by Carla P. Gomez
Phil. Daily Inquirer, November 30, 2006

BACOLOD CITY — A pyrotechnics factory blew up at 2:10 p.m. Friday in Sitio San Manuel, Barangay 1, Hinigaran town, 60.3 km south of here, killing one and injuring the owner of the establishment. Chief Insp. Rosauro Francisco Jr., Hinigaran police chief, identified the fatality as Morito Manong, alias Pusoy, 34, and the injured as factory owner Rosauro Pelagio. The explosion blew off Manong’s right hand and burned his face and various parts of his body, Francisco said. Pelagio suffered third degree burns in the back and hands, he added. Francisco said they believed that the intense heat of the sun ignited the wicks, which was dipped in gunpowder, placed outside the 20-square-meter factory. The fire spread to the room where Manong was making pyrotechnics and caused an explosion. Francisco said the incident was the first for the year in Hinigaran, the pyrotechnics capital of Negros Occidental.