TAGUIG CITY, Philippines – The Baguio Horror Festival may have been denied a venue in its hometown, but Bonifacio Global City (BGC) welcomed it into its Halloween celebration.
Paolo Corpuz led the Baguio contingent at the Oct. 24 “Thriller in BGC,” where Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” dance came alive at the Sun Life Amphitheater, bringing together Halloween enthusiasts, families and dancers for a community celebration.
“Moving ‘Thriller’ from Baguio City to Bonifacio Global City marks a new chapter for a tradition that has been part of the Baguio Horror Festival for many years. As organizer, I see this move not as abandoning our roots, but as expanding the event to reach more fans, welcome new communities and create bigger opportunities for the future,” Corpuz said.
This year, organizers moved the celebration to Metro Manila to make it more accessible to fans who could not travel to Baguio. The move also followed concerns raised by the religious sector in Baguio, prompting the team to bring the tradition to a new setting.
One of the event’s highlights was a tribute by Daryl Jackson, a fixture of past editions of the Baguio Horror Festival. Daryl is a Baguio-based professional Michael Jackson tribute artist known as the “Michael Jackson of the Cordillera.”
Organizing the event in BGC meant building the production from the ground up. The team coordinated the venue, program, music, choreography, costumes, publicity, volunteers and partners, working with limited resources and without monetary sponsors to cover production costs.
The dancers faced their own challenge. Their final rehearsal were hosted by the Rue de Dance Studios in Cubao, to perfect the routine.
Hosted by Angelica Ang, who appeared as Nanno from “Girl from Nowhere,” the Oct. 24 program opened with Halloween and Michael Jackson music. The audience took part in interactive games featuring Michael Jackson trivia, song-guessing and music challenges, while children and families enjoyed the festive atmosphere. Halloween characters, a mini dance party and the much-awaited “Thriller” flash mob rounded out the evening.
Daryl was the night’s main draw, bringing the legendary performer’s signature moves and stage presence to the event. At around 7:45 p.m., the dancers came together for the main “Thriller” performance, and even some attendees who had skipped rehearsals joined in.
“I co-organized ‘Thriller in BGC’ alongside Daryl and the team, providing insight, logistics and the working plan. Despite the challenges of rebuilding the production from scratch, limited resources and a very short rehearsal period, the support of our performers, volunteers and partners made it possible. The location has changed, but the spirit remains the same. ‘Thriller’ lives on, and we’re just getting started,” Corpuz added.
The event was made possible through the dedication of volunteers, Pro Populo Studios and other partners who contributed to preparations and media coverage. The team also had to contend with uncertain weather for the outdoor show.
The team plans to take the event to bigger platforms in the future, expanding its audience and creating more opportunities for fans, dancers and creative communities to celebrate Michael Jackson’s enduring cultural legacy.
