Comments on: Happy Halloween!!!

by: sadstephen

Sun, 06 Nov 2005 23:35:48 +0000

Speaking about third world, I don’t know if this happens in most provinces, but in my province Nueva Ecija, the kids have their own version of trick or treat-ing, which is more like a Halloween carolling. They have a standard song that they sing on each house they visit, and of course they expect you to give them money, they’d appreciate than more than candies (or they get yelled at - “tawad!”, sorry next time. As early as a week before Halloween, the kids start going from house to house doing this Halloween carolling. I can still remember the song, it goes “Kaluluwa’y dumaratal, sa tapat ng durungawan, kampanilya’y tinatantang, ginigising ang may bahay. Kung kami po’y lilimusan, dali-dali nyo pong bigyan, baka kami’y mapagsarhan, ng pinto ng kalangitan.” And then, “tao po!”. Of course if you give them something, they sing the “thank you thank you” song. If not, you get yelled at “ang babarat ninyo! Thank you!”. Haha. Nostalgia.

by: Ivan M.

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 13:46:56 +0000

MM,

One of the more memorable experiences I had with (post) halloween parties was that after the day itself, practically every type of candy (including my fave chocolate almond roca) was on mega-bargain sale at Walmart!

Ahhh, for a third world creature like me, it was candy heaven! ;o)

by: Marketman

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 11:51:58 +0000

Carol, that sounds like a terrific idea. Water or juice stations are necessary in our tropical weather. Costumes also are better in cooler weather… Chrissy, sounds like you recall the halloweens Manila style… have you moved to a country that also celebrates Halloween?

by: chrissy

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 05:49:21 +0000

While living in manila (late 80’s to mid-90’s), we had trick-or-treating in our makati village. We used to carve melons for jack-o-lanterns and my cousins from other areas joined our village tradition. We started trick-or-treating at 4pm (some village policy. not too warm or dark, i guess)

by: carol

Wed, 02 Nov 2005 03:03:09 +0000

Our house is located at the end of the trick-or-treaters’ path. In anticipation of their thirst and exhaustion from walking around the village, we always set up a “drinking station.” I figured, why give them more candies to dump when they get home?

For the past five years I’ve been serving them strawberry juice or iced tea, labelled VAMPIRE COOLER, dead-cold and bloody refreshing. One time I even put a gummy worm in each plastic cup. It’s always a hit with the kids, even with their yayas and adult companions who look forward to this stop. Their smiles of satisfaction, the requests for refills, and one girl who said “This is one of my favorite stops” are more than enough to make this an annual Halloween tradition.