Thursday, January 03, 2008 Limlingan: New Year With A Bang By DP Limlingan The Advocate
THE year twenty o'seven slipped quietly. On the other hand, it was celebrated with bangs of loud fireworks and noisemakers. Despite governmental campaigns discouraging people from using baby explosives, the so-called naka-ugaliang traditions got in the way. As a way of greeting the coming year, fireworks from China dominated stalls selling pyrotechnic materials. Of course, there were the Bocaue kinds.
The DOH, on its statistics, provides that there was a lesser number of blast injuries compared to the previous years.
The topnotch was the piccolo firecrackers that were reported to have brought some hand and eye injuries to some.
Then there was the big bang that happened mismo in Bocaue particularly in Barangay Turo where several firecrackers went off in some stalls. That time of the year, that town gets a lot of attention in media coverage from the television to features in print. As seen on TV, people scampered for safety when a big bang caused panic aggravated by a domino effect when a firecracker was lit up igniting other items waiting to be sold.
This New Year eve celebration was a simple one for me. I didn't buy any except for some lusis. Having a happy time with my family, I enjoyed it with a pork barbecue and an ice-filled drink of soda. At the stroke of 12, I lit up my lusis. Loud explosions from neighbors lighting up sawas, judas belts, and bright Chinese fireworks display in the sky dominated our neighborhood. I enjoyed the vibrantly colored sky in the neighborhood as if our neighbors were competing in a barrage of noise and lights by their pyrotechnic items. Talo ang fireworks display ng SM. My lowly lusis wasn't even a speck.
Despite a simple celebration of the incoming year, it was enjoyable. I had a quality time with my family. That's what holidays are for, right? A media noche ensued with the traditional kalamay and tsokolateng batirol. While others spent it lavishly, I celebrated a new year in simplicity. It's how we take it and how we enjoy it.
Before the end of the twelfth hour, Tatang Rox Pena crossed my mind due to the pollution mixed up with the smell of explosive powder. I'm sure Tatang Rox's mind was set on the harsh effects of the New Year revelry with the environment. Aside from the noise, the air was damaged with smoke. The cold breeze of the season was transformed into a nitrous and sulfuric-smelling air. The kalat of lighted triangles was a real mess. I haven't seen anyone burning tires in the streets this time, unlike before.
My New Year celebration was a bang. Not literally, but a bang of simplicity celebrating it, with a hope that the coming twenty o'eight would bring everything good. No matter how we celebrate any occasion, a gathering, an event or an activity, it is still on us how to enjoy it. Atyu mu keng magdala ara pen. The year of the rat has come. Seers say that the year will be fine although some say it will be laden with tragedies. I would like to greet all our readers, friends from the media, local government officials and everyone, a happy and peaceful New Year and that 2008 may bring in us all hope, peace and love to all.
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Last December 29 was the synchronized election for the Association of Barangay Council Provincial Federation Chapters. For Pampanga, it was the barangay leader of Caduang Tete of the town of Macabebe who made it to the presidency. A friend, Kap Joel "Jojo" Simpauco, was elected to head the council for the barangays captains of Pampanga and will be an ex-officio member of the Provincial Board at Capitol. His experience, endowed with his dedication and commitment to serve, will be his guiding light. Congratulations to BM Jojo.
