Bongbong, bong-bong (traditional bamboo cannon) and other paputoks

 

Bongbong, bong-bong (traditional bamboo cannon) and other paputoks

 

Bongbong is a traditional cannon made of bamboo used as noisemaker on or before New Year's eve. 

Also known as bumbong or kanyong kawayan in Tagalog, it uses water and kalburo (calcium carbide) that, when lit by a flame, produces an explosion that is enough to rouse the neighborhood but not enough to cause damage to the bamboo tube or to the merrymakers.

 

The racket produced by these cannons comes in sharp, agitating sounds to help make the turning of the year eventful and memorable and supposedly to drive away evil spirits, most likely a belief that is Chinese in origin.

 

In modern times, the bongbong has been replaced by the boga using PVC pipe, plus a host of other paputoks (firecrackers and other pyrotechnics) that come in a wide range of decibels, forms, styles, and prices.

 

Households are routinely dissuaded by authorities, who bear the brunt of post-celebration casualties, from using these firecrackers, and are encouraged instead to use the safer alternatives such as torotot (toy trumpets) and panagtangtang (hitting pots, pans, cans, etc.). Other related practices include playing music at full volume and starting all motor vehicles to add to the incredible panoply of noise. To attract prosperity, there is also the opening all the lights and doors and windows at home, and the use of round objects in clothing and ornaments. Jumping up and down presumably will make oneself taller.

 

Instead of bringing luck, many of these modern pyrotechnics have the potential of wreaking havoc on an entire populace by starting a fire or causing health hazards including burns, amputation of limbs, and death by poisoning, that is why they are regulated by government agencies. In fact, in 2023, the Philippine National Police, according to news reports, has released a list of legal and illegal devices.

Legal paputok, pasilew (pailaw), or firecrackers/fireworks/pyrotechnics devices include baby rocket, bawang, El Diablo, Judas' belt, paper caps, "Pulling of Strings," sky rocket (kwitis), small "triangulo," butterly, fountain, luces (jumbo, regular, and special), Mabuhay, Roman candle, sparklers, trompillo, airwolf, whistle device.

 

Banned fireworks/pyrotechnics devices include watusi, piccolo, Super Lolo, atomic triangle, large Judas belt, large bawang, pillbox, boga, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, Mother Rockets, Lolo Thunder, Coke-in-Can, Kwitom, Atomic Bomb, Five Star, pla-pla, giant whistle bomb, Kabasi, Goodbye Bading, Super Yolanda, and other unlabeled imported firecrackers.

 

Not mentioned on the list is the old term, rebentador, and do-it-yourself paputoks. And of course the illegal use of guns, which have tragically victimized the most innocent people just sitting inside the privacy of their own residence. The lunacy of it all in the name of 'good luck' is something locals seem most willing to risk life and limb for.

 

The names of these paputok make for an amusing linguistic study on cultural appropriation or assimilation, gendering (the word "lolo" or grandfather comes up most often), native sense of humor, and of course, identity formation.

 

At the Bayambang District Hospital, the old joke goes that, the medical personnel are all set for making dinuguan each time it's New Year's Day.