It used to be that firecrackers and fireworks manufactured in Villa district Iloilo City dominate industry in downtown Iloilo during Christmas holidays. I see very few stalls selling pyrotechnics now. What used to be fireworks are replaced by fruits (which is a good thing). 15 years ago (there you go, clue to how old I am), a 500-piece tabid-tabid triangulo wows us and vendors line from Veteran's Bank in Delgado to downtown Iloilo in J.M. Basa. Also during that time, the louder, the better.

There seems to be major shift to people's preference in pyrotechnics and firecrackers. I see lots of aerial stuffs and they look and sounds expensive. I believe most of them are imported from China. The last time I checked, the price of these imported pyrotechnics range from a few hundred to well above tens of thousands of pesos. Not really the kind everybody can afford but they're gaining grounds against those from Villa.

I guess people have learned a lot of the danger firecrackers pose by way of television. Seeing people lose body parts from explosions made me shun firecrackers. I never bought firecrackers for more than 5 years now. Fireworks are another thing. I like watching a good fireworks display. I buy them when I have the budget.