Have You Ever Experienced Your Bed Shake?

Last weekend I tagged along with my friends to see the sights in Ilocos Norte. I’ve never been to that area in the country and since it was free, I gladly went along with the plan.

It was a very long trip. We left Manila at around 4 in the morning and arrived in Laoag at almost 5 in the afternoon. We were looking forward to eating yummy local food and relaxing at the prestigious Fort Ilocandia, but we had to tag along with the other guys we were with for some work.

We arrived back at the hotel at past 11 in the evening and decided to check out the beach. It was very dark, only the moon illuminated the wide seashore. A couple of trees were scattered around. We had to avoid falling into newly dug ditches for a landscaping project, seemed like the placement of the trees were part of a grand scheme (quite unnatural). After checking out the shore – sand seemed to be black – we settled in a hut a few meters from the seashore.

Of course, like in Punta Fuego we started scaring each other. Abe pointing out a wire to be a tuko’s tail – in the dim light it did seem like a tail. We also couldn’t help but scare Sasha by placing our mobile phones under our chin to look like ghosts. Rito, a writer at the Philippine Daily Inquirer, joined in the raucous behavior.

We were laughing so hard, but I told Abe to cut it out since I was afraid that my third eye might open. The place seemed perfect for wayward spirits and I felt I wasn’t far from seeing one pop-up anytime.

Too late. I was speaking with Rito when I saw a blur of white and blue streak behind him. I just stayed quiet at first so as not to scare Sasha and Lauren further. I just said, ‘It’s too late I can already see them”. It didn’t help that Rito kept kidding that he was seeing things already. He suddenly stood up and said he was going back to his room.

By this time, the girls were already seeking protection from Abe. Three very scared girls, uhuh, lucky Abe and Rito. We then decided to go back to our rooms altogether.

I had to hide my face in Abe’s arm because I knew that what I saw was following us. I’d see him in the sort palm trees looking at us. Curious perhaps and probably amused that we were so scared. I only let go of Abe’s arm when we were already in the lighted area of the hotel. It looked like a kid Good thing it didn’t follow us anymore.

We slept with the lights on, but I guess Lauren was bothered about it and turned it on. I thought things were okay already. Sasha and I slept beside each other and assured each other that things were already alright and that we were far from the entity that we saw.

At the witching hour I was awakened by the vigorous shaking of the bed. I realized Sasha was awake too (I didn’t see that Lauren was seated on our bed already) and asked her what was happening. The bed was shaking so badly. I remembered that we were in Room 214 (supposedly a room that is always occupied – it was, something was in the shower). I was so freaked out because I became fixated on a corner in the room. I felt I was looking at something. It was so dark though and I just hid under the covers.

The shaking of the bed soon stopped and I finally managed to ask Sasha what it was. She said it was an earthquake. Weird, how could a bed shake that bad during the earthquake when it’s only on the second floor?

Haunted

I grew up with a bunch of relatives who could see things that normal people don't...people say that my family members’ “third eye” is open that is why they could see these things.

I started having my own “sightings” during my early years in grade school…first time I saw them was when my family went to visit my grand father’s resting place in Loyola Memorial Park, Parañaque City…I was walking behind the others admiring the “view”…I saw lots of “people” roaming around most of them have this big smile on their faces, “Kaya pala fiestang patay ang tawag, para pala talagang fiesta dito ang daming tao!” I thought to myself.

I realized that those figures are not really human beings when I actually collided with one of them…he just went through me…”What the…”

After that incident seeing “them” became part of my daily life…there came a point that it didn’t bother me anymore.

This explains why I am not the one who would easily get scared over a horror film…except for “The Grudge” Original Japanese Version that is…ehehehe…that film actually got thru me. But no sleepless nights or having to turn on the lights while I sleep kinda thing…it just made me think…and I actually loved it. What good is a scary movie if it doesn’t serve its purpose?

Sometimes I ask myself why do I see these things?! Is there something wrong with me? I’ve been watching films, been reading things related to what I am going through to find some answer…all the stuff I’ve read & watched implied the same thing…if you have a rough childhood or if you are extremely sad or depressed, you are most likely to experience these things…Hmmm…I wonder saan kaya ako nag-fall dun?! Hmmm…

People would actually suggest that I should go to a specialist that would help me open up my "third eye” I was like, “why the hell for?! I am fine with the way I am now…if anything I want to “close” it. I do not want to see the future or see more of these things.

And so as time goes by I eventually lost my “talent.” Does this mean that I am happier now that I am older?! Does this mean that I finally have it closed?! And how was I able to do that?! Is my unwillingness to explore did it?! I honestly don’t know. Basta tahimik na ang buhay ko and I’m not about to go looking for ways to complicate things again by wondering why I don’t see them anymore.

It’s over…finally!

Or so I thought.

Last April 27, 2007 we went to Caylabne Resort in Ternate Cavite for our company’s summer outing…the beach is located below this weird looking ravine…the resort looks nice though. I shared a room at the top floor of the apartment style building with some friends of mine. The room is ok it’s got a nice view…it also have my favorite part of a house…the terrace. While waiting for my turn to take a shower I went out to the terrace to “reflect” with my brother’s mp3 on…I pushed the sliding door and went outside…it’s almost dark outside but I didn’t mind at all...stood there admiring the trees…wala kasing masyadong trees sa city…ehehehe.

So ayun while enjoying my moment alone…natigil ako sa aking pagmumuni-muni when all of a sudden huminto ang hangin…I looked around then suddenly biglang lumakas uli ang hangin…feeling like someone’s watching me…feeling like I’m not alone I decided to take a look around for the second time…that’s when I saw the “white lady-like” figure with a longest locks of black hair that I have ever seen…she’s standing by the tree that’s in front of me...few feet away from me. I closed my eyes & shook my head off…telling myself that it’s just my imagination…then I looked at that same direction again…she’s gone.

I went inside our room happy to find out that it’s finally my turn to take a shower…I tried to forget about what happened. After that refreshing bath I tried to relax by the bed listening to some mp3s…mga ilang minuto pa bababa na kami for dinner…I was enjoying my music when I noticed the two huge windows by the bed…I pulled the curtain to see what’s outside…to my surprise…it’s there again!

Why am I being haunted by these things again?!

The Midnight Typists

My current job requires me to work on a graveyard shift for a week or two in a month. All other departments are closed, and only my partner and me work during the night, so it’s like the whole office is closed. I’ve heard a lot of ghost stories that happened at the office, like the one about the white lady that is often seen inside the men’s comfort room, and the little boy who runs and plays in the pantry, but I never imagined that there would be a time when I will be the one who’s telling such story…

On a typical working night, workload is usually light during midnight. To stay awake, I surf the Internet. I forgot my headset that night so the silence is killing me. The only thing I am hearing is the sound coming from the fans and air-conditioning units. Jenny, my partner at the time is having a siesta. It is really quiet, until I heard something - a click-like sound. It’s coming from the production area. I stood up to check it out but to no avail. As I was about to sit, there it is again. This time, it’s louder. And it is starting to sound like someone is typing! And it is neither I, nor Jenny. When she woke up, she asked me if I am hearing it too. We talked aloud to test if it will stop but it didn’t. Instead, it get much louder, and this time, it is not coming from one unit anymore. I’ve wanted to see if the keys are really moving but Jenny stopped me and told me not to leave her side. So we sat, tried to ignore it, and just waited for it to stop.

From then on, we got quite unaffected when we hear it during the night. We just joke about it, sometimes talking to “it” and asked if “it” has a deadline to beat. Maybe we could give “it” a hand?

A Creepy Night at Punta Fuego

I don’t usually get the creeps easily because I see myself as a very rational person. It took unsolicited confirmation from my friends that there was a black entity in the pool for me to realize that what I encountered was something out of the ordinary and not my astigmatic eyes. So this story is one extraordinary creepy night.

My friends and I were in Punta Fuego and after dinner decided to take a walk to Punta Fuego Point to record a podcast. Jayvee and I were a few meters ahead of the other when I suddenly heard a cuucuucuu sound. I reasoned to myself that it was just a bird or something when I felt the hairs at the back of my neck stand. It was then I realized that we were at a dark area of the street. The dogs started howling. I froze and asked Jayvee to stop so we could wait for the others.

I realized then that we should’ve walked to the lighted area first before stopping since we were in front of a house under construction. It was really dark and both sides of the street were cliffs that give way to the sea. The moonless night added to the creepy feeling I was experiencing.

Good thing Abe, Sasha and Rico soon caught up with us and we stuck together on our way up to Punta Fuego Point. I asked Abe if he heard the cuucuucuu sound and he said yes. A shiver ran up my spine so I just stuck close with the others till we reached Punta Fuego Point.

Punta Fuego Point was unfortunately dark. There’s a small entrance to the garden and a walkway to the gazebo. Of course, since no one was there we had to turn the lights on ourselves. I couldn’t help but shiver since the surrounding was really dark because of the sea. I felt we were disturbing spirits at rest in the place and was quite scared that we might annoy them.

We stayed for about an hour or so and finished our recording. We were quite rowdy until we had to turn the lights off again. Walking back to the house I hooked up on Abe’s arm and didn’t let go until we were in the yard. I didn’t look back, nor did I look sideways. I felt there was someone watching us with sinister eyes and was just tolerating us as guests of the place.

Now I wonder, was it a spirit or a creature watching us?

Smoke-like Figure

Friday, April 6, 2007 nag-Station of the Cross kami ni Mommy. Meeting place and location ng First Station sa Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe our Parish Church. I’ve got blistered feet from walking napaso pa ang kamay ko sa mga patak ng kandila…my legs hurt…malamang naman diba ikaw ba naman maglakad ka for 3 hours straight!

When the day is done there is nothing left for me to do but sit on the couch and watch tv since I have no one to talk to…my parents went out and my brother’s out with his friends…it’s late and I’m too lazy to go online… Mom called and told me that my bro’s sleeping over at his friend’s house and that I should just lock the doors…which of course I did and checked ‘em thrice! I decided to sleep in my parents’ room so that I could hear if anyone knocks…just in case my brother decided to come home. I popped in my parents’ compilation of 60’s songs CD and tried to get some sleep...to no avail.

At first it was because of the light coming from the lamp post outside…aninag kasi yun sa malaking bintana sa kwarto nila Mommy...plus yung moon pa ang liwa-liwanag! I didn’t mind yung mga nagpapasyon eh ok lang sakin yung noise but I really couldn’t sleep pag may konting liwanag sa kwarto. Kailangan talaga total darkness.

So I decided to cover my eyes na lang…di pa rin ako makatulog…what’s my problem?! I used to sleep that way nung ka-share ko pa si Ate sa kwarto when I have to put up with her reading during late nights at bukas pa ilaw…shining brightly right in front of my face since double deck yung bed namin ata ko yung nasa itaas… Binuksan ko na lang yung lamp shade…nagmuni-muni...wa epek! So I decided to turn the music off and the lamp shade…I tried to sleep.

Wala pang five minutes I felt weird na…uneasy. Wala naman akong naririnig na kahit na anong ingay, it’s just that I felt like I was being watched! How can that be?! Hello! Mag-isa lang ako sa kwarto…mag-isa lang ako sa bahay!!! Dali-dali kong binuksan yung lamp shade reached for my cell phone and texted my friend Ai. Thankfully, she’s still up and nag-reply cya! Made me feel a better! I didn’t tell her anything since I didn’t want to acknowledge the feeling! Geez, I am so used to seeing things that normal people don’t usually see…ngayon pa ba ako matatakot…now that I am older?! What’s gotten into me?!

Sa harap ng bed nila Mommy may mirror…although di ko kita ang sarili ko kita ko yung wall above my head…again…andun na naman yung uneasy feeling nung mapatingin ako sa salamin…I decided to ignore it at sige lang ako ng text kay Ai…pero the feeling of uneasiness is getting stronger and something inside is urging me to look at the mirror once again…so I did. I stared at the mirror I could see the light‘s reflection…okay lang normal lang yun! But all of a sudden yung reflection gumalaw…it’s forming into something…it’s like a smoke forming into something…pinatay ko agad yung lamp shade tumingin ako sa may bintana to see if there’s something outside. Wala naman. Although natatakot ako tumingin ako uli sa may salamin…telling myself, “baka naman guni-guni ko lang yun!”

Trying to calm myself down slowly I looked into that direction…there was nothing! Fixing my eyes on that same direction I saw the smoke-like figure rise up above…nasa tabi na cya ng ilaw…I closed my eyes and prayed. Telling myself it was just my imagination…only my imagination…I remembered the prayer that my Mom thought me when I was still a kid…nung madalas akong tumatakbo sa room nila dahil di ko na kaya yung mga bagay na nagpapakita sa akin noon…she told me to pray to Jesus…pati yung mga sinabi ni Father Jocis sa book niyang “Exorcism” naalala ko! Nakatulugan ko na yata ang pagdadasal…pero umaga na rin kasi nun kaya nakatulog na rin ako…finally my parents came home na. I tried to forget all about it went on my biz the next day. I didn’t even tell my Mom.

Kinagabihan umalis uli sila ng Dad ko but this time hindi na ako mag-isa coz my bro’s here. I stayed up pa nga til midnight watching tv sa living room tapos dun uli ako natulog sa room nila Mommy. Papasok pa lang ako sa room nila naiisip ko na naman yung mga nangyari the other night…I tried to shake it off na lang. Same routine…pinakinggan ko uli yung 60’s CD nila covered my eyes and tried to sleep…but to no avail. I texted Ai…nilibang ko uli sarili ko, but nothing’s good enough…di pa rin ako dalawin ng antok. Pinatay ko na uli yung sounds ko & concentrate on getting some sleep…but the moment I closed my eyes…naramdaman ko agad yung mga “matang” nakatingin sa akin…at parang mas madami sila kaysa the other night! I opened my eyes and saw that smoke-like figure again…I tried to pray but this time I was defeated by fear! Di ko matapos-tapos yung dinadasal ko...biglang di ko na alam yung sasabihin ko…I started to panic…

I decided to reach for my cell phone to text or call someone…disappointed to find out na it’s not possible since I lost my fone…I lost all my contacts at di ko pa nakokopya yung mga nasa chikka ko…I guess all that stress made me pass out for a couple of minutes…nagising kasi ako almost 4am sa ingay ng aso naming…he kept barking for some reason…when I opened my eyes and looked above the figure wasn’t there anymore…I looked around and saw it by the door and it moved! I looked at the window to see if there’s someone outside but there was no one. So why the hell is the dog barking?!

I played some music to calm my nerves but it didn’t work…the strong presence of the smoke-like figure is overwhelming! Plus the dog’s barking didn’t help at all! Inisip ko rin yung possibility na baka may magnanakaw somewhere so ayun nakuha kong tumayo at buksan na ang ilaw. But our dog kept barking! I felt so scared na and helpless kaya umupo na lang ako sa isang corner na malayo sa bintana and hugged my pillow…praying. After some time nanahimik na rin yung aso namin…I stood up, put the light off & hopped into bed.

The minute I close my eyes it came back…the feeling of being watched…and the smoke-like figure…I was about to cry nang bigla kong maalala yung El Shaddai na pinakikinggan lagi ng Mom ko noon sa radio…I remembered puro worship songs ang kinakanta dun…since I can’t pray the worship songs would surely calm my nerves. So I turned the radio on kaso lang naisip ko, “what if di ko mahanap, or what if tapos na yung program?!” Buti na lang pag-on ko ng radio andun na agad sa Station nayun at nung marinig ko boses ni Brother Mike na nagbabasa ng verse sa Bible I started to calm down na…nakatulog na ako with the radio on.

Hotel Ghosts

I've been travelling a lot for work in the past few years. I think I spent 45 days of 2006 in different hotel rooms. It's a good thing that I'm not scared of ghosts anymore coz there's always one in every hotel I check into.

Singapore - I must admit I'm not good at scouting good hotels. Anyway, I ended up in a hotel somewhere near Little India (hint hint) and I didn't sleep a wink the two nights I was there. I usually leave the light in the bathroom on whenever I'm alone in a hotel room. The place just felt so heavy and I saw this thing in human form (with matching turban!) standing in front of the bathroom. I hid under the covers, but that didn't help any since the presence was really overwhelming. I ended up leaving for the airport a good 4 hours before my flight just to escape the thingy in my room.

Davao - I had the privilege of staying at this really prestigious, expensive hotel in Davao when I was still in the yellow pages. I was watching TV one evening and had the lights on because I was also doing some reading, when suddenly this shadow in the form of a dragon walked across the wall behind the TV. Shocked I turned the lights on and off, but it was still there. I tried so hard to dismiss it as a small lizard playing tricks on me, but the goosebumps it gave me really freaked me out and as usual, I just hid under the covers and prayed.

Cebu - I just came from Cebu yesterday and this thing I just dismissed it as faulty wiring. I felt that leaving the bathroom light and keeping the door open was kinda freaky so I decided to leave the bedside lamp on. Just one lamp so it wouldn't be too bright. Much to my chagrin I woke up the next morning and all the room lights were turned on! Next time I'll make sure my best friend stays with me!

Three O'clock

May 2006.

It happened on the night of my last day at EYP. After talking to my mom about what happened at the office while we are having dinner, I went straight to my room and tried to sleep. Pero ‘di ako makatulog agad kaya nagbasa muna ako. Nakatulugan ko na ‘yung binabasa ko sa sobrang pagod siguro – kaiisip. I was a little depressed because of losing my job, but I felt “free”.

Mahimbing ang tulog ko, as usual. Pero bigla akong nagising. Gising talaga. I felt like someone woke me up. I reached for my cellphone to check the time, it was 3:00 AM. After reading an SMS, I tried to sleep again. Tumagilid ako, nakatalikod sa pinto, nakaharap sa pader. Had this strange feeling that someone’s watching me from behind. Hindi lang pala nakatingin. Parang papalapit sa ’kin. Parang “Ayan na! Ayan na!”, ganun ang nararamdaman ko. And I smell something…strange. It smells like something is burning. Then I felt something really cold passed thru my back. It was rockin’ me literally and I can’t move. My eyes are open but I can’t see anything aside from the wall – it’s like it’s swaying. I tried to shout and call for help but I can’t. Hindi ako makapagsalita. Then, I prayed. Hard. After a few seconds, it stopped. I was in shock. I didn’t know what to do. Tumayo ako agad, mabilis. Then turned on the lights. I looked at my bed but didn’t see anything. Bubuksan ko na sana ‘yung pinto to wake up anyone I can talk to, pero natakot ako na baka kung ano ang makita ko sa labas ng kwarto. Good thing, my aunt’s room and my room has wood division. Kaya kinatok ko siya ‘dun. Sabi ko “Tita, buksan mo ‘yung pinto mo!”. When I heard her open her door, saka lang ako lumabas ng kwarto. She said “Bakit anung nangyari? Bakit ang putla mo?” I remember that I can’t even say a word. I’m shakin’ and I feel really cold. We went to my mom’s room because my aunt didn’t know what to do. Then I told them what happened. My mom went to my room to check. I didn’t want to go with her – that’s how scared I was. When she get back to me, she found the crucifix (that hangs at my bedroom wall) on the floor. It was broken. My mom is very religious. Kumuha siya ng holy water and nagpray habang winiwisikan ang kwarto ko.

After a few minutes, I fell asleep in my Ate’s room. Nagising ulit ako. Pero this time, someone grabbed my feet. Whatever it is, it is really cold. Nagulat sila lahat. Sabi ko sa kanila ayoko muna matulog. I looked at the clock and it was around 3:30AM.

I didn’t sleep in my room for a week. And since then, I always keep the lights on when sleeping. Kasi everytime na patay ang ilaw, nagigising ako ng 3AM. Sakto 'yun. And ‘di na ko makakatulog ulit. I didn’t understand everything that happened until I saw the movie “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”. The smell, and the time. Now I know. And I remember na hindi ako nakapagdasal before sleeping nung night na ‘yun.

What a coincidence. Before I started writing this, I looked at the clock in my computer - guess what time was it?