Bad ‘gift’

The local tradition of lighting firecrackers to welcome the New Year is rooted from the Chinese belief that noise drives away evil spirits and bad luck. The louder the explosion, more luck and prosperity will come one’s way for most of the new year.

Thus, Prince Aldrin Villaruz of Barangay San Roque, Navotas City set out to make a very loud noise on New Year’s Day using a firecracker called “regalo” or gift. But he dared to use one of the illegal or banned firecrackers to reap good fortune this 2019.

Perhaps, only legal firecrackers can bring in good luck as Villaruz was arrested by police who saw him light up the “regalo.”

Villaruz admitted he knew “regalo” was a banned firecracker, but explained that he just wanted to be lucky in 2019, so he tried it.

The firecracker was banned for being dangerous as it can explode without being ignited. Just a little heat or friction can set it off, according to the police.

With Villaruz facing charges for violating firecracker regulation and the prospect of getting jailed looming, he now knows that firecracker noise also brings bad luck.