Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A Halloween celebration wouldn’t be complete without sharing ghost stories or creepy encounters with unseen spirits – and Xyriel Manabat, Charlie Dizon and Jillian Ward each have something to tell.

Telling ghost stories or blood-curdling experiences with friends have always been a favorite pastime for those who enjoy the spooky season. It doesn’t matter if it ends with the group having an unexplained chilly feeling right after, as long as the stories are good. To celebrate the season, here’s what Manabat, Dizon, and Ward shared about their creepy encounters.

Xyriel Manabat

When Manabat was around ‘six or seven’ years old, she experienced being in the company of an unidentified spirit that put a taping on hold.

‘Naransan ko dati sa taping – kasi sa forest ang location – kinailangan namin mag-stop. As in na-tengga kami at hindi kami maka-take kasi may nakita po ako at hindi ako maka-stop sa pag-iyak. Lahat sila, hinintay para kumalma ako kasi mga six or seven ako n’un,’ she said during a talkback session for the horror film ‘Near Death.’

(I once experienced this during taping – the location was in a forest – we had to pause it. We really had no choice but to put it on hold because I saw something and I couldn’t stop from crying. I was around six or seven, and they all waited for me to calm down.)

The actress said the filming location had a huge tree, although she couldn’t remember what she witnessed at that time.

‘Malaking puno kasi ‘yun, ang tawag nila, balete, may nakita kaming nakatingin d’un t’as tinititigan lang niya ako. Hindi ko alam ano siya. Iyak daw ako nang iyak tapos hindi ko ma-explain sa kanila. Nag-stop kami mag-taping hangga’t nakikita ko,’ she said.

(It was a big tree, they called it balete. I saw someone at the tree who stared at me. I didn’t know what it was. I ended up crying, and I couldn’t explain why. We stopped taping while I could still see it.)

Charlie Dizon

For Dizon, she and her family hired a house helper who ended up getting possessed by an unknown spirit. This led to them enlisting the help of a faith healer, nuns, and other people to help her.

‘Sa bahay namin dati noong grade school ako, meron kaming kasambahay na sinapian siya. Kung sino-sino nang pumunta [sa’ming] mga albularyo, madre, as in na-experience ko siya until 5 a.m.,’ she recalled.

‘Sinabi na may tatlong dwende sa bahay namin. As in natatakot na akong banggitin ang pangalan nila kasi sinasabi na baka i-follow ka. Sinabi na swerte sila sa bahay namin kaya wala raw nagkakasakit nang malala. Hindi raw kami nakaka-experience ng hirap,’ she continued.

(When I was in grade school, we had a house helper who got possessed. Several faith healers and nuns came over. We were told that there were three dwarves in our house. I was scared to share their names because they told me that it might follow me. We were nonetheless told that they brought luck to our home. This is why no one got badly sick. We didn’t experience any hardships.)

Dizon recalled that these dwarves loved her family’s house helper, adding that since she was suffering from depression at the time, she would often go to their spot to feel better.

‘Ang kasambahay namin na-typan niya, d’un ko naintindihan ang kasambahay namin. Depressed ang kasambahay namin tapos tumambay siya sa area kung nan’dun ang dwende. Kapag low ang vibration or lower ang frequency, d’un sila papasok. ‘Yun ang explanation sa’min ng albularyo. ang inadvise sa kasambahay namin is kailangan itawid sa dagat para hindi siya sundan ng mga dwende,’ she said.

(They liked my house helper, and that’s where I understood where she’s coming from. She was depressed and would go to their spot where the dwarves were. When she experienced low vibration and low frequency, that’s where they go in. At least that’s what the faith healer explained to us. Our house helper was advised to be brought to the sea so the dwarves couldn’t follow her.)

Jillian Ward

Ward shared that she had a creepy encounter while filming the upcoming movie ‘Gabi ng Lagim.’

‘Noong nagsho-shoot ako ng ‘Gabi ng Lagim,’ we were shooting at the church tapos sobrang nilalamig ako. Ako lang pala ang nilalamig sa aming lahat so kaba lang ba ‘yun or there’s something else,’ she told reporters on the sidelines of The New Nocturnals ball.

(While we were shooting ‘Gabi ng Lagim’ at a church, I felt an indescribable chill. It turned out I was the only one who felt that way. Did it have something to do with the nerves or was there something else?)

A Magnitude 4.4 earthquake was recorded northeast of San Policarpo town in Eastern Samar on Friday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its bulletin.

Reports from Phivolcs showed that the underwater movement was tectonic in nature, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers below the ground. The earthquake’s epicenter was located 56 kilometers northeast of San Policarpo.

Instrumental Intensities were recorded:

Intensity III – Palapag, Northern Samar

Intensity II – Mapanas, Northern Samar

Intensity I – Can-avid, Eastern Samar

No aftershocks and no damage are expected after the earthquake.

Amnesty International-Philippines has appointed Ritz Lee Santos III as its new Section Director effective Nov. 1, following the passing of former director Butch Olano, who led the organization from 2016 until 2024.

The appointment of Santos marks the first time in the organization’s history that a leadership transition comes amid the loss of a sitting director.

‘This transition demanded transparency and a strong reaffirmation of shared values,’ said outgoing Board of Trustees Chair Veronica Cabe.

Santos, a longtime human rights advocate based in this city, brings decades of experience in advocacy, community development, and people’s engagement. He has previously served as chairperson and member of the Board of Trustees and sat on Amnesty International’s global board, earning a reputation as a strategic leader and steadfast defender of human rights. ‘I will always trust the expertise of the Amnesty Philippines team,’ he said. Santos said his first year will focus on strengthening Amnesty’s participation in national human rights networks, expanding the organization’s presence in Visayas and Mindanao, and amplifying its voice in national accountability processes.

‘Looking ahead to 2026, we will work for stronger grassroots membership infrastructure, broader empowerment of local members, and proactive campaigning on the most urgent threats to human rights,’ he said.

Alongside Santos’ appointment, Amnesty International Philippines also introduced its newly elected Board of Trustees for 2025-2027, composed of leaders from various advocacy and governance backgrounds-including child rights, LGBTQI advocacy, data analytics, finance, and social development.

‘The incoming BoT is composed of advocates deeply involved in inclusive, intersectional community initiatives,’ Cabe said. ‘We have inherited a legacy of courage, and it is our responsibility to carry it forward-clearer and stronger, with full empathy,’ Santos said.

To curb the spread of illegal drugs during the holiday break, police arrested three alleged major drug traffickers in separate buy-bust operations in Quezon province Thursday and Friday.

The twin operations yielded over P17.9 million worth of ‘shabu’ (crystal meth) and an unlicensed firearm, according to Colonel Romulo Albacea, Quezon police chief.

On Thursday afternoon, operatives of the Quezon Police Drug Enforcement Unit nabbed a 27-year-old woman known as ‘Rica’ at 3:09 p.m. after she sold P5,000 worth of shabu to an undercover agent in Barangay Cotta, this city.

Recovered from the suspect were 36 plastic sachets containing about 875 grams of suspected shabu.

Based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s standard valuation of P6,800 per gram, the haul was initially pegged at P5.95 million. However, authorities said its street value could reach as high as P17.85 million at P20,400 per gram.

‘The illegal drugs were meant for distribution in Lucena City and nearby towns during the All Souls’ Day observance,’ Albacea told journalists, noting that syndicates often take advantage of the influx of vacationers during the holidays.

Rica, a resident of the same barangay, is listed as a high-value individual (HVI) on the police drug watchlist-a classification reserved for major financiers, traffickers, and syndicate members.

In a separate operation at 4:45 a.m. Friday, police in Infanta town arrested two suspects identified as ‘Rolando’ and ‘Jojo’ during a sting conducted inside a public cemetery.

Authorities seized from them five sachets of suspected shabu weighing 35.7 grams, with a street value of about P728,280, along with a Magnum .357 Smith and Wesson revolver loaded with three bullets and lacking proper documentation.

A motorcycle allegedly used in their illegal trade was also confiscated.

Police identified Rolando as an HVI, while Jojo is categorized as a street-level pusher.

Investigators are tracing the source of the illegal drugs peddled by the three suspects.

All suspects are detained and face charges for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Rolando and Jojo will also be charged with illegal possession of firearms

Monty Montebon had a rough start in Adamson’s second-round encounter with the University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

The sweet-shooting guard made up for it in the best way possible, helping the Soaring Falcons outlast the Growling Tigers, 97-96, in overtime at Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday.

Even Montebon himself was surprised by how Adamson clawed its way back against UST.

‘Honestly, I thought the game was a bit out of reach, but coach told us to keep playing until the end of the whistle,’ he said. ‘We did just that and everyone made the right plays. I was able to make those threes and force overtime.’

Montebon finished with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, with none bigger than his late-game heroics to end regulation.

The streaky shooter took matters into his own hands, scoring six of Adamson’s last nine points, including the game-tying triple with five seconds left that forced overtime. The Falcons were down by eight, 88-80, with just 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Even coach Nash Racela lauded Montebon’s composure in shaking off his early struggles to give Adamson another shot in the extra period.

‘That’s one thing that Monty struggles with, playing the next possession, but today, he forgot about that,’ Racela said. ‘Regardless of what’s behind you, whether it’s good or bad, what’s important is what’s in front.’

Montebon’s clutch performance lifted Adamson to the upper half of the standings with a 5-4 record.

PLDT was able to bounce back from a wake-up call pretty well and it is something that taught the High Speed Hitters a lesson as they gun to win a third straight PVL title.

‘We cannot be complacent, not even a bit,’ coach Rald Ricafort said in Filipino after his crew got back on the Reinforced Conference track over the weekend as the High Speed Hitters brace for a tough match against an Nxled squad at FilOil EcoOil Center.

A loss to sister team Cignal in straight sets more than a week back reignited the fire in the High Speed Hitters, as it snapped a 15-game winning streak that resulted in two championships. That’s something in the past now, as far as Ricafort is concerned.

He is even wondering why that was a big deal.

‘It was a distraction to us,’ he said. ‘Maybe it’s because it was used as a marketing tool. But that’s not our focus. What we want is to keep improving every game, every conference.’

Game time is 6:30 p.m., with PLDT shooting for a top-three spot in Pool A, even as Farm Fresh and Choco Mucho battle in the 4 p.m. contest, with a triple bill being touched off by the Cignal-Capital1 clash at 1:30 p.m.

For Cignal, that hard-fought win was the turning point in its campaign. The Super Spikers (2-2) now aim to extend their streak against the Solar Spikers.

Farm Fresh will be coming off its first loss, one dealt by the awakened High Speed Hitters in four sets. The Foxies are eager to rebound from that and snag a win to cement their hold on the No. 2 slot in Pool A.

Not only does Malacañang deal with past problems of previous presidents, but also with literal ghosts that haunt the presidential office.

Palace employees shared their spine-chilling paranormal experiences while at work in a nearly 14-minute video special by the Radio Television Malacañang and the Presidential Communications Office, titled ‘Malacañang Horror Stories,’ in time for the spooky season of Halloween.

One story was that of Master Sgt. Ramsam Gordo, who has been working as a presidential guard for 28 years, recounted one time during his midnight duty in making rounds within the Palace landing when he heard children playing around 1 a.m. at the Rizal Hall.

When he went upstairs to confirm, he found no one and even went inside further, but to no avail.

‘I went to check every side because the children may just be hiding, but there was no one there at all,’ Gordo said in Filipino in the Halloween clip special, realizing that this may just be another encounter of spirits inside the presidential palace.

Another time he recalled was when he was placed on duty at Gate 4 of Malacañang, from which anyone can see the Palace main lobby due to its close distance. While on duty, Gordo saw three men wearing barongs, whom he all assumed were also guards stationed there.

In his experience, Gordo said only two security aides should have been present since it was already 1 a.m. When he approached one of the guards, he told him there were only two of them at that time. The security aide said he may be being spooked out by Gordo.

When his fellow presidential guard at Gate 4 took a photo of the Palace’s main lobby-with no one in there-they spotted someone wearing a barong

Rian Cortel, a Malacañang employee for 18 years, recounted the time when he was a housekeeping staff member when they were holding a late-night vigil.

Almost all the lights shut off, and Cortel went upstairs to notice a couple in white just staring out the glass window. He told the two that their venue for the vigil was downstairs, but received no response.

Cortel then realized that this may just be another encounter with spirits in the Palace.

For 11 years, Laylanie de Dios has been a Palace employee, and over time, she has had ‘many’ paranormal experiences, such as a supposed doppelganger or spiritual double, and children playing around the halls of Malacañang.

She also shared that she had been feeling the presence of ghosts in different parts of Malacañang, such as on the stairs, where she said she saw a priest in maroon clothing, and on the ground floor, where she saw marching soldiers wearing native hats.

One time, De Dios recalled how she and one of her colleagues were taking a nap at the old stockroom in the afternoon when suddenly a man stepped over them.

The kitchen did not escape the presence of ghosts as Malacañang chef Katrina Matias also had eerie experiences while at work at the old kitchen. Two instances were when a man wearing a chef’s black jacket passed by the hallway and when a nurse was watching her cook.

Matias also recalled a time during the pandemic when she was on a video call with her daughter. During the call, she showed her workmate to her daughter, who noticed there were two of them.

This led her to believe that what her daughter saw was a doppelganger.

Rhiza Mullet, also a Palace employee, meanwhile shared stories of her haunted encounters, one story was when a waiter greeted her in the morning on her way to her office.

When she felt cold after that, she noticed that the man had suddenly disappeared along the hall. She asked her co-workers about the man whom she described as always wearing a smile and how he greeted her.

‘They were all stunned,’ Mullet said of her co-workers who told her that the man she was referring to had died of COVID-19. ‘That waiter was known for being such a workaholic. Because they were too busy to work, maybe they hadn’t distinguished whether they were still alive or not.’

Another encounter was her tour around the Palace. Everything turned out fine, but I was shocked to see an angry-looking man when they were telling stories about how they sat on the presidential chairs placed in one corner.

Mullet said she accidentally looked in the eyes of that man and immediately avoided, but felt the man near him.

‘My hands got cold.I just told myself I don’t hear him or that he’s not real at all,’ she said.

International pop star Jackson Wang is back in the Philippines for his first-ever solo concert and has expressed his wish to experience what Manila’s nightlife has to offer.

‘I just got here yesterday, I don’t know how I feel yet,’ Jackson said in an interview with Inquirer Entertainment on Thursday, Oct. 30, ahead of his show. ‘I wish I could feel the nightlife in Manila more, but I don’t know where to go.’

Known for his charisma on and off stage, the Hong Kong-born artist said he finds inspiration in simple, spontaneous moments outside of work.

‘Being able to be free and just walk outside without a destination. It’s like going with the flow and seeing where I end up – it could be a bar. I don’t know what this bar is, who you meet, how much you drink, what you eat,’ he shared. ‘Sometimes just letting fate do the work, I enjoy doing that.’

Beyond his energetic performances, Wang hopes to use his music to encourage fans who may be going through difficult times.

‘I want to be able to share my story, how I recovered mentally when I was at my lowest point,’ he expressed. ‘I hope that message could help and encourage everyone in their lowest point and darkest days as well.’

When asked what he’s learned from his supporters, the rapper-singer emphasized the importance of honesty and mutual respect between artists and fans.

‘Fans love you. They don’t care about your label or your company, they love you,’ he said. ‘So if someone shows you love and support, make sure you return it and show them as much or even more love back.’

The 31-year-old artist rose to fame as a member of the K-pop group GOT7 before successfully launching his solo career as a singer, rapper and producer.

He is also the founder of Team Wang, a record label and fashion brand that reflects his creative vision and independence as an artist.

Wang’s upcoming Manila concert on Nov. 2 will mark another milestone in his ‘MAGIC MAN’ tour.

A 29-year-old senior high school teacher on Thursday questioned before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of Executive Order (EO) No. 94 that created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

In a 22-page petition, John Barry Tayam, asked the high tribunal to determine the validity of the order and define the commission’s scope of authority.

Tayam, a private citizen who once vied for the lone congressional seat in Las Piñas, has previously filed at least two petitions before the high court on different issues.

The ICI and the Office of the President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, were named as respondents in his latest petition.

Tayam argued that the establishment of the ICI created redundancy with existing government bodies like the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice, both of which are also investigating anomalous flood control and infrastructure projects.

‘This excessive bureaucracy effectively deprives the public of its right to a speedy trial, a right crucial for a frustrated populace demanding quick resolution regarding the individuals involved in the flood control issues,’ he said.

More appropriate

The ICI, he said, also faces similar issues with the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) created during the term of the late former President Benigno Aquino III.

Formed in 2010, the PTC was tasked to investigate corruption allegedly committed under then President Gloria Macapal-Arroyo’s administration. It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court the following year for violating the equal protection clause of the 1987 Constitution.

‘While the current structure may offer some difference from the PTC, defining the scope as the last 10 years from 2025 creates a potentially biased outcome,’ Tayam said.

The limited timeframe, he argued, only allows for a partial investigation of Aquino’s term but covers the entirety of the Duterte administration.

He said a ‘more appropriate approach’ would have been the creation of a Board of Inquiry within the Department of Public Works and Highways, similar to the process used for the Mamasapano incident probe.

‘Should the ICI fail, be declared unconstitutional, or be abolished by the executive branch, a more powerful successor commission could emerge,’ Tayam said. He cited House Bill No. 445337 and Senate Bill No. 121538, which both call for the creation of an Independent People’s Commission (IPC).

‘The IPC would have a function similar to the ICI, but it is designed to be more reliable and powerful due to its legislative foundation. Crucially, the IPC could be empowered with contempt authority, which would allow it to enforce cooperation from summoned individuals during investigations,’ he added.

Previous petitions

Under EO 94, the ICI is defined as an ad hoc fact-finding commission mandated to hear, investigate, gather and evaluate evidence whether through complaint or motu proprio against all government officials and employees, and any other individuals allegedly involved in flood control anomalies.

It can recommend the filing of criminal, civil or administrative cases against erring officials to the Office of the President, Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission. It is also empowered to issue subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and production of documents needed in its investigation.

Tayam ran for the congressional seat in Las Piñas, a stronghold of the Villar and Aguilar political clans, in this year’s mid-term elections but lost to independent candidate Mark Anthony Santos.

In March 2025, he filed a petition for declaratory relief before the Supreme Court to resolve key constitutional questions surrounding the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, including the provision stating that the trial must proceed ‘forthwith.’

In August also this year, he again filed a petition before the high court, this time challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 12232 that extended the term of office of the incumbent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from three to four years.

Hollywood actor Jesse Eisenberg revealed that he will be donating one of his kidneys to a stranger by December.

Eisenberg made the revelation during a guest appearance on the TODAY show on Thursday, Oct. 30, expressing how excited he was to make the selfless decision.

‘I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug. I’m doing an altruistic donation in mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.’

According to RWJ Barnabas Health, an altruistic donation is ‘when a person donates a kidney to a person with advanced kidney disease whom he or she does not know.’

Eisenberg explained that the process is ‘risk-free,’ as he shared that he got the first idea to do it 10 years ago.

‘It’s essentially risk-free and so needed. I think people will realize that it’s a no-brainer if you have the time and the inclination,’ he said.

Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg in the 2010 hit ‘The Social Network,’ previously made headlines after he called the Facebook owner ‘somebody obsessed with power.’

Earlier this year, Poland’s prime minister made a tongue-in-cheek offer to Eisenberg, who at the time gained Polish citizenship, to give him military training that would land him ‘the new James Bond role.’

Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher are set to reprise their roles as the Four Horsemen in ‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,’ the third installment of the ‘Now You See Me’ film series.

‘Now You See Me: Now You Don’t’ is set to hit Philippine cinemas on Nov. 12.