The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC), initially known as the World Pyro Olympics (WPO), is an annual competition among fireworks manufacturers from different countries held in the Philippines which at its current format runs for five to six weeks every Saturday evening (initially five days in the competition's old format as the World Pyro Olympics) at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay. Two countries fire each day; the last participant fires on the final evening of the event.

The host of the event does not participate in the competition but performs a fireworks display on the last night. Awards, such as the People's Choice, are given out after the exhibition. The crowning of the competition's winners ends the event.

History

Beginnings and foundation

The World Pyro Olympics in December 2005.

In 1988, Ricardo "Ricky" Crisostomo of La Mancha Group International (LMGI), visited a three-day fireworks competition in Europe. His son, Rob, recalled in The Philippine Star that his father was "awestruck" on what he experienced. LMGI was once the leading pyrotechnics company in the Philippines, and the Crisostomo family wanted to bring the concept of such a competition to the country.[1]

La Mancha previously performed fireworks displays during the Philippine Centennial in 1998, and were commissioned by the country's Department of Tourism for its Wow Philippines campaign.[1] It then organized the 1st International Fireworks Festival in December 2002 and the World Pyro Olympics Exhibition in March and April 2004.[1]

World Pyro Olympics (2005–2008)

The first World Pyro Olympics took place in 2005 in The Esplanade at the back of the-then unfinished SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines from December 26 to 30.[2] Firework materials were placed in the participant's barge floating within Manila Bay, around 300 meters (980 ft) from the seawall.[3] It was participated by nine foreign countries.[4] The event host, La Mancha Group, along with the nine foreign fireworks makers, held a fireworks demonstration on the last day.[5] Australia emerged as the champion.[4]

The second WPO was hosted again at The Esplanade at the then newly completed SM Mall of Asia from January 5 to 13, 2007.[6][7] Nine foreign countries competed in the second edition.[8] The United Kingdom emerged as champions, while the team from China won an award for technical precision.[1] It attracted 500,000 spectators at the main venue and over a million people in surrounding areas.[1]

Rob Crisostomo recalled in The Philippine Star about the difficulty of producing shows for five consecutive evenings.[1] It was then decided in 2008 to hold the third WPO for five Saturdays, rather than five straight evenings, from May 3 to 31. The third event was postponed to the following week due to heavy rains and rough seas brought by Tropical Storm Halong (Dindo).[citation needed] The countries that participated were Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, and Venezuela. Italy won the said competition.[citation needed]

The World Pyro Olympics was often criticized for creating heavy traffic jams, but Rob Crisostomo defended the show, saying that he and La Mancha created it for "families to come together" and not "to create monstrous traffic jams."[1]

In 2009, La Mancha planned to move the World Pyro Olympics to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, to be held on five Saturdays from November to December in the lead-up to the Christmas season. Apart from the fireworks displays, it would have featured an exhibit of cars, marching bands, and play areas and bazaars.[1] However, the WPO committee decided to postpone the event to early 2010, citing non-stop rains and subsequent flooding that affected the safety of the venue.[9]

Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (2010–present)

Fireworks display by Polaris Fireworks of China in 2025.

SM Supermalls partnered with Platinum Fireworks, Inc. for the first Philippine International Pyromusical Competition (PIPC). On February 14, 2010, Platinum Fireworks kicked off the competition by performing an opening exhibition. The opening night coincided with Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year. It was then held at SM Mall of Asia every Sunday from February to March. The United States, United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia participated in the competition. Each participant performs a fireworks display for a minimum of fifteen minutes. The Philippines then closed the first edition on March 14.[10]

In 2011, the competition moved to Saturdays, where it has remained ever since.[citation needed] The competition expanded to six weeks from five in 2012.[citation needed] From 2011 to 2013, the Philippines provided only the closing exhibitions, before performing both opening and closing exhibitions by 2014.

In 2019, competition organizers moved the Philippine International Pyromusical Competition from SM Mall of Asia to SM City Clark in Angeles City, Pampanga, to support the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).[11]

The competition was put on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2024, competition organizers announced its return after a four-year hiatus. With the completion of Manila Bay's rehabilitation, the competition returned to SM Mall of Asia. It was however shortened to five weeks from the usual six, and was moved to May−June instead of the usual February−March. Skyglitters Enterprise of Valenzuela City was tapped as co-presenter along with Platinum Fireworks, Inc.[12] The following year, the competition returned to its former schedule.[13]

Participating teams

(Host nation highlighted.)

Country World Pyro Olympics Philippine International Pyromusical Competition
2005 2007 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2024 2025
 Australia ShowFX Australia Howards And Sons Pyrotechnics Fireworkx Howards And Sons Pyrotechnics Skylighter Fireworx[14] Skylighter Fireworx[14]
 Austria Fire-Events Steyrfire Feuerwerke
 Belgium CBF Pyrotechnics
 Brazil Vision Show
 Canada Pyro Studios Apogee Fireworks Fireworks Spectaculars Royal Pyrotechnie Fireworks Spectaculars Hands Fireworks Hands Fireworks Fireworks Spectaculars Royal Pyrotechnie
Garden City Display Fireworks
 China Glorious Group Liuyang Jinsheng Fireworks Liuyang New Year Fireworks Polaris Fireworks Lidu Fireworks Polaris Fireworks Liuyang Jinsheng Fireworks Polaris Fireworks
Polaris Fireworks
 Denmark Bright Star Fireworks
 Finland Oy Pyroman Finland Oy Pyroman Finland
 France Fetes & Feux Brezac Artifices Lacroix Ruggieri Brezac Artifices Brezac Artifices Pyragic Pandora-Pyrotechnie Brezac Artefices Luxfactory Fireworks
 Germany Nico Lünig Event Vulcan Europe Steffes-Olig Feurwerke Nico Events Steffes-Olig Feurwerke
Steffes-Olig Feurwerke
 Italy Parente Fireworks Orzella Fireworks Ipon Fireworks S.R.L Martarello Group Parente Fireworks Alessi Fuochi Artificiali Viviano S.R.L.
 Japan Tamaya Kitahara Tamaya Kitahara Akariya Fireworks
 Malaysia Pyro Splendour Services
 Malta Malta Fireworks
 Mexico Sirius Pyrotechnics
 Netherlands Royal Fireworks Royal Fireworks Royal Fireworks
 Portugal Macedos Pirotecnia Grupo Luso Pirotecnia Grupo Luso Pirotecnia Grupo Luso Pirotecnia Macedos Pirotecnico
 Philippines La Mancha Group Platinum Fireworks Skyglitters Enterprise Platinum Fireworks
Platinum Fireworks
 Poland Astondoa Piroteknia Surex Firma Rodzinna
 Russia Orion Art International
 Singapore Redhub Entertainment
 Sweden Göteborgs FyrverkeriFabrik
 Spain Astondoa Piroteknia Pirotecnia Igual Pirotecnia Turis Brunchu Pyro Experience
 South Africa Pyro Spectacular
 South Korea Hanhwa Woori Fireworks Hwarang Fireworks Faseecom Co Ltd.
 Switzerland Sugyp SA
 Taiwan Yung Feng Fireworks Yung Feng Fireworks
 United Arab Emirates Flash Art Group
 United Kingdom Celtic Fireworks Westcoast Fireworks Jubilee Fireworks SM Art Pyrotechnics Jubilee Fireworks Pyrotex Fireworx Pyro 2000 Pyrotex Fireworx
Pyrotex Fireworx
 United States Melrose Pyrotechnics PyroFire Display Atlas Pyro Vision Atlas Pyro Vision Pyro Engineering Razzi Fireworks
 Venezuela Venefuegos Artificiales

Winners

World Pyro Olympics
Edition Winner 1st runner-up 2nd runner-up
1st 2005 Australia ShowFX Australia None awarded
2nd 2007 United Kingdom Westcoast Fireworks
3rd 2008 Italy Parente Fireworks
Philippine International Pyromusical Competition[10]
Edition Winner 1st runner-up 2nd runner-up
1st 2010 United Kingdom Jubilee Fireworks Australia Howards And Sons Pyrotechnics Japan Tamaya Kitahara Fireworks
2nd 2011 China Liuyang Jinsheng Fireworks United Kingdom Jubilee Fireworks
3rd 2012 Canada Fireworks Spectaculars Australia Fireworx[14] Netherlands Royal Fireworks*
Finland Oy Pyroman Finland
4th 2013 United Kingdom Jubilee Fireworks Canada Fireworks Spectaculars Finland Oy Pyroman Finland
China Liuyang Jinsheng Fireworks
5th 2014 Canada Royal Pyrotechnie China Liuyang New Year Fireworks United Kingdom Jubilee Fireworks
6th 2015 Netherlands Royal Fireworks Portugal Grupo Luso
7th 2016 United Kingdom Pyrotex Fireworx Ltd. Germany Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerk China Polaris Fireworks
8th 2017
9th 2018 China Polaris Fireworks Italy Alessi Fuochi Artificiali
Germany Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerk Canada Hands Fireworks
10th 2019 China Polaris Fireworks France Alpha Pyrotechnie Germany Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerk
United Kingdom Pyrotex Fireworx Ltd.
11th 2024 Germany Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerk Portugal Macedos Pirotecnico United Kingdom Pyrotex Fireworx Ltd.
12th 2025 China Polaris Fireworks United Kingdom Pyrotex Fireworx Ltd. Germany Steffes-Ollig Feuerwerk
Canada Royal Pyrotechnie

 • (*) Also the recipient of the People's Choice Award

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "A family fired up by fireworks". The Philippine Star. November 20, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Villanueva, Rhodina (November 27, 2005). "Pasay to host aerial fireworks Olympics". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Villanueva, Rhodina (January 1, 2006). "Australia wins pyro olympics in Manila". The Philippine Star. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Participants". World Pyro Olympics. Archived from the original on January 1, 2006. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  5. ^ "Event Description". World Pyro Olympics. Archived from the original on December 29, 2005. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "Event Program - Schedule". World Pyro Olympics. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  7. ^ "Location Map". World Pyro Olympics. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "Participants". World Pyro Olympics. Archived from the original on May 22, 2007. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  9. ^ "World Pyro Olympics postponed". The Philippine Star. December 10, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Previous Participants". Philippine International Pyromusical Competition. Platinum Fireworks, Inc. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  11. ^ "The Biggest and Greatest Pyromusical Show Moves to SM City Clark!". SM Supermalls.
  12. ^ Vibal, Leana (March 4, 2024). "The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition Is Back". Spot.ph. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  13. ^ Uson, Melanie (November 5, 2024). "Attention, pyro fans! Philippine International Pyromusical Competition is returning in 2025". PhilSTAR Life. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c "Skylighter is Queenland's Leading Fireworks Company". Skylighter Fireworks. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Pyro_Olympics
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