Before on-demand streaming, there were teleseryes, soap operas and talk shows on television.
TV news magazine shows like GMA’s “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” and ABS-CBN’s “Rated K” with Korina Sanchez also flourished and became big hits, especially with their seasonal episodes like Halloween, where they visit haunted locations, recount real-life scary stories and enlist the help of paranormal guides.
[READ: Try out these underrated Filipino horror hits for Halloween]
But before Soho and Sanchez, there was Noli De Castro’s “Magandang Gabi Bayan,” which ran from 1988 to 2005, and is considered one of the longest-running public service programs in the Philippines.
“Magandang Gabi Bayan” also became known for its Halloween special that families watched together on the eve of Undas, as watching it alone was the stuff of nightmares.
[READ: FYI, don’t abandon your kids to watch a horror movie]
From 1988 to 1999, De Castro visited famous “haunted” locations for the show, including the Manila Film Center, Baguio City, Clark Air Base, the University of the Philippines Diliman and Los Baños, Tugatog Cemetery in Malabon, the Laperal White House in Benguet, Malacañang Palace, Corregidor Island and the Philippine School for the Deaf in Pasay.
For Halloween this year, ABS-CBN is making eight “Magandang Gabi Bayan” Halloween specials from 1991 to 1998 available on YouTube.
As of this writing, only the 1991 and 1992 episodes can be streamed. The latter follows Kabayan’s investigation of Corregidor Island, a former artillery base south of Luzon, where Japanese, Filipino and American forces clashed during World War II.
The rest of the specials (from 1993-1998) will be made available starting today, Oct. 28.
Mark your calendar and set your alarm if you dare!
1993 Premieres Oct. 28
1994 Premieres Oct. 29
1995 Premieres Oct. 30
1996 Premieres Oct. 31
1997 Premieres Nov. 1
1998 Premieres Nov. 2
Header photo screen captured from ABS-CBN YouTube
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Read more:
FYI, don’t abandon your kids to watch a horror movie
Try out these underrated Filipino horror hits for Halloween
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