PH ‘ballet of lights’ wins Berlin pyro championship

Screenshot from DsNLFireworks Youtube video account

MANILA, Philippines–More than just lighting up Germany’s skies, the fireworks bent and swayed in the air, dancing to music from gentle to jubilant in a 15-minute repertoire that wowed a global audience.

The Philippines was declared champion in the 2013 Pyronale Fireworks World Championships on Sept. 7 at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, besting five other European nations that entered the prestigious fireworks exhibition this year.

The country team, represented by 21-year-old local pyrotechnics firm Dragon Fireworks, also took home the audience award for the rousing repertoire titled “Philippines- Here Comes the Dragon.” (For online: link to video of winning show- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGj6d-51pak)

The Philippines’ Dragon Fireworks team took home the gold medal while Spain’s Pirotecnia Zaragozana grabbed the silver medal and Finland’s JoHo Pyro won the bronze. Croatia, Poland and Greece also took part in this year’s pyro championships, Pyronale said on its website.

In a statement, the DFA said the country’s entry “won plaudits from the thousands present.”

Designed by 20-year-old business student Vander Tenedero, the Philippines entry took spectators for a ride in a pyro show that may well be likened to a ballet of lights.

The fireworks choreography meshed together original Filipino music with pop-classical pieces from top global artists, altogether showcasing the Philippine story- that is the love for the traditional and the divine while embracing the pace of change and progress.

The 15-minute show opened with rhythmic bursts, the fireworks serving as their own percussion. The repertoire then moved to a slow-to-fast dance of the waltz and then transitioning to the beat of singer Angeline Quinto’s promotional tourism song “Piliin mo ang Pilipinas” and the Tinikling folk dance song.

The show then softened to the tune of Carol Banawa’s “Tanging Yaman,” a favorite Church piece, slowing down the pace for the grand buildup that is to come.

The show’s final third tune strung together epic pieces that combined classical music with electronica and pop: “Vivaldi vs. Vertigo” by renowned German crossover violinist David Garrett, “Business Part 1” by Scottish composer Craig Armstrong, “Cerberus” by renowned media musical scorer Audiomachine and the finale, “For the Win” by US music company Two Steps from Hell.

Before their performance, the Philippine Team led by Jovenson Ong and Don Miguel Villarosa visited Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad. Natividad welcomed Dragon Fireworks’ plan of entering the European market.

The Philippines’ winning pyro show has been widely shared in social media including Facebook and YouTube, gaining virtual applause from both Filipino and international viewers.

Dragonworks is the largest fireworks manufacturer in Southeast Asia, growing into the region’s leading pyrotechnics firm since its establishment in the Philippines 1992, the DFA said.