How Magandang Gabi Bayan Made Our Undas / Halloween Special

When in Manila, what are the things that remind you of Halloween? Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Long before we attended those pseudo-scary-excuse-for-socializing Halloween parties (Not generalizing on this though, party on! LOL), we were actually kids glued in front of the television with our mommas and daddies, eagerly anticipating for the now-defunct Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween Special.

 

 

magandang-gabi-bayan-logo-undas

 

 

I personally had my share of sissy shrieks, less trips to the bathroom, and sleepless nights ducking in the covers just by the thought of the horror stories and urban legends narrated at Magandang Gabi Bayan every year.(Imagine the delight of my sisters watching them and terrorizing me in return!) Yes, I’m the scaredy-cat that I am now partly because of MGB! Hahaha!

 

 

lilia cuntapay aswang mgb shake

The undisputed Queen of Halloween(and subject of my childhood nightmares, Peace! 😉 )

Lilia  Cuntapay 

 

 

MGB aired its last Undas episode on 2005, yet the tales of horror continued in some other shows like the Mel and Joey Halloween Specials. Heck, even morning talk shows had their own versions of that. But no one does it like Noli de Castro. The chilling voice, the sullen look, the costume, the cemetery backdrop, the fog, the prosthetics  makeup, the “are-you-afraid-of-the-dark-effect” lighting, the sound effects… the works! No wonder I’m already shaking from fear even before the story starts!

 

 

 magandang gabi bayan haunted house

 This has got to be a Haunted House. One of the things I’ve learned lol

 

Aside from the classic Shake, Rattle and Roll movies, I believe MGB triggered my fear of the supernatural: aswangs, manananggal, red,black,and white lady (Sorry, they only come in those colors),floating coffins, kapre, tiyanak, dwarves, headless ghosts, etc. Not to blame them though because I was always given a choice whether to watch it or not. Unfortunately, I have to stay at home and be with my family while they amuse themselves with the horror stories. I, on the other hand, would grab the nearest pillow and brace myself for whatever suspense comes along. I tell you, it ain’t easy. LOL

 

 

(Video Credit: ABS-CBN. No copyright infringement intended)

 

 

Fast forward to 2011, I’m still a weakling for any morbid/suspense/horror movies (Hostel, Saw, Dead End Series, The Human Centipede, don’t even search for it! I warned you!) But I’d like to think I’m braver compared to what I was before. And so, I will watch Kababalaghan on Sunday, October 30 at the Family network. It’s a flashback on Magandang Gabi Bayan, and the horror tales we’ve shared at the living room as part of family tradition. Check out the lulzy commercial LOL. I believe I will make it this time. I just had to!

 

 

What are your fond/not-so-fond memories of Magandang Gabi Bayan Halloween Special?