Posts Tagged ‘children’

Firecracker That Hurts

As we all know firecrackers are explosive materials that explodes or emits sudden gust of explosive reactions when lighted or ignited, thus, it is only right not to light one or ignite one near your fragile human body else you too will explode together with the firecracker. Moreover, these firecrackers emit poisonous and harmful smelly gas emissions which could affect negatively one’s respiratory system. However, despite of this truth regarding firecrackers, still some pretend not to understand and pretend not to see the injuries it has brought to the users. The reason is that one has just to be only responsible to avoid what have happened to others which were brought by their own irresponsibleness and carelessness. Yes, precisely, however most of the users of the firecrackers and injured by it are children who do not have awareness of being responsible but only enjoyment and the feeding of their curiosity. Thus, last 2010; children are still among the highest New Year injuries.

According to the authorities: “Most of those affected were children aged one (1) to ten (10) years old. This consists of 33 percent or one third of fireworks related injuries….those aged eleven (11) to twenty (20) accounted for 30 percent of the victims while 18 percent were aged twenty-one (21) to thirty(30) years…”

The top firecrackers that caused great injuries or that contributes to firecracker-related injuries were: (1) Piccolo, which garnered 182 cases or 35 percent of the total case; (2) Kwitis, which garner 74 cases or 14 percent and (3) Pla-pla, which garnered 32 cases or 6 percent.

Piccolo is the most accessible firecracker to young children which they could bought on local firecracker vendor near their areas or children can be an innocent bystander victim of firecrackers that goes out of sync due to either influenced by a religious superstitions regarding celebrating New year’s eve or due to curiosity and amazement and amusement brought by the fireworks display they witness, respectively. Even though the Philippine government imposed total ban on the usage of high-explosive firecrackers, still some Oldies defy it thus influencing the young minds to do the same.

Actually, last 2010,according to the authorities, injuries brought by firecrackers has gain a higher percent of New Year injuries and fatalities brought by firecrackers, stray bullets and violent fights compare to previous years; it is 19 percent higher. Majority of these injuries and fatalities come from Metro Manila with 301 case or 58 percent which was followed by Ilocos region having 35 cases or 7 percent and then by Western Visayas region with 29 cases or 6 percent. As of today, the total number has reached 1,036 victims victimized and 990 of them were brought by firecrackers.

The injuries brought by firecrackers was still high which only indicates that the government ban on high explosive firecrackers or ban on firecrackers is not yet very successful though the authorities made and exert full effort and enforcement of it. The reason for this is because some defiant or some law-breakers went underground to sell their firecrackers and because some still buy and patronize firecrackers; thus some still manufactures firecrackers.

Moreover, another factor why the usage of firecrackers on New year’s eve is not yet totally eliminated because firecrackers is still in use by major Philippine business to brighten up their anniversaries wherein some of course allure to do the same and much even more on New Year’s eve. And firecrackers are still used by those who have authorities to brighten and cheer up the New Year’s Eve by their exhibition of fireworks display which they boast to be watched by many.

Filipinos have also distinct but somehow colonially influenced favorite’s games. Before basketball become the hit Philippine Game being loved and embraces as the country’s favorite Filipino games today where every barangays in the country and in every corner there is a basketball courts, there are a lot of street games, card games, and native games that Filipinos formerly were crazy of.

Some of these are the card games “Pusoy Dos” and “Tong-Its”, which somehow today Filipinos still play it even those financially poor Filipinos. But Filipino Pusoy Dos is not similar to a Pusoy Poker Card games which is the Chinese Poker or Russian Poker, for they have a different rules and ways to play it. You could check the details of their rules or how to play them on the net if you like. Another Filipino famous card game is “Tong-Its”. “Tong-Its” is a rummy card game originated from Northern Luzon. Both of these two Philippine Games or Filipino card games are still widely played by those Filipinos who does not anything to do in their free times. Another non-physical games which Filipinos habitually or used to play at their free times are “dama” (a famous board games with a resemblance to chess board games, chess board game, and the sungka or somewhat called Chinese checker games.

However, aside from card and board games, there are also street games which Filipino children loves to play, which are dubbed mostly as native Filipino games. For before electricity and technology come into the knowledge of Filipinos, even adult Filipinos play these street games.

Some of these are: (1) Tumbang Preso – this game is played with one slipper and one empty can. The goal of this game is to hit the empty can with your slipper as the weapon, and I know to gain also other weapons or slippers from your opponents. (2) The famous Patintero or so-called “Tubigan or Harangang Taga” (Three Nights), which even the adult Filipino loves to play it until today. The rule of the game is to hinder your opponents to penetrate you main base. There are two winnings, that is, if your team is able to hinder all the penetrating teams from entering all your bases, your team wins. But in other hand, if the penetrating teams could penetrate your entire base, they are the ones who will win the game. (3) The Palo Sebo (Greased Bamboo Climbing). This Filipino game is usually played during festivities. The goal of this game is to reach the prized bag on top of the greasy bamboo pole. (4) The childish Piko or Buan-Buan (Moon Hopping) games. Players hop in their moon base divided into part. This is a cute childish games which I enjoy watching little girls hopping upon their moon base. (5) The Luksong –Tinik (jump over Thorns) game. Among other native games, this is a traditional game like Patintero which children a way back then loves to play.

What I mentioned above are just a handful of many Philippine games Filipinos children and adult alike loves to play, from native to contemporary games.