12 Haunting Filipino Songs To Soundtrack Your Halloween
From haunting tracks that echo our yearnings to songs evoking the real-life terrors walking among us, here are the perfect OPM songs for the season to spook you all over.
Art by Gaby Molina
Art by Gaby Molina
‘Tis the season when fear reigns supreme on the charts.
With Halloween, when people dress up as ghosts, superheroes, fictional characters, or the scariest costumes, such as simple paper plastered with “commitment” or “just friends,” come out to party and vibe with friends and strangers, there’s no better way to celebrate it than to have the perfect songs to match one’s freak and energy.
Luckily, OPMOPMShort for Original Pilipino Music, the body of songs created by Filipino artists, spanning genres from ballads and rock to hip-hop and pop. OPM expresses Filipino identity and heritage, andGo to OPM Glossary has a space where songs unravel the terror and spine-tingling horrors rooted in our culture, folklore, society, and sometimes, human nature itself.
As we enter the season when the living can be more frightening than the dead, we have the perfect songs to soundtrack your night, whether you’re out partying and wandering the urban streets or taking a trip into the rural countryside.
Billboard Philippines rounds up the perfect OPMOPMShort for Original Pilipino Music, the body of songs created by Filipino artists, spanning genres from ballads and rock to hip-hop and pop. OPM expresses Filipino identity and heritage, andGo to OPM Glossary songs to add to your Halloween playlist, featuring spine-tingling, ghostly, and terrifying tracks that blur the lines between reality and fiction in everyday Filipino life.
“Aswang sa Maynila” — fitterkarma ft. Novocrane
Kicking off our list is the thunderous collaboration between fitterkarma and Novocrane. An Alternative Song of the Year nominee at the 2026 Filipino Music Awards, the track continues fitterkarma’s horror-inspired sound and aesthetic with the addition of Novocrane’s intense artistry. The result? Well, the title speaks for itself.
“Pagbigyan (Bad Decisions)” — ALAMAT
ALAMAT understood the assignment. A track off of their sophomore album, DESTINO, “Pagbigyan (Bad Decisions)” was pulled out as the latest single, along with a music video that embraces a dark atmosphere featuring the boy group. Now, perfectly matching the vibe of its visuals, this song is the perfect track to hype yourself up with before braving the streets of Poblacion on Halloween night.
“Bendahe” — Jamiela
Indie-pop and dark-pop music artist Jamiela takes the Melanie Martinez route with her track “Bendahe,” which leans into the playful and whimsical side through its production. The track uses a bandage to talk about heartbreak and the emotional wounds that are part of one’s path to healing. Imagine this as a needle drop in your Halloween adventures as you reclaim your energy from the people who have caused you pain.
“Sisikat Ka Iha” — Bita and the Botflies
Amid the glitz and glamour of fame in the entertainment industry, exploitation remains a beast that continues to feed. The horrors of the industry are captured in “Sisikat Ka Iha” by Bita and the Botflies, which is told through the perspective of an agent who, beneath it all, is a predator and a master at exploiting and objectifying women in exchange for opportunities. The harsh realities of the industry are unmasked and unraveled through the song’s sinister sound and production, revealing that real-life monsters aren’t always what they seem, but are often the people in power.
“SSP (Saksak sa Puso)” — VXON
“Saksak sa puso, tulo ang dugo,” sings the Monsters of P-pop in their hit track, aptly titled “SSP (Saksak sa Puso).” With all the edge and imagery of the anger that comes after betrayal and deceit, this VXON track’s aggressive and roaring lyrics make it a fitting addition to your playlist or even the perfect soundtrack for your TikTok video.
“Multo” — Cup of Joe
This goes without saying: Cup of Joe‘s “Multo” is an immediate addition to the playlist. What’s scarier than someone who isn’t living? Well, someone who is living but continues to haunt our lives even though they’re no longer part of them and follows us long after we’ve tried to move on. Whether your multo is a past lover, a missed opportunity, or a memory you can’t seem to get off your mind, this track proves that some ghosts don’t need to physically appear to keep us up at night.
“OZONE (Itulak Ang Pinto)” — Unique Salonga
One of the standout tracks from Unique‘s debut album, Grandma, “OZONE (Itulak Ang Pinto)” is inspired by the tragic Ozone Disco fire of 1996 in Quezon City, which was dubbed one of the worst nightclub fires in history. The track retells the events through a juxtaposition of an upbeat disco sound and Unique’s haunting vocals, and a chilling reminder of the real-life tragedy that explores the horrors beyond fiction.
“Lando” — Gloc. 9 ft. Francis M
From one real-life inspiration to another, “Lando” by Gloc-9 featuring Francis Magalona explores social inequality, poverty, and violence in the Philippines. Following the story of Lando and Elsa, who come from different social classes, the song depicts their tragic fate amid unjust violence. The horrors of our world are often amplified not only by the supernatural monsters of fiction and folklore but also by the people who walk among us, capable enough to turn ordinary lives upside down.
“Zombie” — Sexy Jay
A track from his Sexy Jay‘s 2021 EP of the same name, “Zombie” lends itself to a stylized DIY production, with synth-heavy instrumentation and lyrics that evoke the atmosphere of the undead feasting on its hunger at night. Shifting between danceable rhythms and heavier sounds, this energetic track is perfect to vibe with as you walk your way to a gathering on Halloween night. Think of it as our version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
“Linda Blair” — Tanya Markova
Drawing heavily on one of the greatest horror films of all time, The Exorcist, the song “Linda Blair” by Tanya Markova takes its title from the actress who played Reagan in the 1973 horror classic. While its production and overall vibe aren’t exactly haunting, the track offers a playful take on a silly yet terrifying story of a student pushed to the limit by bullying. Fueled by pure rage, the song dramatizes the events of the film and mirrors the anger that has been building up inside the narrator.
“Okatokat” — Parokya Ni Edgar
“Fear is the mind-killer,” goes the mantra in Frank Herbert’s Dune. With “Okatokat,” Parokya ni Edgar offer a roaring outlet for letting out fear and panic, whether they come from the unusual, the silly, or the everyday terror. It’s the perfect track to soundtrack your cruise through the horrors of, well, EDSA traffic during the Halloween season — a fitting pre-game for the doomsday that is the Christmas rush.
“Banal na Aso Santong Kabayo” — Yano
Last but certainly not least is Yano’s “Banal Na Aso Santong Kabayo,” a classic from the folk/punk rock band known for its social commentary and satire. Taking a gritty jab at religious hypocrites who portray themselves as holy and God-fearing, the track echoes the message “practice what you preach.” With Philippine horror tales often rooted in our religious beliefs and traditions, it’s no surprise that most chilling local stories blur the line between faith and fear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Billboard Philippines’ list includes Cup of Joe’s “Multo,” Yano’s “Banal na Aso Santong Kabayo,” Parokya ni Edgar’s “Okatokat,” VXON’s “SSP (Saksak sa Puso),” and Unique Salonga’s “OZONE (Itulak Ang Pinto).”
“Multo” frames a haunting as someone still living who lingers after a relationship ends, whether a past lover, a missed opportunity, or a memory that keeps you up at night.
It is inspired by the tragic 1996 Ozone Disco fire in Quezon City, dubbed one of the worst nightclub fires in history, and appears on Unique Salonga’s debut album, Grandma.
Gloc-9 and Francis M’s “Lando” explores inequality, poverty, and violence; Bita and the Botflies’ “Sisikat Ka Iha” exposes industry exploitation; Unique Salonga’s “OZONE” recounts a real 1996 Ozone disco fire.
fitterkarma’s “Aswang sa Maynila” is an Alternative Song of the Year nominee at the 2026 Filipino Music Awards and continues the artist’s horror-inspired sound and aesthetic with Novocrane’s intense artistry.
