Halloween isn't celebrated by the older folks of the Philippines. The majority of them celebrate the Day of the Dead, which is the very next day. As far as I can tell, the only celebrations associated with Halloween itself are the costume parties.
What is the holiday called "Halloween"?
When Christians began to gain authority in Europe more than a thousand years ago, November 1st became known as "All Saints Day" or "All Hallows Day". It was the day the Christians honored the dead. The evening of October 31st became known as "All Hallows Eve" and was eventually shortened to "Halloween".
Over the years, people acquired the belief that the dead mingled with the living on Halloween, and thus starting wearing masks and costumes to hide in plain sight so that the ghosts wouldn't recognize them.
I don't how or when the "trick or treat" mantra started for kids going to house to house in search of candy, but I understand it's a predominantly American tradition. A tradition that's slowly disappearing due to malicious people sabotaging the treats with razor blades, poison and other nastiness. Children used to be treated to homemade candied apples, caramel-covered popcorn balls and other assorted things you couldn't buy in stores. Nowadays, children are discouraged from accepting anything that isn't store-bought, wrapped and sealed.
The Day of the Dead
No, I am NOT referring to the George A. Romero zombie movie from 1985. I'm referring to the holiday, called Araw ng mga Patay in Tagalog, which Filipinos celebrate on November 1st of every year. Filipinos don't celebrate Halloween like Americans do, or at least the way Americans used to. The American Halloween holiday is slowly progressing (or returning) to an adult-oriented holiday, with Halloween costumes for couples becoming more prominent in shopping areas.
The Day of the Dead is celebrated at cemeteries where tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Entire families camp out there, sometimes for days. It's a very important holiday for Filipinos and they'll eat and drink, play card games, and even sing and dance while spending their time there. I believe it's a national holiday in the Philippines.
I will never understand the Filipino (or Spanish/Mexican, since it's celebrated in those countries as well) fascination with the dead, much less their superstitious beliefs concerning the dead among us. I prefer to deal with the land of the living. After all, it's the living people that need our help as we can do nothing for the dead.
Halloween Costumes
Unlike shopping places in the Western countries, there aren't a lot of costumes available for purchase in the Philippines. However, it seems that the availability of Halloween costumes increases with each passing year.
The last time I went to the Royal Subic store at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, I noticed they had a few costumes available (including kids Halloween costumes, although I doubt I'll see any kids wearing them in public) as well as some masks without costumes. I saw two masks that were well done, one of a demon and another of a monkey of some kind. I was thinking of prowling the streets on Halloween, scaring neighbors and passers by. My brother-in-law, Joshua, quickly discouraged me from buying any mask or costume. As superstitious as the Filipinos are, I would probably get shot or stoned to death when the people mistook me for an aswang.
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