Inviting the devil

Wearing scary costumes on Halloween “is like an invitation for the devil to come in.”

That’s the admonition of a member of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to the faithful earlier this week, as Church efforts got underway to make kids dress up as saints instead of witches and ghouls on All Hallow’s Eve.

Halloween is celebrated in several Christian countries. But the tradition, believed rooted in pagan harvest rituals, started gaining popularity in the Philippines only in recent years, fueled mainly by commercial marketing.

Like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and now Grandparents’ Day, I don’t remember any celebration of Halloween in my childhood. Retailers, however, saw the potential in adding more special days for nationwide consumerism, which we used to see only on Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Why should only candle makers and florists do good business on the days dedicated to the dearly departed?

As early as the other Sunday, several hotels and other commercial establishments already had Halloween events for children. Supermarkets began stocking up on pumpkins of all sizes and shapes, mostly imported, starting a few weeks ago.

Last night, as in recent years, houses in many gated villages were bedecked in ghoulish décor as residents welcomed children for trick or treat. In some affluent villages, children from poor communities and orphanages are allowed in during Halloween.

Pinoy kids, who watch stories about the supernatural on TV and in the movies, enjoy Halloween. I don’t think any kid feels he or she is attracting the devil by donning a ghost or vampire costume. Harry Potter also made witches and warlocks popular.

These celebrations gain popularity in this country because Filipinos embrace rituals that foster family togetherness and give an excuse for partying and celebration. We like having fun.

For similar reasons, Easter egg hunts have also become popular. Kids love the hunt, the brightly colored eggs, and the occasional real rabbits released as part of the celebration.

Children also seem to enjoy donning ghoulish Halloween costume. Our folklore is rich with stories about the supernatural. We have an island of witches (white and black) and a province supposedly of mangkukulam – people, mainly women, who cast evil spells.

The Catholic Church failed to eradicate our stories about vampires, haunted houses, kapre and dwende and other animist spirits.

To this day even in Metro Manila, people still ask spirits believed to be residing in old trees and bushes for their leave before the plants are pruned. And people still daub tawas when their stomach becomes distended for no medical reason. We still believe in hexes that are lifted only if the offended spirit is appeased.

The folklore is so widespread we should market it for tourism, the way New Orleans developed elaborate tourism packages around its voodoo tradition. Their tours include visits to graveyards, wherein the tombs of supposed witches and warlocks are pointed out to visitors.

We have equally interesting tombs – apart from the newer two-story ones with air conditioning and toilets that used to be found only in the Chinese cemetery. Controversial businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles supposedly hid in her departed mom’s air-conditioned mausoleum in Heritage Park when she was evading her arrest warrant.

But the stories behind these elaborate tombs are mainly of wealth, not hauntings. The ghost stories are more fun. So it’s doubtful that Pinoy children will stop wearing ghoulish costumes because the Church says they attract Satan.

Halloween is the only occasion for wearing spooky stuff; the rest of the year there are many occasions for dressing up as saints and angels. And anyway, isn’t Lucifer a fallen angel?

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I guess the CBCP feels it should keep reminding the faithful about the Church stand on pagan, animist beliefs, just as it feels it must keep reiterating the Church stand on contraception, divorce, homosexuality and other hot topics of the modern age.

Those views have been partly blamed for falling Church attendance in the past decades. Aggravating the problem are the sex and financial scandals that have rocked the Vatican and parishes in several countries.

In our country, the CBCP has been tarred by those sport utility vehicles given as gifts to the bishops by the Arroyo administration.

Faced with these problems, the new head of the world’s one billion Catholics is the best thing that has happened to the faith.

Pope Francis is breathing new life to a religion whose shepherds are seen to be losing touch with their flock.

Stories of Francis taking the bus instead of a Church service vehicle in his native Argentina, and then of eschewing the “popemobile” in Rome, resonated in our country where the CBCP has not yet recovered fully from the SUV scandal.

The faithful, and those who have strayed from the faith, are waiting for the response of the Philippine bishops to Francis’ message to the so-called princes of the Church: live simply like Francis of Assisi rather than like princes.

Also resonating in this country is the pope’s admonition to stop focusing on divisive issues such as abortion and contraception and instead return to the roots of the Catholic mission, which is to show mercy and provide comfort to the poor, the weak and the others who are suffering.

Francis lives his message of humility. This pontiff has come down from his throne and now mingles with the multitudes, even taking selfies with youthful followers.

Pope Francis has brought the Catholic Church closer to the people. When he speaks these days, even the heretics listen. When he sees children in Halloween costume, he‘ll likely pose with them for a selfie.