GOODBYE PHILIPPINES

Last New Year's eve, I was surprised to learn that there are a few firecrackers that I never learned about. Aside from the very famous "Pla-Pla" and the "Super Pla-Pla," there is a "Pating" and a "Balyena." And there is actually what is unbelievably called "Goodbye Philippines" a monstrous firecracker larger than the "Atomic" which had almost destroyed my eardrums a few years ago.

One of my kababata, bought most of them, except for the "Goodbye Philippines" and it was not for lack of will, but it was mostly for lack of availability. Anyway, laws and regulations aside, we ignited them and were rewarded with the apropos shockwave that surely would have cleansed any evil spirits from me. Happy New Year.