10 Unique Filipino Inspired Halloween Costumes
Written By Niko Del Rey
Halloween is only a few weeks away and you might still be at the drawing board for an iconic Halloween costume. First off, the key to a good costume is to be easily recognizable and to be unique enough for people to understand but not so niche that you’re the only one in the loop. Secondly, if you’re reading this post JUST NOW, you might only have a few weeks or days to put your costume together, so the assembly has to be easy to throw together! Well, you’re in luck because we have a list of costumes that can be easily recognizable, unique to Filipino culture, and can be achieved overnight (especially if you have Amazon Prime). Here’s our fun list of 10 Unique Filipino-inspired Halloween Costumes.
1. If you are going for a Gen Z look, dress up as: Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo had one of the biggest entrances to the music scene in 2021 with her debut album, ‘SOUR’. Her iconic album artwork might be one of the easier executions on our list but millennials and Gen Zers at any party will be able to spot you from a mile away. The most important accessory to pull off this look are the flashy, colorful stickers on her face that you can find here: https://a.co/d/34qvCMz If you’re willing to go the extra mile, add a pink spaghetti strap top, a locket necklace, some matching jewelry, and a smidge of teenage angst and voila, you’re ready to take to the stage and sing your heart out!
2. If you want to show off some muscle, dress up as: Manny Pacquiao
One of my favorite looks on this list is our beloved Manny Pacquiao because it can be put together so easily. The 2 biggest things you’ll need to put this look together is the right facial hair (actual facial hair or costume) and a pair of boxing gloves. If you have those 2 down, I’m sure everyone will know who you are in an instant. However, if you want to really bring the look to life, I'd suggest finding appropriate Filipino shorts like these: https://a.co/d/bky2LJ8 and a robe to complete the boxer uniform. And if you want to add just the final cherry on top to make it real, try adding a boxing championship belt and/or finding a way to write “Pacquiao” on your shorts, just as he did during his fights.
3. If you want to be an Avenger, dress up as: Marvel’s Wave
With Marvel being one of the most popular go-to outfits for Halloween, why not add some of the motherland to your super costume and dress up as Marvel’s Wave, the newest Filipino heroine to be added to the Marvel Universe. Granted this one might be more catered to the cosplay type of reader but that also means your cosplay circle of friends will have their jaws dropped once they see you donning the latest and greatest Filipino superhero. I know this might not be the easiest or most budget-friendly to put together, but it was too good to pass up for our cosplay friends out there.
4. If you need a punny couple outfit, dress up as: Banana + Ketchup
Dad jokes are in and so are couples costumes! Everyone does Mr. and Mrs. Smith or Harley Quinn and The Joker but we aren’t here to give you a costume that people will forget among the masses. One of the easiest costumes to put together, you and your partner just need to find a banana costume like this and a ketchup costume like this. If you order now, you should get your costume by the weekend and the whole party will get the joke right when you light up the room.
5. If you want a vintage/dapper look, dress up in your: Filipiniana
The modern Barong and the modern Filipiniana have certainly made a huge comeback in fashion this past year. But Halloween is about having fun and dressing like other eras like the 1990s, 1980s, or even something more Gatsby and dapper like the 1920s. Well if you have a vintage formal Filipino outfit, now would be a great time to put it on and get into character about how you would have to walk a mile in the snow back in your day. Classic looks are always in style and the Filipinana is tried and true.
6. If you want to make a statement, dress up as: Catriona Gray
When Catriona Gray won Miss Universe in 2018 she wore the legendary 3 Stars and the Sun. This look might be the most iconic costume on this list, second to Manny Pacquiao. If you can get your hands on her world famous earrings like these. You’re only a crown & sash away from completing the look, with a nice evening gown of course. You’ll walk into any party, slowly wave and greet your adoring fans as they applaud you honoring Catriona Gray, one of the best to take the stage. (Not to mention that you can use these earrings for any future formal event).
7. If you really KNOW the 90’s, dress up as: Ernie Reyes Jr. (Surf Ninjas)
This might be a deep cut specifically to those 90’s kids who grew up watching TV. Ernie Reyes Jr. was one of the biggest names in the martial arts scene, especially within the acting community. You might have seen him in his role in The Last Dragon, Red Sonja, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and my favorite, Surf Ninjas. Although the costume is more inspired by Thai culture, we are honoring the actor who is Filipino at his core. All you’ll need for this look are Thai baggy pants, a tie-dye bandana, and a surfboard or costume sword to bring the look fully to life. Did you know Rob Schneider was also in this film and also Filipino? Start with these pants and you’re already 75% done with your outfit: here.
8. If you can craft well, dress up as: A Jeepney
Truly, I’m not even sure where you would begin with creating this costume, some cardboard boxes perhaps, or a harness to wear it? However you get the job done, I am sure that this costume would be the most viral thing anyone at your party has ever seen (If executed properly). Inspired by Mark Avendaño’s MIster Earth 2023 Costume, The Jeepney is a national symbol of the Philippines and would be loved at any event you go to. I think the frame can be easy to create with some cardboard boxes and PVC pipe but the real way to show off would be through the exterior decorating of the Jeepney which is the most fun and iconic aspect of your costume. Check out Mark Avendaño’s Mister Earth 2023 Costume for inspo!
9. If you want to turn up the heat, dress up as: Lechon
I think everyone would be lining up to take a photo with the “Lechon” of the party, one of our favorite focal points to any Filipino party, embodied as a Halloween costume. This can be a funny group costume with a few of your friends carrying you around a fully dressed pig or maybe you take the easy Mean Girls approach with a pig’s snout and some ears with flames on your feet. Either way, if you can stretch out over costume fire or on a dinner table, the joke will practically sell itself.
10. If you want to honor pop culture, with a stylish look, dress up as: Bruno Mars
This might be one of the most popular looks on our list because, who doesn’t love Bruno Mars? Although Bruno has so many iconic looks, I think his matching red satin look from his 24k Magic album artwork is his most iconic look to date. Lucky for us, we can get a satin pajama set overnight delivered on Amazon. Just add a white hat, sunglasses, and costume jewelry to fully deck out this look. Pro tip: If you want to make this into a couple outfit, you can make your outfit a Silk Sonic costume and have your other half add some Anderson Paak to spice up your look.
Trade talk just got real. The U.S. is setting the stage for a new kind of economic clapback and the Philippines might get caught in the middle with a 17% import tariff coming this July. It sounds like something buried deep in a government PDF, but here’s the thing: this could mess with jobs, prices, military deals, and even how we as Filipino Americans move through the world.
So let’s decode what’s going on, why it matters, and what the ripple effects could look like for all of us navigating life between cultures.