Mascot Encounter

I always see people dressed as objects and mascots on the streets, often handing out leaflets. On my way to my jog in Marikina, I passed by a grown man dressed as a germicidal bar of soap. Imagine Spongebob Squarepants, only dressed like a box of soap, in pastel pink. I stopped in front of him, trying to locate his eyes. And the germicidal soap started dancing and shaking his hips, for crying out loud.

Men standing on a corner, dressed as hotdogs, french fries, bananas, burgers, soap, these things make me sad. They belong in a parade, not on the streets. When they hand out leaflets, I accept them graciously. A cousin of mine once worked as a Jollibee mascot and he says those costumes are so damn hot, uncomfortable and it takes a lot of effort to maneuver your movements, not to mention the pesky children demanding to be carried.