The Cannons of Cavite

Driving into Cavite province, from Bacoor to Tagaytay to Indang, the familiar image that greets the traveller are makeshift streetcorner stalls selling PVC pipes (often used in plumbing). Not that everyone is about to remodel their plumbing system! These pipes are fashioned into noisemakers that when ignited can get as loud as the real cannon.

The sturdy plastic PVC pipes are cut according to specifications perfected by the inventors (definitely these handywork aren't copyrighted either I am sure). They are then painted and fashioned to look like real ammunitions. It is almost an expected reaction to give these instant stalls a second glance and wonder if they are the real thing! My joke to a friend I emailed it to is"This is not Afghanistan...welcome to the Philippines". That is probably why he has decided to fly back to New York from Hong Kong - hehehe.

To produce the loud boom for these PVC cannons, lighter fluid or varnish is lightly sprayed inside the tubes and then ignited with a candle lighter or a stove igniter. The tube is then aired by swinging it side to side or in an up and down motion to dissipate the remaining fluid, otherwise the cannon could ignite.



Is it dangerous? There are no safety standards for these toys not only for the big boys but also for the young. To those who cannot afford the PVC pipes, they weld together empty cans and use this as their cannon which also produces a loud boom. The cans can 'un-weld' themselves during the ignition phase and have resulted in some accidents. Some have also suffered minor burns.

Injuries are often synonymous with New Year celebrations in the Philippines. In a country where fireworks and firecrackers are set off on the streets to welcome the new year, many have lost a finger or a limb to carelessness. This is a tradition we most probably have inherited from the Chinese and to me, New Year's is about the pop-pop-pop of the 'judas belt', firecrackers strung together and the fireworks that light up the skies.

The PVC cannon is original to Cavite province and has been featured on TV several times. Next New Year's I am willing to bet they will come up with better models and louder bangs. This is Filipino ingenuity at its finest....I think.