The Spirit of New Year: Welcome 2017 with Davao’s Torotot Festival

(philippinestravelsite.com)

Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year’s Eve have been a long-lived tradition because they are believed to drive away evil spirits and attract good luck. In Davao, they participate solely in noisemaking. Since 2002, the city has banned firecrackers and pyrotechnics in all their forms. You might think that the prohibition might affect the holiday spirit of Davaoeños but their exhilaration for the holiday is expressed through torotots or horns. If you’d like to experience the distinct Davao culture, get that condominium and let the city’s wonders do the rest.

According to Inquirer, In January 2014, a total of 7,568 Davaoeño torotot blowers joined the New Year’s revelry, which beat the existing 6,900 record of Japan’s party blowers but the result is yet to be officially validated by the Guinness Book of Records.

Before the firecracker ban, Davao, like any other place in the country, was virtually a war zone during the holidays. Death, injury and asthma attacks were problems that Dabawenyos had to put up with. After the New Year, you will find littered streets.

Davao City was the first municipality that passed an ordinance to ban firecrackers and fireworks in the country. With hundreds of injured victims nationwide every year, the city is proud to have zero casualties during the holidays.

As detailed by Mindanews, the personnel at the health and fire departments in Davao have been the envy of their counterparts in other parts of the country because they are busy tending to the injuries of victims from firecrackers and stray bullets. They even cater to the sufferers of burned houses and business establishments.

Davao city will yet again celebrate another New Year without the danger of firecrackers. Dabawenyos will prove that the holiday can be joyous without the risk of fire just by noises and their high spirits.

The upcoming Torotot Festival will be the city’s 16th. Residents of Davao usually celebrate Christmas and New Year by blowing horns, banging pots and pans, videoke sing-alongs and village dancing down to the festival proper.

It is one of the biggest events in the city. Last year, the event was held at the San Pedro Square and it was a preceded by a parade on Ponciano Street. The festival featured zumba, a cosplay contest and a show with two of the hottest international DJs and contests for the most creative torotot, dance and costume. Cars also joined the noise barrage to add to the deafening noise of the holiday cheer.

You might be wondering, what happens to those who don’t follow the ordinance? The local government takes these offenses seriously. Ordinance No. 060-02 Series of 2002 prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices within Davao’s territories. Violation will be penalized through a fine or through imprisonment. So if you’re planning on buying that condominium in Davao, make sure to research and follow their city ordinances.

The firework ban is not a hindrance for Dabawenyos to fully celebrate the upcoming year. If you’d like a safer and cleaner New Year, go grab that Davao condominium and start your 2017 right.