Halo-halo-ween
Growing up in the Philippines, we didn’t really “celebrate” Halloween.* Yes, come October, establishments would be decked with Halloween decorations but kids didn’t go Trick-or-Treating (door-to-door roaming of the neighborhood was done during Christmas instead – in the form of caroling). That, however, didn’t stop us from dressing up in costumes and it wasn’t just limited to Halloween time either. Kids had many chances to don their Superman or ballerina costumes. Many celebrated their birthdays by throwing costume parties. Sometimes, we dressed up whenever it struck our fancy (an explanation for the current popularity of cosplay in the Philippines, perhaps?). The following are some pictures from my childhood attesting to this.
My sisters and I in masks
Tropical wild west
My brother and I as Batman and Robin (left) and as astronauts (right)
Today, we still don’t celebrate Halloween. At our church, we have something called a “Harvest” festival where kids come in costumes but special emphasis is placed on God’s blessings during harvest time. The family and I just came back from such an event this evening.
*The Philippines, being a Catholic country, celebrates instead All Soul’s Day/All Saint’s Day, a day to commemorate the “faithful departed.”
Tags: 1970s, cosplay, costume, halloween, harvest, Manila, nostalgia, philippines
October 30th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
LOL! D, my sister and brother had the Robin and Batman costumes—same ones. I had Super Girl. Hehe. Good times.
October 31st, 2006 at 1:28 am
November 24th, 2006 at 5:09 am
i remember my childhood, my mom have this costume, its a superman outfit though, btw, u know where i could have a costume for our company x-mas party? theme is moulan rouge/ i was actually searching one when i opened your site, thanks in advance
December 8th, 2006 at 3:12 am
Hello! Nice site!