MANILA, Philippines - An official of a private schools' group on Monday discouraged learning institutions from staging Halloween parties, saying its a way of glorifying the devils with gory costumes.
Eleazardo Kasilag, president of the Federation of the Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (Fapsa), said school heads should teach pupils that Halloween is "partying with demons."
"Private schools heads are also guilty here dignifying the triumph of the devils with gory costumes, long horns, spooky sharp fangs, shattered faces and everything bad about the human body during Halloween, Kasilag said. The pupils in the pre-school as well as in the elementary have to be told that celebrating Halloween is partying with the demons," Kasilag said in statement.
He, however, said that if a school must celebrate the All Saints Day, campus personnel should instead encourage students and teachers to wear costumes that depict the cartoon characters or heroes.
"If there should be costume party in schools at this time, the toddlers can be inspired by the beauty of the fairies, the wonders of cartoon characters and the heroics of our super heroes. Then they will get the inspiration. Youngsters have to be told that this is very commercial in nature and not religious. In fact, the schools and pupils are being used. We need to honor and remember the good works of our dead but not celebrating their death or the horrors in the cemetery," Kasilag added.