Religious opposition forces Baguio Halloween parade cancellation, sparks Creative City backlash

BAGUIO CITY — An annual Halloween parade was forced to cancel this year after facing religious opposition, prompting organizers and cultural advocates to question the city's commitment to creative freedom. The cancellation sparked an online petition circulating as of Tuesday, September 22, demanding that Baguio be stripped of its UNESCO Creative City status. The petition argues that the decision to halt the event contradicts the principles underlying the prestigious cultural designation. A group of young professionals brought the matter before the Baguio City Council, raising concerns about how religious considerations overrode artistic and cultural programming. The controversy highlights tensions between preserving religious sensibilities and fostering an environment conducive to creative expression in the highland city, which has long marketed itself as a center for arts and culture in the Philippines.