The law is clear about which firecracker will be deadly or not. Republic Act 7183, regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices, provides a list of regulated fireworks:
Baby rocket—A firecracker with a stick so constructed that lighting the wick will propel it into the air before exploding.
“Bawang”—A firecracker larger than a “triangulo” with 1/3 teaspoon of powder packed in cardboard tied with abaca strings and wrapped to imitate the shape of garlic.
Small “triangulo”—A triangular-shaped firecracker … with powder content less than bawang and usually wrapped in brown paper.
Pulling of strings—A firecracker consisting of a small tube about an inch in length and less than half an inch in diameter with strings on each end. Pulling the strings will cause the explosion.
Paper caps—Minute amount of black powder spread in either small strips of paper on a small sheet used for children’s toy guns.
“El Diablo”—A firecracker tubular in shape about 1 1/4 inches in length and less than 1/4 inch in diameter with a wick. It is also known as “labintador.”
Judas’ Belt—A string of firecrackers consisting of either diablos or small triangulos that can number up to a hundred or thereabout and culminating in a large firecracker usually a bawang.
Skyrocket (“kwitis”)—The larger version of a baby rocket designed to be propelled to a height of 40 to 50 feet before exploding.
The government allows the sale of the following pyrotechnic devices:
Sparklers—Pyrotechnic devices usually made of black powder on a piece of wire or inside a paper tube designed to light up and glow after igniting.
“Luces”—Any of several kinds of sparklers.
Fountain—A cone-shaped sparkler lighted on the ground and designed to provide various rising colors and intermittent lights upon being ignited.
Jumbo regular and special—A kind of sparkler similar to a “fountain” but bigger in size.
“Mabuhay”—A dozen pieces of sparklers bundled together.
Roman candle—A sparkler similar to a fountain but shaped like a big candle.
“Trompillo”—A pyrotechnic device usually fastened on walls or pieces of wood and designed to spin clockwise and counterclockwise.
“Airwolf”—A kind of sky rocket shaped like an airplane with a propeller to enable it to rise about 40 or 50 ft. It lights up while aloft.
Whistle device—Any of the various kinds of firecrackers or pyrotechnic designed to either emit a whistle-like sound or explode after the device is ignited.
Butterfly—Butterfly-shaped pyrotechnic device designed to lift above ground while providing light. Inquirer Northern Luzon