IT'S TRICK OR TREAT TIME, AND kids will always be kids.
To make it easy for parents and kids, check out this list of enchanting Halloween indulgences. Let kids become their favorite princes and fairies, or the spookiest sorcerers, elves and goblins.
At Dusit Thani Manila, enter a world of mystical creatures--the Enchanted Forest.
With guest hosts Twitchy the Witch and Jeffrey the Lepree, kids are in for an afternoon of Halloween scares, fun games, storytelling, glitter tattoo, arts and crafts, meet and greet with the Wizard, TLC Kid and Fun Ranch mascots, and yummy merienda buffet for kids 3-12 years old on Oct. 30, 3-5 p.m.
Most enchanting Halloween costume wins special prizes from Osh Kosh B' Gosh. All participating kids bring home loads of goodies and giveaways.
(Call 867-3333.)
At Sofitel Philippine Plaza, kids in the most imaginative costumes will be called onstage for an impromptu Halloween show and to win prizes.
Visit Fun-tivities@Spiral on Oct. 30 and 31, Nov. 1 and 2 for magic tricks, face painting and balloon twisting. Trick or Treat@Spiral is on Oct. 31, 1-4 p.m. with special kiddie loot bags.
Dine at Spiral or Book and Stay on Oct. 30 and 31 and get free tickets for Trick or Treat.
At InterContinental Manila, the Grand Ballroom opens its Little House of Horror for games, activities, booths, mascot appearances, prizes, food and drinks and the most-awaited trick or treat for everyone. The best in Halloween costume wins a prize on Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m. (Call 793-7000.)
At Heritage Hotel, ward off the ghouls and goblins of Halloween with the protective and lucky charms of a lunch/dinner buffet at the Riviera Café ongoing until Oct. 31.
Executive chef Alvin Ng's international gourmet specialties for the family include Ballontine of Chicken with Prawn Mousse, Grilled Tenderloin of Beef with Onion Marmalade and Red Wine Reduction (854-8888).
At Discovery Suites, "Spooktacular, Spooktacular!" starts at 2:30 p.m., Oct. 31. The afternoon bash has a balloon show, games and merienda buffet at Restaurant 5. Joining the kids are the wacky Fun Ranch Characters--Red the Dog, Skye the Blue Horse and Sunny the Duck.
For Trick or Treat, kids are brought to the guest floors that have been turned into creepy haunted areas. Kids knock on every door and enter the room to get their bag of treats. Registration for "Spooktacular, Spooktacular!" starts at 1:30 p.m. (Call 683-8222.)
At Cowboy Grill, it's all treats and no tricks and good food and live entertainment on Oct. 30. Just come in your spookiest costume for a special surprise treat. (Malate, Mabini, Las Piñas, UN Avenue and Biñan, Laguna).
Down south, Festival Supermall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, presents its annual Halloween Costume Contest for kids aged 4-10.
Festival Supermall shuns the spooky and scary theme and chooses to be all magical and beautiful with a "Magical Fairy Tale Halloween." Children must dress up as kings, queens, princes, princesses, fairies and elves on Oct. 31, 1 p.m. Registration at 10 a.m.
In Eastwood City, the scariest adventures are happening until Oct. 31. Each corner of Eastwood City will be transformed into a spook nook.
Visit Eastwood Mall's Chamber of Horror Maze of ghouls, ghosts, goblins and other Halloween characters. The P50 registration fee for the Chamber of Horror Maze is inclusive of a Halloween loot bag, Oct. 30, 11 a.m., Eastwood Mall Atrium.
Now, if you want to know what life has in store for you, there's the Eastwood City Psychic Festival until Oct. 30.
The Ayala Malls will be all Halloween vibes--Greenbelt, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Market! Market!, Bonifacio High Street, TriNoma, Marquee Mall. There'll be candy loot bags at Activity Center, Halloween balloons at Kids' Zone, Timezone Powercards, Hershey's chocolates, and Halloween treats for pets.
There'll be arts and crafts, free snapshots at Photo Station, and face painting booth at Pumpkin Photo station at 3/L, Kids Section, Greenbelt 5, Oct. 29-31; and Halloween Craft Booth, 3/L , Kids Section, Greenbelt 5, Oct 31.
At Marquee Mall in Pampanga, the mall-wide Treat or Trick starts at noon, Oct. 31, with a concert featuring Kyla at 6 p.m. at the Activity Center. Come in wacky or spooky costumes to claim Halloween loot bags at the Main Concierge, 1/L.
At Ayala Museum, a full day of thrills and chills awaits the family on Oct. 31, 3 p.m. Hear tales of local ghouls, fools and creatures like "tikbalang" and "duwende." Prepare to be spooked with hair-raising stories about these creatures.
After meeting the spine-chillers, test your creativity and imagination by making your own monster. Come in your creepiest costume and get ready to fill your bags with sweets to complete your ghoulish Halloween treat. Materials will be provided by the museum and participation is free with regular museum admission (757-7117/21 loc. 29).
The island of Corregidor, an hour away from Manila, is a perfect backdrop for Halloween activities. Sun Cruises Inc. takes visitors on a different Halloween treat from Oct. 31-Nov. 2.
Adventure begins with a thrilling night tour of the Malinta Tunnel where restless spirits of thousands of Filipino, Japanese and American soldiers and medical personnel who died during the war are believed to loiter at midnight.
Guests will also be taken to a spooky night-time ride to different parts of the island aboard a World War II-type tranvia bus, and get to go ghost-hunting in the Old Hospital Ruins.
At daytime, adventure-loving hikers will get to rediscover, on foot, the hidden trails buried by the Pacific War.
Of course, these are for older kids.
The very young kids will also be entertained by mask painting, costume-making, trick or treat, and ghost story-telling at the bonfire by the island's South Beach (831-8140, 834-6857 to 58).
This parade is not really for kids but adults 18 years old and above who can wear their scariest yet most creative getup for fabulous cash prizes.
The Burgos Halloween Parade on Oct. 30 starts along P. Burgos St., in Barangay Poblacion, Makati. The creepiest garb wins P10,000. Those with the Scariest, Funniest, Best Historical or Most Famous Person, Best in Fantasy and Best Superhero look win P2,000. About 30 lucky participants will be picked to get P1,000 each as consolation prizes. Register on Oct. 30, 8 p.m (092-67075060.)