When Pomp Create Tragedy

Amidst all the laughers ,cheers, smile and very happy ambience in a celebration and pomp, suddenly a blast of “boom!” was heard, but the blast was dismiss lightly by the spectators of the celebration as a mere fireworks blast included in a celebration and pomp that is happening as well as the shouts and yells, but when blood started to spills everywhere and people collapsing from where they stand bathed with their own blood, the shouts of joy brought by the celebration is replaced with the yells of fear and shout for help.

It has been and always be that too much pomp will create exploding bombs of disaster. Another proof of pomp creating tragedy is the recent San Beda College bar exams celebrations of the San Bedans where at least 44 women and youth were reportedly injured by a sudden blast (of a grenade, as the police investigators said) amidst their pomp and celebrations in welcoming their fellow San Bedan who top the bar exams. Until now, there is an ongoing investigation who is behind the sabotage of the so-called “Salubong” celebration of the San Bedans.

What happen to the San Bedan “salubong” celebration is just one of the real examples that pomp and celebration of any sort, if left unchecked and unsecured, tragedy could creep in unnoticed by the celebrants who are overwhelm by the pomp and celebration, and could join the unsuspecting celebrants into a blasting bloody party and celebration with a Big Bang Boom!

The aftermath of the big bang is of course not only physical wounds and injuries but also emotional and mental trauma that surpasses the joy and glee brought by the cheerful celebration in remembrance, memory and history.

Some Philippine tragedies brought by a pomp and celebration or merrymaking that still lives today in the memories of the Filipinos, aside from what happen in San Beda’s “salubong”, is the ozone disco party where many youths have been burn alive in the disco pub and the Wowowee ultra stampede where may have also died due to excitement for the celebrations.

These tragedies brought by a loud merry making or with overwhelming Pomp and celebrations remind us that too much laughter and cheers could kill us because it robs our mental senses to be circumspect and be aware to what we are doing and to what is happening around us. Any form of intoxication, like in our article – intoxicated with too much laughter and cheers- could brought us into an unexpected flip into another side of Happiness – sorrows and grief.