick announcement that the explosion was only caused by balloons, the crowd would have raced in a mammoth stampede towards three narrow exits.
The crowd of Kapampangans came from various towns in the province. They were organized by municipal mayors who have expressed support behind President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The bunch of helium-filled balloons exploded just as the first speaker in the congress, Efren Clemente, representative of the Kalipunan ng mga Magsasaka sa Gitnang Luzon (KMGL), is sounding off his group’s support to the President.
According to the organizers, the balloons exploded due to extreme heat generated by a group of halogen spotlights installed for the event.
Nobody was reported hurt in the incident.
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, speaking after the crowd have settled back to their seats, said: “Kapampangans are not afraid of tigers nor lions and definitely not afraid of balloons.”
The meeting was organized by a multi-sector group led by the Pampanga Mayors League in support for the President’s call for unity and peace amid political noise hounding her administration.
