Finding the pioneer fireworks maker of Bulacan

IN the darkness of the sky, the fireworks twinkle like stars and fall like meteor showers. It gives celebrations a bang. But did you know how fireworks are made or where it was first created in the Philippines? In a quest for the pioneer in large-scale production of fireworks, I’ve walked in the middle of the fields, crossed barbed wires and found the “Super Lolo” of Sta. Maria, Bulacan. I found Arcadio “Ka-Adiong” Sta. Ana in a fireworks factory called Viva Pyrotechnics. Sta. Ana, now 69 years old, recalls how his grandfather Valentin Sta. Ana learned fireworks manufacturing from a Spanish priest in Sta. Maria. According to him, the priest used skyrockets, also known as “kwitis,” as substitute to Church bells. It was the priest’s way of waking up the people for the Simbang Gabi. However, Sta. Ana says his grandfather did not pursue the fireworks business due to restrictions during the American period. But the knowledge in fireworks manufacturing was passed on to his father, Fernando Sta. Ana who then passed the skills and knowledge to him. “Magpahanggang ngayon, ‘yun pa rin ‘yung ginagawa naming. ‘Yung panimula nila, ‘yun pa rin sa kasalukuyan. ‘Yung mga problema noon, problema pa rin hanggang ngayon. [Until now, we’re still doing the same pyrotechnics they’ve been doing before. What they’ve started before remains the same until the present. Problems before are still today’s problems],” said Sta. Ana. According to Sta. Ana, problems emerge due to negligence and carelessness which leads to accidents. “Isang pagkakamali, malaking disgrasya sa ating mga kababayan. Ano bang problema ng aksidente nila? Kapabayaan. May mga customers na nakasigarilyo tapos may nagtetesting. Bawal ‘yun. [One mistake may lead to a tragedy. What leads to accidents? Negligence. There were customers who were smoking when someone was testing the fireworks. That’s prohibited.],” Sta. Ana says. Sta. Ana also said accidents happen due to the manufacturers’ lack of knowledge on imported materials for the fireworks. “Our local manufacturing doesn’t have enough knowledge on the behavior of the imported materials. Our country is different from the place where these materials come from. It’s hot in here and the ingredients used are sometimes not favorable in our country. That’s why accidents happen,” Sta. Ana adds. Though fireworks production has been a tradition in his family, Sta. Ana prefers not to pass it on to his children. “Ayaw ko sanang ipamana kaso natuto na sila. Ang pangarap ko sa mga anak ko ay makapag-aral para wag nilang manahin ‘tong hanapbuhay na ito na napakadelikado. [I really don’t want them to inherit this but they learned it already. My dream for my children is for them to finish their studies so that they won’t inherit this dangerous business.],” said Sta. Ana. Sta. Ana, a fireworks maker for 54 years now, said their source of living claimed the life of his son. “May anak na rin akong nasawi diyan. Di niya alam, nilapitan niya. Nung mga oras na ‘yun, biglang nag-explode ‘yung powder. Nagkaroon siya ng 3rd degree burn. ‘Yun ‘yung malungkot [I have a son who died from a fireworks explosion. He did not know that the powder will explode. He went close to it and had a third degree burn. It was sad.],” Sta. Ana says. Even Sta. Ana himself burned his ankle in 1998. “Pag-iingat na lang ang pinagbibilin ko sa kanila. Huwag magsisindi sa harap ng maraming tao. Huwag magsisindi ng malapit sa bahay. Huwag magsisindi ng lasing. [People should be careful. Don’t light fireworks when you’re in a crowd. Don’t light fireworks when you’re near a house. Don’t light fireworks when you’re drunk.],” he said.