Breathing Lessons

Deprived to witness some modest fireworks during the New Year’s celebration, I got my second chance. I never went to large gatherings that time. I was with friends and family at home. I just heard noises and more big explosions from neighborhood lethal fiecrackers. There were no visuals. When Ryan told me about an event of pyrotechnics display, my heart skipped. Like a child, I was jumping inside.

The SM Mall of Asia Esplanade got packed with unexpected half a million visitors. It was a lovely Saturday, January the 13th evening and almost everyone in Manila is invited. The 2nd World Pyro Olympics was on its final grand presentation. It’s been participated in various countries like Australia, United Kingdom, China and others. I’ve heard radio commentators whined about terrorist and security reasons surrounding the place. It wasn’t a big deal. Though mobs are venues for terrorists and stampede, it didn’t cross my mind that time. With childish eagerness, both I and my brother went with the flow. Notwithstanding the hassle on creeping on a crowd, we survived. Cars and people contend to occupy every available space on the compound. Everything was unruly and noisy. Some were gathered in picnic ambiance. Families, lovers, friends assembled in festive mood. Until something whooshing lighted up the sky. There was silence.

BANG!

At eight thirty, spectators applauded. The black starry skies bathed in dazzling kaleidoscope. It was better than images of meteor showers. It was like hell and heaven fighting on the dark atmosphere. Every minute was of sheer fun! With cheery delight, I was saying “Huhs and wows!” I was capturing each panorama in stills and video. There were some scenes where the fire transformed various images of flowers, symbols, and butterflies. The exhibition from China was a hit. It got all the ingredients needed for an awesome visual amusement. On the contrary, it got the People’s Choice Award. Final gigantic sparks came to an end. It was a blast. All that’s left on my face was traces of smirks. It was a twenty-five minute eye ecstasy. I had my opportunity to wish upon a star – with a Bang!