Behind the Chills: Xyriel, Karina’s off-cam moments from the set of “True Manila Encounters”

From old buildings to quiet streets, Manila has no shortage of eerie tales. Now, these chilling stories come to life in the newest limited horror series, “True Manila Encounters,”  featuring real-life incidents that blur the line between myth and reality. Premiering exclusively on iWant this October 29, the series brings some of Metro Manila’s most frightening mysteries to life.

Kicking off the anthology is the pilot episode, “Undressed,” starring Xyriel Manabat and Karina Bautista. Directed by Rae Red, the episode follows Pearl (Karina), whose third eye has long been shielded from supernatural beings.

But when her co-worker Mei-Mei (Xyriel) buys a seemingly ordinary dress from an ukay-ukay (thrift shop), Pearl is forced to face her deepest fears as the garment’s gruesome past awakens a restless entity determined to torment anyone who dares to wear it.

Carrying the horror into the next episode is “Occupant,” directed by Dodo Dayo. Kaori Oinuma plays the character of Ana, tangled in a long-distance relationship with her workaholic boyfriend, Jam, portrayed by Elyson de Dios.

During their video calls, a sinister force relentlessly terrorizes Ana, and her grip on reality starts to slip away. With their relationship hanging by a thread, Jam must save Ana before it’s too late.

While the series is packed with suspense and mystery, the cast shared lighthearted moments behind the scenes. Xyriel and Karina enjoyed their time on set and immersed themselves in their characters through off-cam snaps, while Kaori beamed with excitement as cameras prepared to roll.

They are now set to showcase their acting prowess in a horror setting, bringing to life disturbing tales inspired by the experiences and accounts of ordinary people. 

Experience the haunting real-life stories in “True Manila Encounters,” premiering October 29 with the pilot episode “Undressed,” and November 5 (Thursday) with the “Occupant” episode, both streaming exclusively on iWant. 

Catch its episodes via iWant’s subscription plans starting at P35 per month in the Philippines, USD 12.99 per month in the United States, and USD 4.99 per month in the rest of the world. 

Enjoy all the feels you want, only on iWant, the largest library of Filipino feels. Download the app via Google Play or the Apple App Store.