UNCENSORED
By MANUEL L. MORATÓ
Now that New Year’s Eve is coming on Monday, December 31st, the last day of the year 2018, let us warn the young and not so old to be extra, extra careful with the firecrackers – imported or local made. Both are dangerous as we have seen in the past when so many have been victimized.
For years, it has gone out of control. It was only these past two years since President Duterte sat in office and appointed Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) who was able to put some sanity to a terrible habit our people had; and was able to considerably reduce the madness on exploding firecrackers, causing considerable harm on the young and old. We would think that those old folks would set the example in preventing the young from indulging in such a very dangerous revelry to welcome the New Year. Many have said that according to the Chinese proverbs, exploding firecrackers will drive the evil spirits away.
I don’t believe it worked for us for so many decades have passed and the evil spirits still linger around. They have not gone away. Maybe if we stop firing firecrackers, that’s when the evil spirits will go away.
Firecrackers are tools of evil spirits for the good spirits will never handle such harmful tools. Evil spirits can be driven away by good behavior, prayers, Holy Water and doing good to others. There is no tool to drive away evil spirits by using evil tools such as firecrackers. They are deadly and harmful. How could that be a tool of the evil spirits when the evil spirits itself are behind such harmful and deadly firecrackers. Anything that can harm a person cannot be a tool to drive the evil spirits away. Evil spirits can be driven away by good spirits that do not resort to harmful tools, guns, paputok and other deadly weapons.
Today, even the Chinese in China have imposed control on firecrackers. They now resort instead to magnificent fireworks done by the best in the trade that are so impressive and artistic; and not harmful at all for they are managed by experts on the trade. At least, hindi ito nakakasakit ng tao; hinahangaan at kinatutuwaan pa nga ng lahat. Ang dami ng bansa na fireworks ang main attraction. Meron din naman tayo dito sa Manila Bay.
Kung gusto ng ating mga kababayan mag-ingay at magsaya, gayahin natin ang ating mga kababayan sa Kalinga, Benguet and all parts of the Mountain Province wherein they dance on the beat of the drums to celebrate an occasion.
Why not? Let’s do the same. Bang the gongs! Our Muslim brothers do it as the Igorots do.
Evidently, they are more civilized than those who fire guns and firecrackers after drinking a few shots when they are high.
Mga magulang, abangan po ninyo, natin, ang mga anak at mga kabataan umiwas sa mga paputok. Para po no regrets later on pag may nabulag, naputulan ng kamay o paa, at lahat ng aksidente na puwedeng mangyari, dala ng firecrackers.
Tandaan po natin ang kasabihan ng ating mga ninuno: “Nasa huli ang pagsisisi.” Tunay po ‘yan.
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com