17 injured as fireworks at UP lantern parade go awry

Lanterns portraying boxing icons Manny Pacquiao and Muhammad Ali are among Friday night’s attractions at the Lantern Parade 2011 in the University of the Philippines in Diliman. LYN RILLON/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines— A decades-old Yuletide tradition of the University of the Philippines went awry Friday night when fireworks at the yearly Lantern Parade flew into an excited crowd instead of the night sky.

The Quezon City Police District said 17 onlookers were injured by the faulty pyrotechnics during the festivities at the U.P. Diliman campus in Quezon City.

Superintendent Michael Macapagal, Anonas police station commander, said they had taken in for questioning the two technicians—Mark Vallejo and Julieto Labete of Solar Harvest Company—who were in charge of the fireworks display for the Lantern Parade.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation and whether the victims decide to sue, Macapagal said, the two may face charges of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple injuries.

Vice chancellor for community affairs Melania Abad said university officials will meet with the fireworks contractor to investigate the accident, which happened at around 8:30 p.m. Friday in front of Quezon Hall, the UP administration building, where floats and lanterns of participating colleges were showcased for a final round.

Two of the 17 injured onlookers, Lucia Dimaguila, 67, and Jomerson Salazar, 18, were treated at the Capitol Medical Center on Quezon Avenue.

The rest were brought to the U.P. Infirmary to be treated. Macapagal identified them as: Danice Daluyan, 4; Jene Jonel, 13; Jovy de Venecia, 12; Princess Cruz, 15; Floralyn Bonabine, 24; Jerome Esguerra, 11;  Camille Ruiz, 24; Dennis Jayme,18; Zheno Corpus, 15; Tennie Maulina, 34; Xavier Malilay, 26; Marie Rivera; Danica Uy, 14; Canon Esguerra, 41; and Danilo Tadong Jr.

Macapagal, citing the technicians’ scant statements to the police, said the accident was the first of its kind in the Lantern Parade’s history since it was begun in 1922.

The technicians declined to go into detail as to what happened although their company has been reportedly hired for the fireworks show for some years now.

The Lantern Parade, done in December, marks the end of classes and the beginning of the Christmas break for U.P. students.

Colleges and other U.P. units compete with gigantic floats and lanterns in a parade around the Academic Oval  culminating at the Quezon Hall.