TRICK OR TREAT

THRICK OR TREAT
October 31, 1993 10:00 p.m.

Trick or Treat is a western tradition practiced every Halloween which falls on the eve of All Saints Day, on Nove3mber 1st. Because there are many foreigners living in Ayala Alabang Village, the ritual is not only allowed but even encouraged instead of the traditional “Pangangaluluwa”.
Filipinos easily adapted to Trick or Treat and this year there are so many participants coming from other villages. Children as well as some adults go around in masks and costumes saying Trick or Treat to every house. Candies and other goodies are given to them.
And just to show the reader how many came to observe it, the three thousand pieces of candies that we offered one each were consumed before 7:00 p.m. It turned out that our street, Caliraya was the busiest and the only one colorfully teeming with multi colored costumes. The reason is because at the corner of Caliraya and San Bernardino the owner gave out a very good trick as they always do every year. This time, atop their roof is a flying carpet with live Alladin and his lady waving at hundreds of onlookers.
Other houses have their own “spooky” Halloween decorations. I was told that before, the decorations consisted only of masks and printed ghost s available at bookstores.
Last year was my first time to be here at Alabang because I used to stay in the province every Halloween. So, last year I created some spoofs made out of things available at home. (1).A Witch riding her flying broomstick; (2). A “manananggal’s” lower half of her body; 3) A stuffed toy that I dressed with black cloth and hanged to simulate e someone who committed suicide; (4 ) A figure of ‘Kamatayan” whose back was turned behind. (This was later stolen because we left it outside the house.). This year so many houses followed my example. Many displayed personally created spoofs.
Next year, if the association will not find way to somehow control or limit the participants it will no longer be enjoyable. The coming of big groups from far away villages not to mention children of “lavanderas” and maids as well as anybody who has identification card to enter the village mess out the otherwise colorful tradition.
This could not be an exclusive affair and we should not deprive other children of the joy and the fun that they experience during the bewitching hours, but when the whole village becomes too crowded with anyone from anywhere, it is no longer nice.