The ghost of Halloween past

I have seen some of the most horrible films, and some of the most unforgettable ones.

Such stories should only either be something that totally speaks of the everyday things we deal with or something extremely unbelievable and beyond our imagination.

Cartoons didn’t really interest me as a kid. I’ve always wanted to grow up a little older and do what the big kids do.

Although love stories were not in my vocabulary at that time, movies about teenage school experiences and boyfriends always caught my eye.

The whole growing up thing and trying to fit in with the other kids were absolute issues for me.

Having to grow up in a different country, adjust to its culture and, at the same time, learn to understand and communicate with these aliens was a bit hard for me.

My first school was Bethany Lutheran, along Sunset Blvd. in L.A. The school stood right next to a Catholic church, where we had to sing and pray every afternoon.

Every few days or so, our school teacher would take us out for a walk around the neighborhood for "exercise."

I used the term "exercise" because I never really saw a purpose to it.

It was just like free time for us. It was hard for me to understand why there were only 31 students in that school, from kindergarten to eighth grade!

I only had three classmates in the same grade but these kids were different.

We were all different from each other. Every one of us represented a different country. We would all attend class all at the same time.

People skills, communication and discipline were the main things we discussed. This was where I learned all the "American traits."

There are just so many things they value over there. There were so many nights and days off from school for the holidays.

Their values are much different from ours over here in the Philippines. I studied there for only a year, and then I was off to the jungle, the crazy world of kids in the big school, where I had at least 20 other classmates in each class.

It was a big change for me. That was the time when I got into watching teen films and started learning about all the different "techniques" in trying to fit in.

Bethany Lutheran School means a lot to me. Some of the memories they’ve left me were pretty life-changing. It was where I learned my first steps.

Halloween was never really celebrated here in the Philippines. Here, we visit the cemetery and literally sleep there overnight.

I never knew the fun side to it. My first Halloween was awesome. I had so much fun wearing the costumes, pretending to be a monster for one whole day then receive a whole bunch of candies from Trick or Treating.

I haven’t dressed up like a monster since then, thank God! I would prefer to keep that below the age of 15, please.

When I entered high school, it was always about dressing up pretty and being beautiful for that day.

All the "below 15" memories came back to me when I recently had prosthetics done to look like a monster for Barang.

It was horrible, but fun. It just takes so long to get it on! It’s hard work, I’d say. That was my first time to be a part of a horror film, so I had no idea what to expect of it in the theaters.

Last Monday was our premiere night at SM North Edsa, and the finished product was terrific! It’s a very Halloween movie.

I’m proud to be a part of it. Every single one of us in the movie worked hard to make it as good as it is.

Christian Luis, son of Gov. Chavit Singson, and Ms. Che Singson did a marvelous job in front of the camera.

That was his first time acting, and he surely made it clear to us he could do it! Given the proper break, this kid will go a long way in the business.

I couldn’t thank Gov. Chavit Singson and Ms. Che enough for trusting me to be part of the film and play Igna, the barang victim.

Barang is a great treat for the whole family. Trust me, watching this is worth the hour of getting scared and making your blood rise in your seat.

I even had to move seats and sit next to my friends Abby, Phuc, Dong, Joy and Chi-Chi (Thanks for your support guys!) because even I got scared!

Halloween is coming closer and closer, so please catch Barang.

Have a great Sunday!