These features have shaped the psyche of Filipinos who tuned into the programme for generations, bringing to light various allegedly haunted spots – some of which became the subject of real atrocities – and their related histories. 

To this day, while some of the facts may have since been forgotten, these places still inspire horror. The Pangyao team researched two such places for this chilling feature, so read on, if you dare…….

Manila Film Center

Located on the southwest end of the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, this brutalist structure was designed by architect Dr. Froilan Hong. It was intended to be the country’s first official national film archive, with construction beginning around August 1981. With the first Manila International Film Festival due to be held in mid-January, a strict deadline was imposed; around 4,000 workers were employed to work three shifts across 24 hours to meet the aggressive timeline. 

But tragedy struck on November 17 when a scaffolding collapsed, as 169 workers fell from the structure and were buried under the quick-drying cement below. The Marcos dictatorship immediately imposed a complete media blackout; rescue teams and ambulances were not permitted on site until an official statement had been prepared. A full nine hours after the collapse, they were finally granted permission to enter.

Reports on how many fatalities there were on that day vary, as none were officially recorded. Some sources say more than 100 workers died, but according to a statement given by Dr. Froilan Hong, there were only 30 deaths, and all bodies were retrieved and given a proper burial. Popular belief persists that there are still countless bodies buried under the structure. 

Two months after the tragic accident, the Manila International Film Festival took place at the Manila Film Center as scheduled. Over the following years, numerous reports of paranormal activity at the site have been recorded, including ghost sightings, odd smells, moaning sounds, and cold spots in areas where the deaths occurred. Many psychics have conducted séances in the building, all claiming that the structure is haunted and cursed.

Today, the building is deemed structurally unsound due to the many earthquakes and fires that have occurred in subsequent decades. It currently sits abandoned, which only adds to the intrigue and fascination around its dark history. 

San Juanico Bridge

San Juanico Bridge, which connects the Visayan islands of Samar and Leyte, is the third-longest in the Philippines, with a total length of 2.16 kilometres. Construction started in 1969, and the bridge was finally opened in 1973. Despite attracting criticism and accusations of corruption when it first opened, it bolstered the local economies of Samar and Leyte and has become an important tourist attraction in the area.

According to urban legend, the supervisor overseeing the construction consulted a manghuhula, or fortune teller, and was told that for the bridge’s foundation to be strong, they must mix the blood of children into the concrete and entomb the children’s bodies within the pillars during construction. There are many stories at that time of missing children from the nearby rural villages, thus solidifying the rumours even more. 

Furthermore, the story goes that the river fairy who lived in the San Juanico Strait observed all the death that was happening and cursed the supervisor, who then grew scales on her legs and emitted a foul, rotten fish smell. 

San Juanico Bridge is currently undergoing major repair works due to structural damage caused by the numerous typhoons and earthquakes it has endured over the years. In June this year, President Bongbong Marcos declared a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas due to the bridge’s limited capacity, with economic losses estimated to reach PHP 600M (HKD 80M) due to its partial closure. It is planned to fully reopen by December 2025.