Trick or Treat in Saipan

Trick or Treat at Tototville!

The 3 "Wicked" Witches! He!he!he!

Mr. Miyagi and Superman

Mr. Miyagi and Superman and Me

Batman, Harry Potter, Mr. Miyagi, Pink Butterfly, Superman, Snow White and Princess. Cute Kids!!!!!!!

Aaron Francia and Bella Bargfrede

Spooky Town!!!!!

October 31, 2006

The bank declared a shortened banking hours so we could prepare for trick or treat. In the Philippines, trick or treat is not common. Only the exlusive subdivisions where various expats live, would practice treat or trick.

Here in Saipan, treat or trick is another occasion to party. My officemates prepared a big bag of candy for the kids, bought spare-ribs for barbeque, bread and soda for the celebration. It was my first time to go trick or treat!

Karen (a Chamorro officemate) invited us to her house in Tototville. I invited 3 of my friends to join us so they could experience the fun too. Just like me, they've never been to a trick or treat before.

Tototville is your typical American subdivision. The houses were identical and there are no fences. The houses were decorated with jack-o-lanterns, spider webs and ghost-like figures. Some even played scary music in the background.

It was like Christmas in November! There were a lot of kids going from house to house saying, "trick or treat!" In turn, the adults would give them candies. The kids were wearing costumes. Some were dressed as Superman, Batman, Snow-White and my boss' daughter was a butterfly. She was a pink butterfly and she was so cute!

My friends and I accompanied the kids as they went from one house to another. After that, we headed for Karen's house and it was our turn to distribute the candies for the kids who came. We greeted them, "Happy Halloween." Some of the kids came in spooky costumes and masks. Some girls were so cute in their Disney Princess costumes.

When our candies ran out, we had dinner. Karen prepared barbeque, rice, pickled papaya, hotdogs and burger patties. The kids, including us, had a lot of fun playing billiards in the kiddie billiards table.

It was such a different experience because in the Philippines, almost everybody goes to the cemetery during Halloween. It's a somber time spent remembering the departed. Here in Saipan, Halloween time is fun time for the kids and a chance for the adults to get-together.