MANILA – Whenever All Saints’ Day – which Filipinos call the Undas season – comes along, the country revisits its immersive tradition of spooky stories as locals visit the graves of their loved ones.

Horror specials on TV would get high viewership, with horror movies even becoming box office staples during Christmas.

Experts who deal with various facets of fear say there is nothing wrong with being entertained by this culture, especially during this period.

However, they caution there is a limit to consuming stories like these.

Encounters with evil spirits

Horror stories usually revolve around a hostile entity trying to scare the living.

Father Omer Prieto, parish priest of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Quezon City, recounted his past experience with a demonic presence.

A possessed woman was brought into the church at 2 in the morning.

Despite being restrained by her male family members, the woman resisted being held down and repeatedly taunted Prieto.

Telling the story, Prieto admitted that priests like him still experience fear during such encounters -- when the behavior of a possessed individual poses a psychological and physical threat to those conducting an exorcism.

The existence of evil spirits is part of the Bible, mentioned as well during the ministry of Jesus Christ, who periodically cast out demons.

However, the term supernatural does not only apply to evil forces, Prieto added.

There are also things considered to be supernatural but are inclined towards the good, he said, and believers need to discern between those “spirits.”

Even pre-colonial Filipinos had an organic belief in the existence of the supernatural being animists, believing that things found in nature have their own spirit or soul, the priest said.

Fear as biological reaction

Numerous approaches can explain how the innate nature of believing in the supernatural influences our actions in response to fear, especially during the Undas season, said Adam Troi Arenas, a registered psychometrician.

He explained that fear can manifest itself physically in the human body.

When one experiences fear, it causes stress to the body, affecting the balance of neurotransmitters -- which are produced by the brain to regulate different bodily functions and are responsible for behavior.

Imbalances in the production of neurotransmitters could have adverse effects on the body, potentially leading to psychological disorders and behavioral problems.

From a social perspective, it is possible that we are conditioned to feel afraid based also on the experiences of others around us, Arenas added.

“‘Pag sila takot sa clown, mahahawa ka rin, matatakot ka rin sa clown,” he said.

This social effect is further intensified if the experience involves confrontation with the unseen.

In the face of fear

Father Jboy Gonzales S.J., meanwhile, stressed the most effective response to “negative” supernatural beings is prayer.

“Sobra siyang effective sa kahit anong espiritu na nagpaparamdam, o nananakot,” he said.

While Christians do believe in spirits, Gonzales said they should also remember that God is “the most powerful of everything.”

Being together with someone during those frightful moments is also a big help in addressing fear, the Jesuit added.  

Both of these are reflected most during Undas when the community comes together to join in prayer for the departed.

For both priests, horror stories need not be discouraged as a facet of Filipino culture but, they add, this should not distract from the true essence of the commemoration.

“Undas is actually a time to pray,” Gonzales said.