Ending the year with a bang

On Dec. 26 to 30, the world will witness a spectacle of fireworks display never seen before at the First World Pyro Olympics (WPO), at the Esplanade in Bay Central Business Park in Pasay City.

Dubbed The Philippines is at Home with the Best, WPO is hosted by the Philippines and is creating history not only for the country but for the whole world.

For the first time, nine countries will compete, including China, Australia, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Russia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

It is presented by La Mancha Pyro Productions and considered the biggest, most ambitious fireworks competition worldwide.

"It is the biggest and the most intense competition," explains Roberto Crisostomo, VP of La Mancha Pyro Productions, "We are the only ones where everything is packed within five days straight and the only competition with cultural activities."

He emphasized that most fireworks competitions would only have four to five countries trying to outdo each other, whereas, we will have nine in the Philippines.

The young Crisostomo says the country can expect an excellent show since all the competitors are the best in their respective countries. For example, China is responsible for the fireworks display at the opening of the Hong Kong Walt Disney, and the Australians took charge at the recently-held Sydney Olympics, etc. Competition is among colleagues. Thus, it’s no longer about the money but the coveted title as the First World Pyro Olympics champion.

Two countries will compete each day and will be given 20 minutes to complete their sets. They will be judged according to intensity and rhythm of presentation, quality of shells, and audience appeal.

The five-day affair culminates in a collective presentation called Fellowship of Fire by the nine countries plus the host country, the Philippines.

WPO is the brainchild of Ricardo Crisostomo, founder of La Mancha Pyro Productions. A lover of fireworks, the elder Crisostomo saw something in the art of shooting off fire in the sky and spreading it into a shining, shimmering, splendid form.

"Everyone stops when they see fireworks," begins the elder Crisostomo. "It encompasses everything. It breaks down social barriers like age, gender, race, economic status. There is one big smile when people see fireworks."

Ricardo Crisostomo was tasked to do the fireworks display for the 1998 centennial celebration. After seeing the spectacular display and the people’s reaction to what his team has done, he became even more determined to do "what no one has ever done before."

He then toyed with the idea where people could see fireworks everyday or better yet, a competition. But that time, no one took him seriously. Except for a few believers, almost everyone could not fathom the idea of a small company, and a Filipino at that, executing such a gargantuan endeavor.

As fate would have it, he accidentally joined a fireworks competition in Macau. His team didn’t win that time. But that didn’t stop him from pursuing a life-long dream. He spent a few more years in Macau learning everything he could about fireworks. He eventually became a consultant during fireworks competitions until finally, believing in the ability of fellow Filipinos, he decided to bring the competition to the country and making it a much bigger, grandiose event.

With dogged determination and tenacity, the elder Crisostomo finally had some local officials and private companies agreeing to the "impossible" dream. He also spent months of grueling preparations. Now, the First WPO has sponsors and participants calling in. Everything is in place.

The visionary in Ricardo Crisostomo decided to schedule the event from Dec. 26 to 30, thinking it’s during these times that people have nothing to do after Christmas and are waiting for the New Year. "I was thinking then, there are 14 million people in Manila looking for something to do between those dates. So why not give them something to do and a place to go to?," explains Crisostomo.

His idea extends to our neighboring countries who have nothing to do between those dates. Through WPO, he hopes to make the event a major tourism attraction not only in the country but the whole world.

And at P100, people can watch the magnificent fireworks, street performers, bands, magicians, etc. Christmas in the Philippines will be brighter and more magical.