Angelino AF (Asian Flavor)

Last night, I joined the 2025 West Hollywood Halloween Parade — my first time ever participating in something like that! I’d never really done anything like it before, especially dressing up for Halloween. Growing up in the Philippines, Halloween wasn’t really a big deal—well, at least not back in my day. Of course, Filipinos love to pick up Western traditions, so I guess it’s becoming more popular there now. But when I was growing up, our version of “Halloween” was visiting cemeteries, cleaning tombs, spending a couple of days praying, and catching up with family and friends. Anyway, back to West Hollywood — last night, I went all out and dressed up as KAREN!

I really wanted to stay in character the whole night, but I realized if I did, I’d probably miss out on all the fun. Plus, let’s be honest—I was a little scared people might actually hate me for acting like a real Karen! 😂 To be honest, I kind of hated my costume halfway through the night anyway. Everywhere I looked, there were people in jaw-dropping, creative outfits—movie characters, pop icons, spooky creatures, you name it. The whole street felt like a living, breathing runway of imagination. The party itself was massive! The crowd stretched for blocks, and they said there were nearly half a million people out there. It was chaotic, colorful, and absolutely unforgettable.

By around 10 p.m., I started to feel the exhaustion kicking in. The street party was scheduled to wrap up by 11 because of noise complaints, but of course, the bars in WeHo kept the celebration going until around 2 a.m. I honestly had no intention of staying out that late. Don’t get me wrong—I really enjoyed the festivities, the people-watching, and all the wild creativity—but deep down, I knew this kind of massive crowd just wasn’t my scene. I didn’t feel completely comfortable being surrounded by that many people; part of me couldn’t shake off the uneasiness. Still, I’m glad I went—it was something worth experiencing at least once. In fact, I think I enjoyed chatting with my partner’s friends more than being out in the middle of the chaos! It gave me a different kind of fun, more relaxed and genuine. I told myself I probably wouldn’t do this again… but then again, never say never. Maybe if I come up with a really good costume next year, I’ll find myself back out there, ready to give it another shot. 🎭