Not ‘Bulalakaw’ but ‘Parachute Flare’

The Valencia Municipal Police Station in Negros Oriental said what was said to be a “bulalakaw” that landed in a barangay in the town was actually a parachute flare.

[Bulalakaw refers to a shooting star, meteorite, or comet in Filipino languages, often holding significant cultural meaning as a divine messenger or ill omen in Philippine mythology, appearing as a blazing bird, spirit, or comet that can signify death or good fortune, while also being used for modern entertainment like superhero names.]

Here is the report of the Valencia PNP on what was witnessed by residents:

At about 3:25 PM on January 3, 2026, elements of the Valencia Municipal Police Station (MPS) under the leadership of P/Capt. Donicko B. Angeles, OIC, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection – Valencia, conducted an investigation in the area and found out that it was not a “Bulalakaw”, but rather a” parachute flare “.

A parachute flare is a pyrotechnic distress signal that launches a bright, long-burning flare attached to a parachute, designed to stay airborne and visible for rescuers, commonly used in marine emergencies by ships and lifeboats for long-range signaling day or night, featuring high intensity and lasting around 40 seconds, per SOLAS safety regulations, the report indicated.

In coordination with personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection or BFP, who visited the police station as well, for the conduct of a joint interview to have closure over the public’s misconceptions of a meteorite instead of a simple flare, the PNP report added.

Incidentally, a blogger caught sight of the flare, which she described as “bulalakaw,” a small meteorite falling in the sky, which attracted so many online viewers. But while the item was still dropping in slow motion realized that it was something else. So, they gathered its remnants, and indeed it is a parachute flare intended for emergencies, it added.

“False information creates fear and confusion. For everyone’s safety, avoid sharing unverified reports. Trust only official announcements from authorities and credible news outlets,” the Valencia police report also added.*