Bongbong Marcos recalls paranormal experiences in Malacañang

MANILA, Philippines — Historical buildings are often hounded by stories and tales of paranormal events, and Malacañang Palace is no exception.

 Several hair-raising ghost encounters inside the centuries-old executive office were experienced by no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself during his younger years.

Marcos Jr. recalled these incidents in his vlog uploaded on Halloween day, October 31 (Tuesday).

“Itong mga kwentong ito ay hindi ko pa naiku-kuwento sa mga anak ko, baka matakot kasi eh,” Marcos said, with his son Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos sitting beside him.

(These stories, I have not told my children yet, because they might be scared.)

“Since Undas, Halloween naman, kukwentuhan ko muna kayo ng mga karanasan ko dito, lalo na nung kabataan ko,” the chief executive said.

(Since we observe the  All Saints Day and Halloween, I will narrate all of my experiences here, especially during my younger years.) 

In a 2022 interview, Marcos Jr. said he was only seven years old when his family moved into the palace shortly after his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., won the 1965 presidential election.

Ghost hunting

Marcos said that back in the day, he and his friends used to go ghost hunting in Malacañang.

“Minsan, nandito ako kasama ko mga kaibigan ko, siguro mga anim kami, at pumunta kami doon sa medyo madilim na lugar; ghost hunting talaga ang ginawa namin, malakas ang loob namin dahil marami kami eh,” Marcos recalled.

(There are instances when I was with my friends — I think we were six of us — and we went to the dark area here. We went ghost hunting, because we were undaunted since we were a group.)

“Yung isang kaibigan ko, bubuksan niya ‘yung pintuan, bago niya nahawakan ‘yung door knob, bumukas ‘yung pinto nang mag-isa. Naku, yung sigaw namin,” he continued.

(One of my friends was about to open a doo, but before he got a hold of the door knob, the door opened on its own. Oh, we screamed!)

Their “adventure” at 2:00 a.m. left them terrified that they turned on all the lights and blasted loud music in their room, according to Marcos.

Moving chairs

Marcos also narrated several instances of his uncanny experiences as he witnessed chairs and chandeliers move on their own, and felt an unshakeable eerie feeling that someone was watching him from behind.

He said his terrifying encounter with moving chairs in the Palace guest room left him screaming.

“Minsan, gabing-gabi na, umuuwi ako eh sinasara ko lang ang pintuan mula sa kwarto ko. Pagbukas ko biglang gumalaw ang mga upuan, eh di nagsisigaw ako dito at tumakbo ako. Sinumbong ko sa security sinabi ko ‘may multo, may multo’,” Marcos said, adding that the security personnel attributed the incident to a certain “Father Brown.” 

(One time, in the middle of the night, I returned to my room and closed the door. When I opened the door, the chairs suddenly moved. I reported this to the security personnel and told him that there are ghosts.)

Swaying chandeliers

There was an instance when a chandelier in the Palace swung by itself,  leaving him perturbed.

“Nakita niyo yung sa Palasyo, yung chandelier. Kapag naririnig namin, nakikita namin na gumagalaw, sinasabi namin, mukhang may lindol…” Marcos said.

(You see, the chandeliers here in the palace, when we see it moving, we sometimes think that there is an earthquake.)

“Pero kung minsan, maraming chandelier nga, pero isa lang ang gumagalaw. Wala namang bintana, hindi naman maaabot ng tao yan, kaya nakakapagtaka kung bakit nagkakaganoon,” he added.

 (But there is an instance when only one of the many of the chandeliers moved. There is no window, it could not be reached by anyone, so it’s a mystery as to how it moved.) 

“Somebody’s watching”

The chief executive also recalled several encounters with a watchful presence in the palace.

“Kung minsan, lalo na ‘pag gabi, at mag-isa ka, lalo na kapag nakaakyat dito sa front door, yung pormal na hagdan na papasok sa Palasyo, minsan — actually ilang beses na nangyari sa akin — pag-akyat ko na ganoon, ramdam na ramdam ko na may nakatingin sa akin doon sa likod.

(Sometimes at night, and when [I] was alone, when [I] reach front door, the formal stairs to the palace — actually this happened to me a few times — upon climbing I really felt that someone was watching me from behind.)

“Paatras tuloy ako na aakyat dahil nakakatakot, alam niyo  naman kung minsan, kapag naglalakad ka, mararamdaman mo kapag may nakatingin sayo eh, may sumusunod sayo eh, ganoon ang pakiramdam ko,” he added.

(Now, I am looking on my back when I am climbing the stairs because of fear. You will know it when you are walking and you feel that someone is looking behind you and following you. That’s how I felt.)

“Kukuha na lang ako ng condo sa malapit,” Sandro said after hearing his father’s paranormal experiences.

(I will just stay in nearby condominium.)