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

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?

The Shadow in the Pool

I grew up not believing in ghosts. My Mom would always tell me that they are just tricks of one's imagination. And whenever I'd get spooked I'd always think that it's just my overactive imagination.

I was a junior in college then and as editor in-chief of our school's literary folio we'd conduct an out of town workshop at least once a term. It was the workshop for our literary folio's first issue and together with a handful of other editors we left for Laguna a day ahead to make arrangements.

The place was called Villa OLA. It was a small private resort, with conferences room perfect for our needs. We arrived in the early hours of the evening and proceeded to get settled. After dinner and a short meeting we decided to break-up and do our own thing. I then proceeded to do some laps in the small swimming pool.

The water was warm, no breeze to make me cold and the moon provided a soft glow in the background. I was happy and feeling very much refreshed. I had made about three laps when I thought I'd bump into something in the middle of the pool. Not wanting to break my lap, I swerved and only looked back when I came up for air at the end of the pool. No one was in the pool. Just me.

Just your imagination, I thought. I then went on for another lap. The same thing happened. A shadow was crossing in the middle of the pool. I tried to reach out for him, but didn't hit anybody. I then broke my lap and stood up. Nobody in sight. Then a breeze suddenly chilled me. Just your imagination, just your imagination!

I then walked to the edge of the pool and surveyed the whole area. My friends were in the room and nobody was around. I then went underwater and opened my eyes. It was still there, a black shadow crossing the middle of the pool. I shivered and immediately got out of the pool.

I didn't mention the incident to anybody even with the arrival of the other members the next day. The place was pretty noisy with the arrival of the rest of the members. It was our break-time and I settled in the room to do some reading. I was quietly reviewing manuscripts when I heard shrieks coming from the pool.

I immediately ran outside to check what it was. Three members said they saw a black entity crossing the middle of the pool. And this was confirmed by some of the editors who had their third eye open.

I just stood there, in shock.

Villa OLA Resort. OLA meaning, Our Lady of the Abandoned.