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By Neal H. Cruz
AS PREDICTED in Wednesday’s column, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) issued press releases after the New Year’s Eve mayhem that the total number of firecracker-related injuries is “less” than that of last year, patted themselves on the back, and claimed that this was due to their “successful” antifirecracker campaigns. Big deal! There were still 675 injuries caused by firecrackers, 20 from stray bullets, two of which were fatal. That does not include the deaths and injuries and properties lost in fires caused by firecrackers. As stated previously, even one death or injury is one too many. If the DOH and PNP were successful at all, there should have been zero casualty, as allegedly happened in Davao City.
Posted: January 3rd, 2013 in Columnists,Columns,Editor's Pick,Featured Columns,Featured Headline,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
By Neal H. Cruz
Happy New Year! I hope you still have all your fingers. On New Year’s Eve, I enjoyed watching and listening to all the pyrotechnic devices exploding and swishing up into the air. I listened to the crackle of powerful firecrackers, watched the rockets shoot up into the air and explode in a kaleidoscope of colors to light up the night sky, and I had a very enjoyable time until early morning, but I still have all my fingers. And I didn’t have to spend a single peso on the fireworks.
Posted: January 1st, 2013 in Columnists,Columns,Featured Columns,Featured Headline,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
Tonight, young and old will again put their lives on the line to mark the passing of the old year and usher in the new. Expect the infuriating scenario of merrymakers, almost always male, brought to hospital emergency rooms yowling or grimacing, and bleeding to within an inch of their lives. Their fingers and other protuberances may have been blown off or “merely” mangled, their face a mess of tissue and bone, an eyeball shafted by a piece of firecracker for good measure, all in the course of carrying out an insane practice touted as tradition or, more to the point, a “manly” rite of passage: bombing the bejesus out of the neighborhood—and burning a tidy sum while at it. So uncool, dudes.
Posted: December 30th, 2012 in Editor's Pick,Editorial | Read More »
By Neal H. Cruz
As this is being written, there are already 164 persons, most of them children, who have been injured by firecrackers. Three percent of them required amputation of the limbs. There is already one victim of a stray bullet fired into the air by an irresponsible gun owner. And New Year is still two days away. I am sure that by the time the New Year’s Eve revelry is over, there will be many, many more victims, dead and injured from firecracker blasts, stray bullets and fires.
Posted: December 30th, 2012 in Columns,Editor's Pick,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
By Neal H. Cruz
This is again that time of the year when government authorities issue press releases warning against exploding firecrackers but do nothing serious to prevent the manufacture of unsafe fireworks or using them before, during and after New Year’s Eve. The police raid some hoards of fireworks and confiscate them with much fanfare. Afterwards, when [...]
Posted: December 27th, 2012 in Columnists,Columns,Editor's Pick,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
Just what would it take to scare people away from dangerous firecrackers every New Year? Authorities have tried persuasion and blunt warning alike, but they haven’t had much impact on a populace so in thrall to the supposed lucky properties of exploding, injurious pyrotechnics at the start of the new year—the bigger the bang, the [...]
Posted: December 31st, 2011 in Editor's Pick,Editorial | Read More »
By Neal H. Cruz
Three days before the New Year’s Eve “merrymaking,” already the number of firecracker- and stray bullet-related injuries monitored by the Department of Health has reached 143, much higher than last year’s on the same date. Obviously, the DOH’s “Iwas Paputok” and “APIR” campaigns have little effect on Filipinos. Telling Filipinos not to light firecrackers on New Year’s Eve is like King Canute telling the waves not to wet his feet.
Posted: December 29th, 2011 in Columnists,Columns,Editor's Pick,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
By Neal H. Cruz
It is again that time of the year when policemen swoop down on stores selling firecrackers. It is to prevent people from buying the firecrackers and hurting themselves before and during New Year’s Eve. But strangely and mysteriously, these firecrackers end up in the market and are bought on the sly by foolish revelers.
Posted: December 11th, 2011 in Columnists,Columns,Inquirer Opinion | Read More »
