MANILA, Philippines –  Instead of running away from “zombies,” Mike Atienza ended up running after the organizers of a Halloween fun run to get his refund. 

Atienza was supposed to be one of the hundreds of participants in the “Makati After Dark: Run and Survive Hallowfest” on Thursday, October 31. But the event was unexpectedly cancelled midway.

The fun run was organized by J.R. Usi events planning management in collaboration with the Makati City tourism office. It promised attendees to expect some 3,000 “zombies” to “pop out of street corners and run after thrill-seeking runners” for “this year’s biggest Halloween event.” 

Atienza paid P1,000, expecting to experience a memorable Halloween for 2013.

He was disappointed. 

Resembling the popular TV series “Walking Dead,” the after-dark Makati fun run was a benefit run aimed at helping the victims of the 7.2-magnitude quake that hit the Visayas on October 15. 

Cancelled

But some of the runners did not get the chance to be chased by zombies and run the course. The event which was supposed to stretch from “6 pm to sunrise” ended prematurely at 10 pm. 

“We never got any shirt or loot bag,” Atienza said.  Part of the package paid by the attendess included freebies which participants said they never got to redeem.

Other participants claimed that the event lacked organization and that the route of the run was not cordoned off properly. He also noticed that some of the people dressed as “zombies” were too agressive.

“It seems like the zombies were not property oriented on what to do and what not to do,” Atienza added.

Promised concert

A street concert was also promised with several bands expected to perform. The line-up of bands included Callalily, Sandwich, 6cyclemind, Chicosci, Gracenote, and Moonstar 88. 

But at around 8 pm on Thursday, it was announced via social networking sites that the bands in the line-up would no longer be performing due to circumstances beyond control.

Due to circumstances beyond our management’s control, we will no longer be able to take part in the Makati After… http://t.co/psTXLWthvM

— Gracenote (@gracenote6) October 31, 2013

Gusto lang po namen ipaalam na di na kami kasama ng @6cyclemind at ng iba pang @SoupstarEnt artist sa makati after dark event tonight!:(

— Vic Aquino (@01Vic2ree) October 31, 2013

Due to circumstances beyond our management’s control, we will no longer be able to take part in the Makati After… http://t.co/NH4LSVZTPA

— 6CYCLEMIND (@6cyclemind) October 31, 2013

Organizers could not be reached

Atienza and other attendees want to get their refund.   

Ja Bautista, another participant, said event marshalls just asked them to write their names and numbers on a sheet of paper so the organizers will be able to contact them for their refund. 

Some participants said they are no longer sure how to proceed after the website, Facebook and Twitter accounts of the event organizers were taken down on Friday, November 1. 

The organizers have not yet released an official statement explaining the reasons for the cancellation of the event. 

Rappler repeatedly tried to get the side of the event organizers, but they have not responded to Rappler. – Rappler.com