A café in Cubao is facing backlash over their choice of decorations for Halloween, which had been based largely on EJK.
For context, EJK stands for “extrajudicial killing” which refers to the unlawful killing of individuals, often carried out by state agents or vigilantes, without due process or legal proceedings. The term gained significant attention during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly in relation to his controversial war on drugs, which is widely reported to have led to thousands of deaths.
It’s also important to note that EJKs have sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, activists, and various sectors of society due to the serious violations of human rights involved.
The pictures were posted by a concerned internet user on X (formerly Twitter) showing the decoration that caught everyone’s eye of a faux corpse on the table with a sign that says “Wag Tularan [Don’t Imitate]” that is covered in fake blood.
Social media users have expressed their disbelief on social media with some pointing out that the said move was insensitive.
One user wrote, “Ginawang Halloween theme pa yung EJK sobrang baba na ng standards [EJK has turned into a Halloween theme, the standards are too low].”
Another user wrote, “Well sabihin nating theme yan kase malapit na halloween pero what the f*ck!! Medj brutal yung theme na’yan and napaka insensitive niyan. Nakaka walang gana kumain sa ganyang resto pag ganyan [Well let’s say that’s the theme because Halloween is near, but what the f*ck!! That theme is kind of brutal and very insensitive. I don’t feel like eating in a restaurant like that].”
“Kaharap lang nito halos ‘yung Silingan na itinataguyod ng mga ina ng mga biktima ng EJK. Sobrang nakakadismaya at parang walang pagpapahalaga’t respeto sa mga yumao’t naulila. Hindi ho para gawing costume ang isang human rights violation sa panahon mismo ng undas [Just in front of it is the Silingan (Café) who is ran by the mothers of EJK victims. It’s very disappointing and seems like there is no appreciation and respect for those who have passed away and are orphaned. It is not to turn a human rights violation into a costume during undas itself]!” a third user wrote.
Upon being made aware of the issue regarding the Halloween decoration, Bellini’s Caffé has released a statement stating that they were not informed about the added decoration and that they “usually go for the simple cobwebs, bats and spiders to decorate the place, with the additional banner and vampire capes for this year.”
“We sincerely apologize for what happened and we deeply regret not checking up on the store decoration ourselves before it was displayed,” they added. “Rest assured that we take this matter very seriously and we understand that this has caused distress. We value your feedback and are committed to ensuring our designs reflect the respect and sensitivity our community deserves.”
The café is now looking into the said matter to prevent this from happening again.
It is unclear who was made responsible for the establishment’s Halloween decorations for this year.
While it’s okay to be excited about making decorations to celebrate Halloween, one must remember to tread lightly in their actions to avoid offending or harming anyone. EJK is already a sensitive subject, making it even more inappropriate to use as a theme for Halloween decorations.
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