JC Palanca
Halloween is just around the corner. Time to get your flashlights ready for an annual ghost expedition. Here are 6 mysterious places across the country that are popular during Halloween.
Manila Film Center
The building was originally built to be the venue for the 1982 Manila International Film festival but during construction, a tragedy occurred where more than a hundred workers were buried in wet cement. Even with that, the construction continued and the intended film festival pushed through. Visitors report that they hear wailing voices and mysterious footsteps in the building. They say you can still feel the presence of the workers who died during the tragedy.
Balete Drive, Quezon City
With numerous Balete trees along the road, Balete Drive is infamous for being connected to the resident White Lady. According to the legend, the white lady is the spirit of a woman who was raped by Japanese soldiers during World War 2. Others say the ghost is the spirit of Lucila Lalu, a victim of the infamous “Chop-Chop” murders in the 1960s. When drivers pass by the area, sometimes the white lady hitches a ride in the back seat.
Laperal White House, Baguio
Built in the 1920s, this Victorian-style house owned by the Laperal clan has seen the horrors of World War 2. This house is where Japanese soldiers allegedly tortured and murdered Filipinos who they thought were working with the Americans. The caretakers alleged to have seen apparitions of a woman and a little girl roaming the house.
Diplomat Hotel, Dominican Hill, Baguio
This 1911 structure dominates Dominican Hill. Before becoming The Diplomat Hotel, it served as a rest house for Spanish friars, then a refugee camp. In the 80s, it was turned into a hotel by psychic healer Tony Agpaoa, who was known to have hosted his terminally ill clients in that hotel. It has since been abandoned after his death. What remains, according to residents nearby, are screams, banging doors, and sound of utensils.
Malinta Tunnel, Corregidor
This tunnel was originally built to be a bunker and storage for bombs but it was later used as a hospital equipped with 1,000 beds during the war. As the battle of Corregidor raged on during WW2, over 800 Filipino and American soldiers lost their lives in that tunnel when they battled the Japanese. Legend says the tunnel is filled with screams of traumatized souls that can be heard throughout the tunnel at night.
Siquijor Island, Siquijor
Siquijor island is one of the most mysterious places in the entire country and it’s sometimes known among Filipinos as the magic island and for good reason. This is because in Philippine folklore, stories of sorcery, voodoo, and witchcraft center on Siquijor Island. Visitors are urged to be respectful because strange misfortunes might fall upon them should they disrespect the grounds.
Benitez Hall, University of the Philippines – Diliman, Quezon City
Benitez Hall is one of the oldest buildings on campus and it has its fair share of creepy stories and one of the creepiest ones is about the painted portrait of a deceased dean. There are rumors that the dean’s ashes were mixed in to the paint that was used to paint the portrait. And if that wasn’t enough, they say the dean comes down from the portrait every night to roam the halls. He even attends and observes the lectures of students in the hall.
Bonus: Kumakatok (any household)
The Kumakatok is a group of three hooded figures that knock on doors in the middle of the night. They are said to be the harbingers of bad omens. According to legend, a family member of that household usually dies after a visit.
