Filipinos offered MP3 downloads of exploding sounds for New Year

Dec 30, 2011, 7:27 GMT

Manila - Filipinos were urged Friday to ring in the New Year with digital music files of pops and explosions instead of dangerous firecrackers traditionally set off during rowdy celebrations.

The Department of Health said Filipinos could download MP3 files of the blasts of their favourite firecrackers from its website and play them during New Year's Eve instead of using real firecrackers.

Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag said Filipinos could reproduce the digital music files for distribution without violating copyrights laws.

'We have found the safest firecracker in the world,' he said. 'If they want noise to welcome the New Year, these MP3 files are the answer. We can now bid goodbye to the firecrackers.'

Tayag said the department was distributing CDs of the sounds, which were compiled and donated by the guitarist of a popular band in the Philippines.

Every year, Filipinos set off firecrackers and fire guns in the air during New Year's Eve in the belief that the noise would drive away bad luck and bring better opportunities.

Last year, four people were killed and more than 200 injured in the merrymaking.

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