This Halloween, you’ll probably see plenty of people dressed as characters from K-Pop Demon Hunters—Rumi, Jinu, or even the flashy Saja Boys. But in the spirit of what Halloween really means, how about we dress up as the things that truly haunt us as a nation? Costumes that force us to remember, even when the music fades and the lights go out.

From privilege wrapped in fake humility to skeletons hiding behind barongs, here are five Filipino “costumes” that might just send shivers down your spine:

1. The Nepo Baby

Step into head-to-toe luxury that looks anything but. Think a logo-plastered Gucci belt over a wrinkled Prada shirt, shoes that don’t fit, and sunglasses worn indoors. Carry a diploma that reads “Family Connections” instead of a school name. The look is all money, no merit and that’s exactly what makes it scary.

2. The Victims of Flood Control

Put on a tattered raincoat patched with duct tape, cracked rubber boots, and clothes streaked with muddy stains. Sling a school bag that looks waterlogged and hold a plastic grocery bag over your head like an umbrella. This isn’t fantasy, it’s the haunting reminder of how thousands live every time the rains come and the projects don’t.

3. The Corrupt Senator

Wear a barong so tight the buttons are about to burst, stuffed at the belly to show years of self-prioritizing. Slip fake pesos into every pocket, add dark shades, and don a smug grin. Bonus points if you carry a lechon plate instead of documents. A walking embodiment of how power feeds itself while the nation starves.

4. The Ghost Project

Throw a white sheet over yourself but stencil “Bridge,” “School,” or “Road” across it in bold letters then cross them all out. Add a giant ribbon across your chest and hold oversized scissors as if you’re about to cut into thin air. On the front, it looks official. From behind, it’s nothing but emptiness.

5. The Influencer for Hire

Half trendy streetwear, half stiff corporate attire, with hashtags scribbled on your face in eyeliner. Hang a ring light around your neck like jewelry, carry a tripod with a phone, and stuff a tote bag with random freebies. Switch your spiel every five minutes: one moment it’s “#Sustainable,” the next it’s “#Patriotic,” depending on who’s paying. Terrifyingly adaptable.

Maybe this Halloween, we don’t just dress up for fun. Maybe we become the ghosts of what they’ve tried to bury: the lies exposed, the truths remembered. Maybe we wear our wounds like war paint, our rage like a costume, our memory like armor. Because the scariest thing to those who thrive in silence? A crowd that refuses to forget.