Mandaue cancels “horror booth”

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) has decided to cancel the annual “Horror Booth,” a 5-day Halloween event slated October 30 for the benefit of indigent kids (i-kids).

Sarah Walker-Cortes, chairperson of the council, yesterday said the cancellation is for the security of the public who may wish to enter the booth.

Cortes, wife of incumbent Mayor Jonas Cortes, said there are on-going aftershocks and they don’t want to put the lives of the people in jeopardy in case of a stampede.

Besides, the city government has yet to make the necessary repair works of the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex, the host-venue of the “horror booth.”

However, even without the “horror booth,” the I-kids summit to be participated by 650 indigent children from 27 barangays will go on as scheduled on December 20.

On the other hand, Maricel Yu, focal person of the city government of Mandaue for MCCPC said the city has appropriated P396,000 for the food and t-shirts for the summit.

Yu said other benefactors have also pledged support to the activity, compensating the supposed proceeds from the horror booth.

The annual project initiated by Sarah Walker-Cortes in coordination with Kaabag Foundation, Inc. started when Mayor Jonas Cortes took office in 2007.

Dubbed as “Kahadlok Mo, Pinaskuhan ko,” the event was a crowd drawer luring even those from outside Cebu.

Its cast included members of  Manpride, an organization of homosexuals in Mandaue City. (FREEMAN)