UP FOR A GOOD SCARE?: Mandaue's horror booth for a cause now open

CEBU, Philippines - It’s the time of the year when horror stories of the supernatural and of Halloween come to life. But it’s also just a month away from the Happy Holidays.

Yet, question, how can one enjoy Christmas when one doesn’t have anything to enjoy?

Mandaue City sees this situation as prevalent among their indigent and disadvantaged children. While the business district is beaming with colorful lights and parols, some of their constituents are in darkness.

This is why for the third straight year, the city of Mandaue, through Kaabag Foundation, Inc. and the Council for the Protection of Children, has been holding the “Horror Booth sa Mandaue: Kahadlok mo, Pinaskuhan Ko.”

Sarah Cortes, Mandaue City’s first lady and the president of the Council for the Protection of the Children, stressed during the launch last October 28 that the project is for the benefit of the city’s indigent children.

“Whatever we earn from this, we will spend for the 1,000 indigent children of Mandaue. We will have Christmas parties and we will give lots of goodies,” she said.

At least through this way, she added, they can share happiness and love, after all, this is what Christmas is about.

Cortes gave credit to the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI) for sparking the idea for the project. Back in 2007, Cortes was inspired by the project of RAFI during the Children’s month. Cortes wanted to do somewhat the same for the children of Mandaue.

And the timing is right as October is the Children’s month and November is Halloween. The time is enough for them to gather funds for their planned Christmas party for indigent children.

After two years of successfully mounting the horror booth, Engr. Emeterio Cabilao of Kaabag Foundation, Inc. said that they only needed two days to prepare this year’s staging.

“We’re already used to it. We used recycled materials, so maayo na kaayo. Paspas na,” he said.

Scarier gimmicks

With an entrance fee of only P20, you can have your unforgettable experience of frights and horrors.

Upon entering the horror booth set up at the Mandaue City Sports Complex, you’ll meet the likes of Dracula, tianaks, zombies and aswangs. Coupled with incense smells, gruesome coffins and horrifying sound effects, the scary experience is made complete.

     Creative director Judy Torres claims that the booth this year is creepier, with the props shocking you even upon entering the lobby.

The 50 cast members from Mandaue’s Pride (ManPride) no longer underwent screening as some were personally chosen, others volunteered.

ManPride adviser Nanette Cortes-Bowler reiterated that while the people get carried away with the chilling emotion, they must also respect their cast.

 “Nahitabo na na sa una nga naay managpa, manumbag, mamirag buhok. Shagit lang mo, ayaw lang hilabti ang characters,” she said.

She explained that the cast members are manning the booth for six to eight hours.

“They are all accounted for. We give them 40% of the share of the income of the booth. The place is secured also, we have tanods and police roving the place,” she said.

Reduction of Amusement Tax?

Weeks ago, First Lady Cortes pleaded to the Mandaue City Council to reduce or moreso, exempt their projects like the Horror Booth, from the 12% Amusement Tax.

Yet things didn’t go according to plan.

Officer-in-charge of Mandaue City Jimmy Lumapas said the council seems not bent on giving in to their request.

“Dili man nila ihatag ang reduction. Though we have discussed it in the council but murag adto gyud na padung. Babagan gyud nila,” Lumapas explained.

Even as the council reportedly had questioned where the funds go, FL Cortes maintained that they have receipts, pictures, and liquidation documents to prove what had been produced out of the project so far. Despite that tinge of politics, the horror goes on for a worthy cause. Mandaue City’s Horror Booth is now open until November 3, 2009.