There’s nothing scarier than a horror story that’s “based on true events.” For years, Jessica Soho’s “Gabi ng Lagim” has terrified audiences with the possibility that something so supernatural can actually happen in real life. With Halloween nearing, so is the return of the highly anticipated segment, the Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho Halloween Special.
To prepare for its return, here are six of the best horror stories in “Gabi ng Lagim” worth revisiting.
‘Sanib’ (2016)
If someone asked me to name my favorite KMJS “Gabi ng Lagim” episode, my immediate answer would be “Sanib.” The episode propelled me to do my own research after watching it, and it’s understandable why it’s one of the most-viewed episodes by far. “Sanib” recounts the story of Clarita Villanueva, the 17-year-old girl whose alleged demonic possession took place in the Old Bilibid Prison in Manila. Despite being alone in her cell, Villanueva was found to have spontaneous, mysterious bite marks and scratches all over her body, which the prison doctors and journalists witnessed firsthand. Two unseen, malevolent entities were the culprits of her torment, according to Villanueva. This 1953 case was also talked about worldwide, having been considered Asia’s first documented case of demonic possession. It was later adapted into a movie, Clarita, starring Jodi Sta. Maria in 2019.
‘Diplomat Hotel’ (2016)
For all its acclaim as a tourist destination, Baguio is often at the center of some of the most terrifying horror stories in the country. The strange case of the Diplomat Hotel is perhaps the most well-known to date. It became the stuff of legend that I visited the place myself in 2016 and was spooked by how abandoned it was and the strange feeling inside. In this episode, aired in 2016, KMJS takes us inside the hotel to explore reports of hauntings and sightings that have long plagued the area, based on the experiences of security guards and other visitors. This place became a site of tragedy during World War II when it was occupied by Japanese forces, which is why some believe that the spirits that linger still are from that time.
‘Bisita’ (2017)
What would you do if you saw an eerie figure of an uninvited guest in your wedding photos? In this episode, KMJS investigated the story of a wedding in Cabuyao, Laguna, where a mysterious figure seemingly appeared in the background of the official photographs and was even watching the ceremony. This was confirmed by the bride and groom, the official photographer, as well as other family members who reportedly witnessed the unsettling phenomenon. The segment also delved into the history of the church where the wedding was held, revealing its connection to a tragic event in 1935 that involved mass casualties on the church grounds.
‘Haunted Hospital’ (2018)
You’ve probably heard of countless horror stories surrounding hospitals, but this one abandoned hospital in Angeles City, Pampanga, is one of the most chilling in the history of KMJS. This episode revolves around the experiences of the former workers who reported child cries and unexplainable shadows in photos, among others, at the Philippine International Hospital. Built in 2003 and left abandoned in 2009, the hospital was recent enough that the report includes actual footage that adds to the horror of it all.
‘Manila City Hall’ (2018)
The Manila City Hall, built in 1941, has long been described as coffin-shaped. Having been impacted by World War II, the building was not free from being the setting of paranormal encounters. In this “Gabi ng Lagim” episode, employees of the city hall reported their experiences of seeing ghostly figures and hearing unexplained noises, particularly in offices and elevators. Historians, architects, and psychiatrists were also invited to explain the eerie events.
‘Sundo’ (2019)
Before it first aired on KMJS, it was already debated at the time on social media. The episode investigated the 2018 selfie video of a young boy, which later became a source of fright after the family saw that an older figure, who looked like the boy’s grandmother, was peeking on the left side. The catch? His lola has been dead for over a year since the time of the incident. Experts invited to the episode even confirmed that there were no CGIs or manipulation present in the video. A lola’s love and care never falter, indeed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“Gabi ng Lagim” is the annual Halloween segment of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS), investigating purported supernatural events across the Philippines. Framed as “based on true events,” it revisits alleged hauntings, possessions, and unexplained phenomena reported by real witnesses, making it one of KMJS’s most anticipated yearly specials.
Clarita Villanueva was a 17-year-old girl whose alleged demonic possession at Manila’s Old Bilibid Prison in 1953 produced mysterious bite marks and scratches witnessed by prison doctors and journalists. The case, considered Asia’s first documented demonic possession, was revisted in KMJS “Gabi ng Lagim” “Sanib,” and later adapted into the 2019 film “Clarita,” starring Jodi Sta. Maria.
The Diplomat Hotel is linked to tragedy during the Japanese occupation in World War II, and many believe spirits from that era still linger there. Security guards and visitors have long reported hauntings and sightings, making the abandoned structure a recurring subject of paranormal investigation and local legend.
“Bisita” investigated a wedding in Cabuyao, Laguna, where an unidentified figure reportedly appeared watching the ceremony and captured in in official photographs, a sighting confirmed by the bride, groom, photographer, and other family members. The episode also traced the church’s history to a tragic mass-casualty event in 1935.
“Sundo” centered on a 2018 selfie video in which a figure resembling a boy’s deceased grandmother appeared beside him, over a year after her death. The clip circulated widely on social media before KMJS featured it, and consulted experts found no evidence of CGI or manipulation.
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