A lesson on costume effect

Free candy and cool costumes are things that make Halloween such a blast for kids everywhere. Then there are contests, parades, fashion shows and other activities to celebrate this supposedly creepy day.

Valle Verde 5 residents treated its youngsters to an unforgettable Halloween extravaganza.

The frightful fun began at 3 p.m. as a band did a round of the village — which was decorated in the spirit of the season and turned Valle Verde into an enchanted Halloweed land. Slowly, the village park was filled up with kids of all ages, dressed up in colorful costumes. Some went as witches while others came as pumpkins. Even a few parents joined the fun by dressing up for the affair themselves.

Free popcorn, cotton candy, french fries and drinks greeted all who went to the park. A Halloween fashion show spiced up the event further. Healthtex from Cinderella showed off its holiday collection of cotton dresses, denim outfits, leggings, short sets and pants accented by matching accessories like bags, backpacks, hats, belts and shoes. Games, jugglers, magic shows and candy showers ensured that kids were engrossed by the event.

The award for the Creepiest House went to Mr. and Mrs. Narciso, in second place was Dr. Josefina Cruz, and third place went to Dr. Noel Chua. The three winning houses had been turned into ghoulish abodes.

Moving on to costume awards, the winners in the below-one-year-old category were Tasha Reyes (Cutest), who dressed up as a sunflower blossom, and Kevin Yuson (Most Original), who came as a Flintstone baby. In the one-to-three-year-old category, Audrey Lim bagged the Cutest plum, Most Colorful went to Renier Peralta, Most Original to Maia Coronel (who dressed up as a cowgirl), Creepiest Costume to Migui Balingit, and Funniest Costume to Erica Lim. For kids four to seven, Jill Feliciano was adjudged Cutest, Most Colorful was Kiana Feliciano, Most Original was Danica Coronel (who dressed as a Christmas tree), and Funniest was Jaralyne Cueto. In the eight-years-and-above category, awards were given to Estefano Lipo (Cutest), Erin Feliciano (Most Colorful), Elaine Lim (Most Original), Desiree Ruaro (Creepiest) and Angelica Lacambra (Funniest). And of course, Halloween would not have been complete without the traditional trick or treating!

The Valle Verde 5 Halloween event was sponsored by Cinderella and Healthtex, along with Selecta, Nestlé, Sugarland, Citibank, Unilever, Kraft Foods, Van Melle, Leslie, Universal Robina, Farlin, Pillsbury, San Miguel, Family Reader, Richwell Trading, Fina Products, Blooming Handkerchief, Yokohama Merchandising, Cosmic and Rorie Eizmendi.