Pogo Grande ends 17-year blast tradition
LOUDEST BANG ON NEW YEAR
AFTER more than 17 years of hosting and arranging the loudest bang to welcome New Year at 12:00 noon of January 1, barangay officials of Pogo Grande finally decided to stop its tradition of lighting 100,000 pieces of firecrackers for the community’s safety.
According to Barangay Kagawad Myrna Esteves in an interview with The PUNCH Wednesday, the barangay council agreed to abide by mounting call from various sectors to cease and desist from keeping the tradition to avoid injuries and damages to lives and properties.
She said Barangay Kapitan George Galvan convened a barangay council meeting last Saturday to discuss the continued call to stop the tradition.
“People were very happy (with the tradition) but we decided to listen to the clamor of the public,” Esteves said.
They will instead do it in smaller scale by lighting only 5,000 firecrackers on Jan. 1 instead of the usual 100,000 pieces and in an open space in the barangay.
The tradition started only with five-meter long interconnected firecrackers strung on one side of their barangay road lighted at exactly 12:00 noon of Jan. 1. Then their barangaymates started to contribute to buy more firecrackers every New Year.
Due to its huge success that drew curious spectators, including the media and foreign guests, the practice was emulated in nearby barangays of Malued and Bacayao Norte.
Esteves said they observed safety precautions every time with the presence of medial team with ambulance, police and elements of Bureau of Fire Protection with fire truck.
“Maybe this coming New Year, our barangaymates would just have to make do with the 5,000 pieces of firecrackers and augment with noise created by banging of destroyed basins, pots, tubs, pans, among others,” Esteves added.
In 2015, three persons were slightly injured in the barangay’s loudest annual tradition yet.
They were rushed to Region 1 Medical Center by the ambulances from the city government and the Red Cross stationed in the area for treatment of their minor injuries in their eyes, arms and necks.
The city was always alerted about the lighting of the firecrackers by the Barangay folks when the city’s siren for 12 high noon is sounded. (Tita Roces)
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