The Glowing Night Visitor

A few months back I had one of the creepiest experiences in my entire life when I was visiting Baguio. I blogged lengthily about this on my personal blog but thought I'd just re-post the photo today since it's Halloween.

Here's what I saw on that fateful January cold evening -

Links to the full story:

Creepy Night
The Night Visitor
The Blue Glow: An Explanation

The MRT Ride

A friend of mine told me this story of a man who rode an MRT. It had happened a few months ago. For obvious reasons his name has been changed and what remains is a man's story about his ride on the MRT.

It was rush hour and Gonzales was on his way home. The traffic along Edsa was horrific ... So the MRT ride going North was bearable, not comfortable but bearable: Despite being packed like sardines it was at least fast, unlike the slower than slug movement of cars and buses going North. 

The seats inside the coach were a prized place and it was not uncommon that people often took the round trip - going to the last station and going back again via the same train towards one of the Northern stations. 

But today Gonzales was in a hurry today. So fortified with his cellphone s music player and headphones and steeled with resolve, Gonzales was able to push and shove himself into the coach. Of course his husky body made it easy for him to insert himself into the train. Just imagine a barako pig forcing his way into a group of pigs eating slop, you get the idea.

Gonzales was in a hurry.

At each station the number of people crammed inside the coach increased. Even with passengers going out, more passengers were going in. 

Gonzales was in a hurry.

The next station, the central one, was Gonzales' last station. Again he pushed and shoved his way out of the coach, people grunted and cried out.

Gonzales stepped out of coach and proceeded to the escalator. Then everything seemed to disappear in a flash. But Gonzales was not unconcious although he fell forwaed, his eyes were transfixed on the crowd that began to surround him. Gonzales was falling slowly.

Gonzales was looking at the crowd then he saw it. It began as a faint shadow inside the crowd. Then it began to form a shape. First a human shadow. Then a bigger figure more animal than man. Dark as night it was. Its eyes were red as blood and its fangs white as ivory. From its mouth came a pink forked tongue that was used to search something in the air. It then stopped. The creature had found its prey. It looked at Gonzales. The Dark Creature began to move through the crowd. Passing through one person to another. Each person seemed to shiver as the creature passed through. But the creature was looking at Gonzales. He was going to him.

Ny now Gonzales lay on the floor of the MRT station. The Dark Creature was above him and looking down. Its forked tongue moving more violently sensing it was near its prey. The creature leaned over Gonzales. Its claws forced open the mouth of Gonzales. The Dark Creature looked at Gonzales and although not speaking the creatures

spoke,"One year of your life for being rude and stepping on me."

Gonzales blacked out.

He came to his senses a few minutes later at the hospital. A few days later he was released. It was months later when he rode the MRT again. 

Gonzales was never in a hurry again.

The Calling

It has been awhile since I have seen and feel the entities that used to be my companion when I was younger. Not that I'm missing their presence it's just that I find it a bit strange that they seem to have left me...or have I lost my talent?

Until one afternoon while I was in the living room I heard a voice calling out my name. I was then standing near my Dad's altar and about to turn the tv on. I stopped to look but I felt stupid and smiled to myself when I realized that I was alone at that moment. I leaned over to plug the tv and heard it again, this time it came as a whisper. It kept on happening to me during this past long weekend.

Who was calling me...?

The Cabinet and the Other Thing

I like to collect things. In my youth I had and still do collect comic books and toys. As I grew older I expanded my collection – so th speak – to other things antiques – swords, knives, cameras and papers. Papers – old manuscripts, deeds, wills and just about anything that had been written on. Of course due to lack of finances my search collection was limited to collection of well not so famous people. Although during the time Marcos left I was able to get some of his papers but only because I was one of the first ones who were there when they left Malacanan Palace.

Anyway my fondness for such thing led me to the interesting case of a series of deaths within a community and in particular of a family in the town of Pangil, Laguna. But I get ahead of myself.

THE CABINET

If you are in search of old and probably good buys and if you are in the Philippines one of the best places to go to would be Bangkal. Makati. There, depending on the time of year, you would fine worthwhile buys. One of the shops I occasionally visit was owned by Mr Azcueta. An old man who sported a whiteside wall haircut, wore a horn rim bifocals and wore white oversized t-shirts. He would often go out of town to buy houses. Yes houses and everything in it, This he would then strip and sell of anything of the house and the house itself – bits of it,

I was in Mr Azcueta's shop one saturday and I noticed an old cabinet with a mirror. And it was flourished with rectangle and squares. At the top most part of the cabinet's door was a Chrysanthemum. Probably this was done by a Japanese craftsman in the Philippines ?

After a few minutes of haggling with the old man, he finally agreed on a price and then arranged to have it paid and delivered to the house. They delivered it the next day.

The cabinet was a perfect addition to the sala. It was to high to bring up the bed room and the room was already filled with books and other things.

As I cleaned the cabinet and preparing it for things and things to be placed there, a discovery was made. If you pulled out the drawers inside were two secret drawers. A hidden safe during those days. And in certain instances aa time capsule of sorts, awaiting its discoverer.

What item from the past would it reveal. Coins, jewelry or a rosary. None of that sort. Inside the drawers were papers and a notebook. And from the looks of it was most likely placed there during the 1930s. Neatly bundled.

On close inspection of the notebook and papers of a family living in Pangil, Laguna. It was a diary of the patriarch of the family. Written in long hand. The papers were composed of records of paryments and expenses; promissary notes; legal documents; letters and a will. It was written in Tagalog and sometimes in Spanish.There also was a key among the papers.

The writer of the diary was the son of the town's Mayor and the daughter of a Chinese Merchant. Reading the diary states that the writer's Grandfather had come from China and was Rice Merchant. The writer even mentioned that his Granndfather sported a pigtail.

One of the interesting story relates when the writer who had married a girl from the poblacion of Balian got as one of their presents a for post bed. The bed was decribed as made from an old tree near the river in the forest. It was heavily ornate with designs of flowers, deers and nearly all sorts of creatures. It was rather uncommon for beds done for the time that had followed a certain pattern (unlike my cabinet).

EXCERPTS FROM THE DIARY OF ABRAHAM (translated)

June 1

Received the diary today from Tito Julian. Corong does not like it. Will have it assembled by the end of the week.

June 4

Just went to the wake of Tito Julian. A lot of people came to the wake..Father was talking to the Mayor of Paete about some land dispute. Even the old craftsman from Paete was there and thanked him for the bed. He just smiled and said my uncle got the wood from the forest beside the farm at Sierra Madre. Tito Julian's death was unexpected he died in his sleep.

June 5

Went to Manila today. Bought some stuff for Corong and some business with the bank. Learned that the old wood carver had died during the night. His family was distraught.

Corong had the bed set-up in the guest room. But refuses to sleep in it. She says it scares her. I suppose its because of the carvings. The wood carver was very good but where did he get his ideas?

June 14

Apparently Tito Julian made me his heir. I am now running his business. I am now a proud owner of a Lanzones orchard; a coconut farm, and his farm in Sierra Madre. And a place called Polvorista.

I have to find new men for the farm. Three of Tito Julian's people died a few days ago. More funerals . According to stories the three probably ate something poisonous during a drinking session the night before and led to their death,

Corong still refuses to sleep on the damn bed. Anyway, were leaving tomorrow for Manila and from their to visit my brother-in-law in Washington. It is going to be a while till we come back to Pangil. Anyway, the family will be here to take care of things.

The rest of diary tells of the couples time in Manila and in Washington. From time to time he received news from Pangil. His cousin tells him that their house in Balian is said to be haunted. A man is seen every night by the neighbors going in and out the house. Not really a man but something in shape of a dark fat short man. One or two children have been caught sneaking inside the house's yard to see the phantom. They were dared by their friends. One actually claimed to have seen the phantom a dark short man. He had fever for a few days and complained of seeing the Dark Man. Kabesang Impong was called to cure the boy.

The couple come back to the Philiippines December. And in the next few days comes back to Pangil and the poblacion of Balian.

December 4

Back in Balian. Corong still refuses to sleep in the bed. I have to prove to her that she has nothing to fear. Talked to the neighboors as well and they seem to be of the mind that there is something inside the house and its not our katulong – Anding.

And even Anding is afraid to stay in the house alone and prefers to walk back to his house beside the town cemetery.

I have to prove Corong wrong.

December 6

I had the bed dismantled and sent to the farm in Sierra Madre.

The diary chronicles the life of Abraham and Corong during World War II, the Marcos years and the last days of their lives. In Balian. Abraham died of a heart attack and a few years later Corong died peacefully in her sleep.

And I thought this was the last of it. Until I read the last will and testament of Corong. Here are parts of it:

EXCERPTS FROM CORONG'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

My father believed that a woman should not go to a University. He told of us when we got married we were not going to able to use it anyway. Abraham though was different and he encouraged me to read evey day the newspaper and books

...

I do not like the bed before and I do no like it now. It has been some years since I have seen it. And it is part of my last will and testament that it should remain where it is. And I am going to tell you why.

The night Abraham decided to sleep on the bed I was ill at ease and asked Kabesang Impong and Anding to be at the house. Abraham was stubborn and at first he did not want it but he agreed and said we looked foolish.

The three of us waited in the sala while Abraham went to bed. And from time to time one of us went to the room and checked up on Abraham. Near midnight we were startled by Anding shouting for help. And as we got to the room. We saw Abraham having a fit and for a brief time I saw this black fat short man – actually less of a man more of a dark shadow of a man, sitting on top of Abraham's chest and strangling him. And the dark shadow smiled at me as if he was aware I was aware of him.Then he was gone but Abraham was still struggling.

The three of us went to him and woke him up. Thank God Abraham woke up and when he did he told us of a bad dream where a dark shadow was killing him.

And that is why my children, whether you believe it or not I want the bed to remain where it is.

POSCTCRIPT

The story of the bed ends here. The next saturday I went to Mr Azcueta and asked whether there was a bed alonGside with the cabinet Mr Azcueta said “yes but another buyer had bought it.”

Bed Attack

Bed Attack

It's been awhile since I've had anything to share here at Tales of the Moonless Sky, but I've just had a really scary experience again in a hotel down South.

I already had a funny feeling about my hotel room. Despite the fact that it had several lamps around the room it was still dark even though it was still afternoon. I only got the chance to scrutinize my room when I came back in the evening. It was also terribly cold and thermostat wasn't working.

After watching my favorite evening shows I settled in one of the beds and exchanged text messages with my husband. I soon fell asleep. I'm a deep sleeper so I rarely wake up when it's not time to wake up. I also rarely wake up in the middle of the night to use the toilet.

I don't know what time it was but I was suddenly awakened by the feeling of someone sitting beside my right foot. I opened my eyes and looked. Nobody was there (I left one light open before I slept). I then felt whatever it was creeping under the covers and I felt its weight going up from my legs. When I felt its heavy weight on my chest I suddenly prayed the “Our Father” out loud in a hoarse voice and prayed for the soul to rest in peace. It was gone after a few lines. I continued to pray the “Hail Mary” and “Glory Be” and felt the presence leave the room entirely. Good thing I managed to go back to sleep.

Strangely enough at around 7 in the morning the radio suddenly turned on. I would've understood that it was possible somebody programmed it, but the radio was the old style, not programmable traditional one.

The presence probably knew I hate waking up early.

Happy halloween!

The Scary Story Behind the Feature

A few weeks ago Anne, Harry and I got an email message from Anthony of Qtube. He mentioned that they wanted to feature this blog on their show. I've personally shied away from media interviews for the past three years but thought maybe I'd make an exception since I'd be doing this together with my best friend and buddy. The three of us mulled over it and found ourselves in a shoot a few days later.

It was a fun and exhilirating experience since the three of us haven't gone out for the past few months. The last time we went out was when we watched Angels & Demons back in May. We also haven't shared any spooky stories so it was also a time to catch up on that. What we didn't expect though was the dreadful experience at Clover street.

My shoot and Harry's shoot went on without any disturbance. During Anne's shoot however the light they set-up behind her suddenly collapsed and sparked. It made all of us antsy and I kidded Anne not to leave any of her "friends" behind since she was in MY basement!

Later on the crew asked us to take a stroll at the park just "to see if there's anything". It was already past midnight, but I was confident that we really wouldn't see or feel anything at the park. I've lived here since birth and I used to have sleep overs at our Church sacristy. There wasn't anything extraordinary in the area.

There was a funeral at the chapel and I thought of leaving the place immediately since I didn't really want disturb my neighbors and rouse their curiosity because we had a camera crew following us around the park. I asked the crew, Anne and Harry if they wanted to take a peek at Clover street, Anne's not-so favorite place. Anne said she wasn't keen on going back there because of her past experience, but eventually changed her mind. She said she wanted to face her fear. It was just around the corner and the three of us were game and quite jovial since we knew that the shoot was almost over.

As we entered Clover street the three of us fell silent. I tried to keep the conversation going by saying that I haven't passed the street for several years already. I noticed that most of the houses were newly renovated and some were new. I tried to remember the stopovers my schoolbus used to do when I was a kid. Anne couldn't remember how the house looked, we were almost at the end of the street and I said maybe the house was renovated and the new owners might have chased away the spirits or something.

Located at the end of the street was an empty lot and the tallest house. I was walking in between Anne and Harry and I suddenly felt different when we near the tall house. I moved to Harry's right side and anchored myself on his right arm. As we passed the tall dark house we all fell silent and the hairs at the back of my neck stood out. I ignored the feeling and announced that we had reached the end of the street and asked Anne if she already saw the house.

She said that she remembers the house had two strange pillars in front and that it was located at the corner. Harry then mentioned that the tall creepy house we just passed was probably the house. I said that it was probably renovated so that it would be easier to sell. The crew asked if we felt anything. The three of us said at the same time that there was something about the tall house at the corner.

We walked back towards the house barely stopping in front of it. Anne and Harry were talking about what they felt. I tried to stifle a nervous giggle. The hairs at the back of my neck and on my arms stood out again when we passed the house. The crew asked us to stop walking and said that something went wrong with the audio as we passed the house. We had to review what we just said. The lightman said that he felt it too and that we shouldn't stay long in the area. They also said that the audio disturbance was a sign to stay out.

We then scrambled to the van. Locked the doors and closed the windows, as if doing that would keep out spirits! We immediately left the area and all noticed that the number of the house ended with 66.

I prayed for the unhappy soul in the house.

Have a blessed halloween!

(And thank you to Qtube for feature! Awesome work guys!).

The Qtube Feature

Ang Multo ng Fire Exit

Dahil sa mga bagyong nagdaan, kinailangan ko ring lumikas mula sa bayan ng Obando. Masyado nang mataas ang baha roon at imposible nang magbyahe araw-araw papuntang opisina. Tumuloy ako sa unit ng aking nakababatang kapatid sa Mandaluyong City. Hindi ko akalain na dahil sa lugar na ito ay magkakaroon ako ng bagong istorya.

Sa ilang buwan na paninirahan ng aking kapatid dito ay normal naman ang lahat. Normal hanggang dumating ang aking…

Unang gabi. Graveyard shift ang aking kapatid kaya ako lamang mag-isa sa bahay noon. Matapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko, ay nakatulog na ako. Napanaginipan ko na nagkwe-kwentuhan daw kami ng aking mga kaibigan tungkol sa “The Grudge” movie. Hindi ko na matandaang mabuti pero sa aking panaginip ay tinanong ko daw sila nang “Anong date?” at may sumagot na “April 29!”.

Pagkarinig na pagkarinig ko ng petsa na ‘yun ay bigla akong sumigaw - sa panaginip at sa bigla kong paggising. Nagising ako nang tuluyan at parang may babaeng sali’t-salit na bumubulong sa aking dalawang tenga. Tumayo ako at binuksan ko na lang ang pinto ng kwarto at ang mga ilaw. Sa awa naman ng diyos ay nakatulog akong muli matapos magdasal at maglagay ng rosary sa aking bulsa. Hindi ko muna ito ikinwento sa kapatid ko dahil baka matakot din siya.

Sumunod na araw, dumating ang mom ko para magdala ng iba pang gamit. Nasa opisina ako nun at natutulog naman ang aking kapatid. Habang naglilinis ang nanay ko sa kusina, naramdaman niya na parang may dumaan sa likuran niya. Wala naman daw siya nakita paglingon niya.

Nalaman ko lang ito nang magkwentuhan kami noong sumunod na araw. Ikinwento ko rin sa kanila ang nangyari sa’kin nung unang gabi.

Biglang umamin ang aking kapatid. “Sige sasabihin ko na.” Sabi niya. “Dati daw kasi, may nahulog at namatay dyan sa fire exit (habang itunuturo ang bintana). Lagi daw nagpapakita ‘yun sa elevator o kaya sa lobby.”

Kinilabutan na lang kami sa aming narinig.

Habang isinusulat ko ‘to ay mayrong namuong katanungan sa aking isipan: Naganap kaya ang kanyang pagkahulog sa fire exit noong April 29, ang petsa sa aking panaginip?

Stairway Ghost

I've had a dry spell on ghosts the past few months (thank God!) that's why I haven't shared anything, also seems that past experiences are slowly leaving my memory. Anyway, I'm in Mindanao right now and got really freaked out last night.

I was with a friend. We visited her office early in the evening and then went out to have dinner at the night market. We had to go back to her office because we left my bags there. She told me after the incident we experienced that the building has a "past". When it was built a carpenter fell in the foundation hole. His body wasn't retrieved and he was buried in cement (sounds like what happened at the Film Center in Manila). A girl also committed suicide in a stock room. Now I can just imagine how fun it is working in the building.

So back to my story. When we came back to retrieve my bags we were surprised that the lobby and stairs didn't have any lights on. The guard said that the fuse was busted. So we went up with just the light from my friend's mobile phone guiding us up the stairs. I told her not to tell me ghost stories as we were going up. It was very, very dark and to "scare" off the spirits I started singing "Tomorrow" and my friend did her rendition of a Sound of Music song. We ran up the last few steps of the stairs in a panic and banged on the office door since it was locked. We were both laughing and panting from running up the stairs and had to change clothes because it was so hot on the way up.

After a few minutes we decided to proceed with our plans, but dreaded going down the stairs. We walked down slowly since it was dark. It was a good thing that one of her male colleagues came with us (he had to carry my bag). As we were turning on the landing we were greeted by a sudden gust of really cold wind. After experiencing it I asked my friend if she felt it. She kept ignoring my question and only answered when we got in her car. She and her colleague felt it as well. She said she did not want to acknowledge it then because it was the first time she experienced it.

The building did not have any windows on the stairway and the ceiling was low. It was also a very warm night.

I want my Mommeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleepless in Capiz

I've traveled so much in the past year that I've gotten used to sleeping in different places without having to adjust (in short, di na ako namamahay). I've also learned to ignore little creaks, the weird sounds, the sudden whoosh of cold air and dark corners in hotel rooms. I have to because I have to keep my sanity and it's part of my job to travel sometimes.

Since the last time I posted about hotel ghosts, I've been to many more hotels and the one that freaked me out the most was this inn (not even a hotel!) in Capiz last August.

I traveled to Capiz by land from Iloilo. It was a 2-hour trip and I missed breakfast and lunch and was very hungry when we arrived at the inn. It started to rain when we arrived, so we had to dash inside to avoid getting wet. My companion from a foundation I've been working with took care of getting the rooms and I stayed with our stuff while things were being arranged. When the rooms were ready, I just dropped my stuff in and immediately when downstairs to grab a bite.

I hadn't had any sleep the night before because I bungled my flight reservations and had to be at the airport by 3 a.m. to pay for penalties. (When you're booking too many flights this sometimes happens!). So, after eating lunch I headed up to my room.

I left the lights and the aircon on because I knew I wanted to take a nap immediately after eating. I got chills up my spine when I surveyed the room and the bathroom. It wasn't a big room. It had walls in mint green, a small white closet, a bench, a dresser with mirror and a really small bed. When I opened the bathroom door I shivered coz a slight wind passed and I just dismissed it. After seeing the room I went out and asked the front desk if they were sure there weren't any "ghosts" in the inn. The guy said there weren't any.

It was unusually cold in the room. The temperature was different, so I adjusted the temperature, but it still felt the same. I just chalked it up to being tired and put my shawl on the bed (for familiar smells) and took a nap. I woke up about 2 hours later, but did not feel rested. I stood up and checked my mail and did some online chores. After awhile I got ready for dinner and left.

I bugged Dino all throughout dinner about how I felt about the hotel. He said he didn't feel anything and everything was just normal. I delayed going back to my room, but Dino had to do some work and prepare stuff for the training the next day.

I dreaded taking a shower and dilly-dallied by chatting with some friends online. At some point though I knew I had to take a shower already (I cannot not shower before sleeping!), but I still kept on chatting with a friend in Davao. And then I heard the faucet being turned on and then the sound of water flowing from it. I sat up straight and froze. I told myself if wasn't a ghost or anything, so I stood up and opened the bathroom door. The faucets were not turned on. I chided myself about having an over-active imagination and just dismissed the sound and thought that it may have come from the next room or something. So, I turned on the TV and continued chatting with my friend. Then it happened again.

I knew I had to go shower soon, before midnight, so I told my friend to keep my company by just staying online. Kunwari andiyan ka lang ha, dito kunwari sa room. It's probably one of the quickest showers I've taken in my life. When I got out, I just stood there transfixed on a spot near my bed. There wasn't anything there, but I just felt like there was something there. After dressing up, I buzzed my friend to let him know I was okay and that I was going to get some sleep. It was already midnight.

I kept the TV, the lights and my laptop turned on. It took me a long time to fall asleep and couldn't stop thinking that there was something in the closet and something by the bedside table. I fidgeted and kept tossing and turning until I drifted off to sleep. And then I woke up with a start. It felt like I dropped out of nowhere and landed on the bed. The first thing I noticed was the TV was not turned on anymore and it was exactly 3 a.m.

When the sun was up, I immediately checked out and just waited for Dino at the reception area.

The Little Red Creatures

I believe it was All Saint’s Day when I first had a close encounter with the “Little Red Creatures” at my Grand Parents’ house…the place where I live now.
The rest of the family was busy downstairs…some are cooking while my Uncles were busy drinking and everyone’s having a great time.

I got kinda bored and so I wandered off by myself…I was always like that.

While I was walking around I heard a noise that was coming from the house upstairs…it sounded as though there were kids playing and running around. And so out of curiosity I decided to check it out. The house is supposed to be deserted since everyone is downstairs with me…specially all the kids in the family were actually visible from where I was standing that is why it made me even more curious about the noise. Who could they be?!

I ran upstairs and tried to reach the door knob…turned it…as I’ve expected it is locked. I was about to leave when I saw little children wearing red clothes ran out of my Grand Parents’ room…I took a peek at the window near their room & saw more children in red…

They were all having fun, running around and laughing and shouting…they were playing.

While I was trying to figure out who they were and how they got into the house in the first place…one of them turned and looked at my direction…it wasn’t clear to me if it’s a boy or a girl but one thing’s for sure…they weren’t kids at all. They were small creatures in red…like a dwarf maybe?! I wasn’t so sure.

But they were definitely not human…

Few years later…the next door neighbor got curious because of the loud noise that was coming from our house…she took a peek inside and to her shock she saw “little creatures in red” running around & playing.

Weird thing is…she knew that there is no one inside our house because we all went out of town for the holidays.

Wonder who or what could they be?!

Pang-Gabi

Naranasan mo na bang magtrabaho sa opisina habang gabi?

Ako, oo.

Ang aking kasalukuyang trabaho ay may pang-gabing schedule. Hindi lang 'yun. Dalawa lamang kami sa opisina buong gabi. Minsan, naranasan ko na rin na ako lang mag-isa sa buong gusali...magdamag.

Kapag breaktime, imbis na kumain, ay natutulog na lamang ako. Minsan ay nanaginip ako. Sa eksena sa aking panaginip, ay natutulog rin ako sa opisina. Kung ano ang pwesto ko mismo sa aking pagtulog sa totoong buhay, iyon din ang aking pwesto sa pagtulog ko sa aking panaginip. Nagising daw ako dahil maingay. Ang dami-rami raw nagta-type nang pagkalakas-lakas. Bumangon ako upang tingnan kung sino ang grupo ng mga empleyado na nagtatrabaho. Pagtingin ko sa kanila, parang naramdaman nilang lahat na pinanonood ko sila. Sabay-sabay silang huminto sa pagta-type, at sabay-sabay ring dahan-dahan na lumingon sa akin. Ako ay lubusang nagulat at nasukob ng takot ng makita kong lahat sila ay WALANG MUKHA!

Doon na natapos ang aking panaginip at bigla na nga akong nagising na humihingal. Parang totoo talaga ang panaginip kong 'yun!

Isang kwento naman ng aking kaibigan tungkol pa rin sa pagtulog sa opisina 'pag gabi. May kaibigan raw siya na natulog sa isang bakanteng kwarto sa kanilang gusali. Nakasubsob itong natulog sa isang lamesa. Sa kanyang paggising, pinipilit niyang bumangon sa pagkakayuko, ngunit hindi niya ito magawa. May napadaan na isa pang empleyado at nasaksihan ang nangyayari sa kanya. Ayon sa saksi, hindi raw nito magawang i-angat ang kanyang ulo sapagkat mayroong isang matandang lalaki na walang ulo na nakahawak sa kanyang batok!!

The Story Behind the Rocking Chair

Just watch the rocking chair... it's really creepy.

Ghost or Fog?

Egads! Anne and Harry are going to kill me for this really, really late post! I've been really busy, but this post has been at the back of my mind for quite a while already.

Last month I went to Tagaytay for dinner with some friends. Of course, the place we had dinner in had a fabulous view of the lake. The moon was a bit yellow, hidden behind a cloud, it cast rays on the lake. So I tried capturing it on camera. This is how it looked:


When I checked my idiot camera, I was surprised to see some fog on it. Looked around and found no one beside me. Then I immediately took another photo:


It was clear.

Strange, I thought. Could it be a spirit from the area saying hello? Promise, no one was beside me. Neither was anyone smoking. Egads.

Midnight Visitor – The Lady in White

My story happened many years ago, back when I was still in grade school. It was my parents’ wedding anniversary and they went out for a date. It was getting late but still no sign of them my siblings went to our room and slept since they have a class early the next day. Since my classes don’t start early I stayed in my parents’ room and waited for them.

I was watching tv minding my own business when a white figure came in from the door…it went through the door….I saw it with my own two eyes. I wasn’t watching anything scary that would trigger my imagination and make me see scary stuff in fact I was watching Looney tunes!

So there it was a figure dressed it white came in…the figure looked like a woman with the longest locks of black hair that I have ever seen. As she floats (yep, she was floating! She was moving without walking! I looked and I didn’t see her feet under her dress at all!) she stopped in front of me…my eyes were glued on her! And if that wasn’t freaky enough she turned and looked at my direction!

Her face looked dirty and her eyes were red and swollen. She was looking at me with her angry eyes. I lay there unable to move a muscle…it’s as if I was frozen! I looked down to check her feet again but all I see is a couple of inches blank space between her dress and the floor! I looked at her while she stared at me…there were millions of thoughts running through my head but I couldn’t seem to do anything. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cover myself with the blanket, I wanted to run to my grandmother’s but I just stared at her…that’s all I could do.

Then she turned away. I saw her pass through the wall that connects my parents’ room to my grandmother’s. Moments after the lady in white left me…I pulled the covers up and buried myself under it! Terrified with what just happened.

Realizing what actually happened scared me more! How come there’s a lady in white who could pass through doors and walls?! How come her face didn’t look normal?! Heck, how come she didn’t have feet? How come she was floating?! With these thoughts running in my head I noticed the wall clock it said…12:30 midnight.

When it is Dark, and Full Moon

My grandfather used to have a farm and fishpond somewhere in Bulacan. We’d go there every weekend when I was a kid. My brother and I would spend the entire day chasing dragonflies, swimming and hiking. It’s also where I had my first encounter with “The Almighty Cobra.” – imagine how I reacted! I was eleven-years old then. I didn’t run. I just looked at it, as I hold my breath the longest time I could ever remember. But that is not the scary story that I want to share with you.

It is when we spent the night at grandpa’s Palaisdaan. You see the place is really huge – eighteen hectares if I remember correctly, and utterly dark during the night for there is no electricity. Yes, no electricity. We stayed there because it is the Huli-night. We want to see how the manongs reap all the bangus and shrimps with their nets and cages. I was really amaze on how hundreds of fishes jump (for their lives) and tried not to get caught. It was an incredible sight, adding splendor to the scenery is the full moon’s glow.

I got bored watching them after a while. So, I told my brother that I’m in the mood for a midnight walk and he tagged along. We brought with us flashlights and our weapon of mass destruction – a not-so-thick but really long stick. Walk. Walk. Walk. Then we heard something. We stopped. And there it is again. It sounded like wings fluttering. He got scared (and so did I) but I told him that it was just the leaves of the mango trees, moving because of the midnight breeze or maybe, birds are playing on the trees’ branches. Acting like the brave kuya, I started walking again and he followed me. After a few minutes, a shadow. A big shadow covered the moonlight as we heard that fluttering sound again. Getting really frightened this time, we ran back to the cottage as fast as we could. Then we told everyone what happened.

Manong Jun the caretaker, upon hearing our story, told us that it was not the first time. He said that he usually sees something gigantic and has massive wings flying over the place during full moon. He said that one time, he actually saw that “thing” landed on the cottage’s roof and he is certain that it is no bird at all.

Eeeeehhhh…

Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unheard

I had lunch today with a fellow Bicolano who's father was my Mom's seatmate in school. It was our first meeting and what was notable about it was we got so comfortable our conversation turned to ghost stories. For some strange reason our IT talk on CDO turned to ghost stories.

We both agreed that the hotels there have ghosts like the one I stayed in last year for a roadshow. Upon entering the room I already felt a presence. Since I was so tired I just shrugged it off and ignored it, went out to have lunch with Jonas. Upon returning to my room I took a nap and got up to take a shower. There was someone in the shower. As I was taking a shower I could feel eyes boring through my back and it was awfully cold despite the warm water. I didn't feel though that it meant any harm. It just probably wanted to scare me off. So I managed to ignore it.

Good thing I was out the rest of the day for a speaking engagement and meet-ups. Ended up having dinner with Jonas at Limketkai and managed to go back to the hotel before midnight. I was too tired to mind the little child running around in my room. I couldn't see him, but I certainly felt him. I thought he just wanted some attention. What caught my attention was the noise from the disco across the street. It was so annoying that I just left the TV on mute. Of course, I had all the lights turned on as well.

I managed to get in a few hours of sleep, but the noise from across the street was still ringing on my ears when I woke up. Upon meeting my roadshow mates at the lobby I ranted to Jonas that it was so noisy outside my window. We were on the same floor and faced the same object of annoyance. He told me, "What noise?" I described to him the disco sounds that wrecked my slept. "There wasn't any," he said and said that the bar in front of the hotel was closed. "Looks like it burned down or something."

Oh my gawd.

Death's Sign

Is there really such a thing?

By the morning of November 2, ROSING's path changed sharply from northwest to a westward track and threatened to hit Catanduanes but its eye just skirted along the island’s northern coast, that evening and moved to target Northern Camarines Norte. Despite the quick strike, Catanduanes was heavily devastated. Threatening Daet, it moved again slightly west and made landfall by dawn of November 3 at Siruma, Camarines Sur which lies at the mouth of San Miguel Bay. One resident of Caramoan, a nearby town, spoke on what she witnessed during the passage of its eye.

"It was eerie," she said. "The moon and some stars went out during the calm moment with continuous flashing of lightning somewhere along the area surrounding the eye."

We experienced almost the same thing here in the Metro. The winds and the rain sounded really scary a lot of trees had been uprooted. It is scary to be outside during storms like this not only because of zero visibility but because of the roofs that fly by occasionally.

Finally the storm’s over. People went on their way fixing their houses and cleaning the streets.

That morning my brother went to my Uncle’s house to help him fix his roof. While they’re working my Aunt is busy taking care of my cousins.

As they work my brother & my Uncle were busy talking too…as they talk my brother looked up to my Uncle and saw something that changed his life forever.

A headless man…

My brother squints his eyes and was terrified to see my Uncle without his head on…”is that even possible?!” He asked himself. He tried to ignore what he saw and went back to fixing the roof. He was scared and he didn’t tell anyone about it thinking that it was only his imagination. “Could it be an ominous sign?!” He didn’t know and he didn’t believe in those things. After the roof is finally fixed he went home and my Uncle took a nap. Not long after when my brother came home from my Uncle’s house my Elder cousin came rushing to our house telling my Mom to hurry and go to my Uncle’s house…

Apparently my Aunt was trying to wake him up but he wouldn’t wake up no matter how she shook him…no matter how loud she called out to him.

They rushed my Uncle to the hospital and not long after he is declared DOA or Dead on Arrival. Cause of his death…”bangungot” or “According to the doctors, its acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis resulting (in) cardiac arrest.” In other words, he died in his sleep.
When we found out what happened I noticed my brother’s face suddenly went pale. He looks so terrified for some reason. When we asked him what was wrong he told us what he saw. My Mom’s best friend’s mother said my brother should have asked my Uncle about it. It might sound funny but this is what was my brother’s supposed to say, “Uncle, whatever happened to your head?! Where is it?!” According to the old lady in cases like this you should call that person’s attention about it otherwise he will surely die…because it’s an ominous sign…that death is at your doorstep.

The old Lady also told us that a couple of nights before my Uncle died she would hear footsteps of people coming in and out of the compound stopping near my Uncle’s doorstep and the dogs nearby would bark a howling sound so eerie. One night when it happened she actually looked through the window to see who the “visitors” were because it is very late…but she felt shivers down her spine when she saw no one but could actually hear the “footsteps”.

She said they were the actual ominous signs that death is coming…

Is there really a sign?! Can we really prevent death from happening if we managed to see the sign & do something about it like asking a man, “What happened to your head?! Where is it?!”

It’s up to you to decide.

Nighttime Runner

Hunger, thirst, or you just have to go to the bathroom. These are the things that wake us up during the night. If you have fridge or bathroom in your room then good for you, but if you have to go downstairs like me… hmmm…

I don’t turn on the lights whenever I go down because I might wake up my grandma whose room is at the first floor, right next to the kitchen. Feeling really hungry so I stood up and leisurely walk my way to the kitchen, using my mobile phone to illuminate my course. I was almost there when I felt something weird. I felt like someone is walking behind me. So I turnaround to check, but found nothing. Well I did see Zac (my dog) but he is asleep and is not moving a bit. I’ve made it to the fridge (finally!) and looked for anything that would satisfy my hunger. On my way back to my room, there it is again. I’ve had the same feeling in that same spot. The creepiness is really all over me this time, so I hurriedly went back to my room. I was about to sleep when I heard my ate (who happens to have a third-eye) arrived.

Morning. I was shocked when my ate told us over breakfast that when she arrived (that night), she saw a kid running in the kitchen. It was weird because there are no kids at our house. So she stayed a bit more in the kitchen just to be sure, she didn’t turn on the lights though. Then she saw the kid running again. This time, it is clearer. She was stunned to see a boy, who seemed scared and unhappy. But what was really disturbing is that he was colored green…

And yeah, I still go downstairs in the middle of the night after hearing that…with the lights on of course!

More on the 15F

It’s quite weird that there are a lot of “appearances” in that office building. It’s relatively new and I haven’t heard about any accident or mishap that resulted in death in that building. The area is also not known for such things. The only thing to note, however, is the fact that the building is across a church that has a masoleum in its premises. Oh well.

It was a Friday night and everyone left me behind in the office. I had to meet my classmates from the marketing research class I was taking. I stayed at the office to finish the iterations of the study we were making. There were only two other people in the floor – Manong Sonny, the janitor who was earning 30K per month and the Manong Guard. Manong Sonny was quite apprehensive about me staying late because he really didn’t like my room.

In my previous story I mentioned that I moved to several spots. I had it made when I was finally moved to a corner office! It wasn’t big, just about 12 square meters, but the Manila Bay sunset view was what always made my day (far cry from my garage view at my basement now heh). But Manong Sonny and the building maintenance people weren’t really happy that I was placed there.

I like well-lighted rooms. I even requested maintenance to add several fluorescents in my room. I thought it was too dark. One time while the maintenance guy was installing additional lights in my room he told me, “Ma’am ingat po kayo dito ha.” (Ma’am, be careful here.). I thought it was quite weird and asked him why. “Meron pong kakaibang nilalang dito. Kayo na po ang may pinakamaliwanag na opisina sa buong building at makakatulong po to.” (There is something different here in your office. Your office is the most-lighted one in the whole building, but this would surely help).

I didn’t mind what he said until a few days later the decorative stuff that hid the light came off and almost hit me on my head. I actually ran to Anne’s place and complained about what happened. The maintenance guy immediately showed up and said, “Sabi sa iyo Ma’am eh.” (I told you so.). I just shrugged it off and thought that it was because he didn’t hinge the thing properly when he installed the lights.

Eversince then whenever I stayed late – usually until 7 – Manong Sonny would check on me every so often. It was only on that evening that I was to meet my classmates that I understood what Manong Sonny and the maintenance guy was trying to tell me. I was happily being a nerd when I heard the tapping on the glass. I thought there was someone from publishing trying to get my attention – I was like in a fishbowl in my office, despite the blinds, everyone in the publishing section could see what I was doing. I then checked who was tapping the glass. There wasn’t anyone. And then I heard it again, it was to my right. I then thought my colleague who was situated in the next room was just dissing me. I knew she went home early and thought maybe she went back to get something. There was no one.

I called out to Manong Sonny and the Manong Guard, but they weren’t within earshot. I just then shrugged it off and continued my computations. Tap-tap-tap. I just raised my brow. Tap-tap-tap. Hmmm… The rapping on the glass continued and wouldn’t stop. I started praying and saving up my work. It was already way past ten in the evening and I thought the occupants weren’t really happy I was still there.

Tap-tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap.

I quickly shut down my PC and ran.