"Yes, some unexplained encounters happen but my conviction is that one should not be afraid if you have the Words of God in your heart."

They are there. They are really there. They exist and that is Biblical. But you should not be afraid if God is with you because they won't harm you. So you love traveling or immersing yourself to adventure while being watched by ghosts or supernatural beings? Hey! Look at your back, no one is there but someone is actually watching you. You just can't see them. For this post, I will be featuring some popular and not-so popular travel and adventure destinations tainted with ghosts stories from urband legends, stories from town folks and even actual encounters of mine. Yes, I experienced "them."
Pindangan

For the first stop, this is an actual encounter of mine. It was a hot afternoon (but it is about to go dark) when I reached a creepy place called Pindangan Ruins in the city of San Fernando, La Union. I was riding on a tricycle and I was alone. I entered a narrow road that connects to the main highway. A huge acacia tree was very notable that time. The air moves, mmm... it was cold that made me doubt if it was really a hot afternoon.

All I know that time is that I was enjoying that city tour. There were no ghost things inside my head because it was a bright sunny day and those things never came to my mind at all. At first I didn't enter the ruin and I was just enjoying the dilapidated structure since it is again a new destination for me with historical value. I finally decided to enter the ruin and I suddenly felt uneasy. I didn't know why.

Inside the ruin seemed like it was a different dimension. It feels like it is not a part of the place where I was standing. The feeling was strange. It was hard to explain. I set my camera  into self-timer mode and I removed the flash since I don't want the outcome of the photo if there is too much light. For my first shoot, the camera flashed. I rechecked the camera if I really removed the flash. It was set on a flash mode. For the second time, I removed the flash but after the 10-second timer, it produced light again.

That time I was not thinking about any ghosts because it really didn't come in my mind and I was thinking that I may have mistakenly set the camera. But for the third time, I removed the flash and I made myself sure that I really removed the flash but the camera still produced a light.

After I took my own photo inside that "new dimension," the tricycle driver who drove me there told me that people around the area are seeing a priest inside that ruin without a head (pugot) and a lady dressed in white with a face that is hard to recognize. My body hairs got stiff and I told the driver, "Kuya please paki-bilisan, umalis na tayo rito." I didn't tell the driver about my experience there but the moment he told me about those ghost stories, I knew by myself that the glitches of my camera were not of human error.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of Ilocos Norte


The next creepy destination is the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse of the town of Burgos in Ilocos Norte. It is an old lighthouse that has turned to be a national treasure and heritage. It is situated atop the hill. There are no other houses near the lighthouse. As you approach it, it looks very vintage.

Reaching the lighthouse was not easy. If you have no rides, you need to climb the hill. After that climb, the lighthouse seemed like to be reluctant to visitors because there are more steps to take before reaching the lighthouse itself.

I went up, some metals from the windows and other parts are rusty. It was very silent. But it gives you a marvelous view of the West Philippine sea and the mountains of Ilocos Norte and a different feeling that you are in a different world @.@.

There a lot of old stuff and you don't know if the persons who made those are already dead now that their ghosts are taking care of them. Some locals tell that a white lady is residing in that lighthouse.

The Antique Sta. Maria Colonial Cemetery Ruins

For some reasons, I visited a Spanish-era cemetery in the town of Santa Maria with two awesome bloggers Estan Cabigas (Langyaw.com) and Eric Cabalda (HReric.com).

Maybe you would ask me. Why you bother to visit a cemetery? Well, that is an interesting question. I wanted to visit the place because of its historical value. It is as old as the World Heritage Church of Sta. Maria which is also made up of bricks and few is known about it. Going there would at least give me an idea about how beautiful the cemetery chapel in that cemetery was. It has intricate designs with evident European influence. You can see the designs in some of the remaining structures.

The cemetery ruins are now filled with a lot of trees, vines, shrubs and other plants. Inside is like a mini-forest that will transport you to another realm within the walls of that antique cemetery chapel.

Burgos Ancestral House and Museum

It is one of the famous museums in Vigan being the birth house of Padre Jose Burgos of the famed GOMBURZA. The house is now a National Museum.

The ghost story started when a visitor of the Provincial Capitol visited the museum. The government officials toured that man. Unknown to those officials, their visitor has a third eye. Let's just give him a pseudo name "Mark." As other tourists are enjoying the old stuff they see inside, Mark felt uneasy. Being a person with a third eye, he was seeing "many" other tourists inside the museum that it was only he who can see them. They are dressed in an old-fashioned way in barong and old gowns just going around. They ascend and descend the stairs and they are everywhere the house. The story has spread in Vigan and employees of the provincial capitol may have known about the incident.

Mystery and Ritual-Filled Burayok-Pinsal Falls of Nagbukel Mountain Town

Actually, I will have another set of posts that will tackle my experiences in this mystical waterfall but I want to include it now for this post. However, this will only serve as a teaser. The whole story will be written in a series since it covers a huge realm of different stories that require thorough analyses for each event and encounters.

What made this waterfall mysterious and creepy is the fact that of all the waterfalls cascading in the mountains of the town of Nagbukel, this one "kills" visitors if you will not submit to the "requirement" of the unseen spirits.

The most common requirement is to offer a blood on which our group just did (I will talk more about that blood-offering ritual for my upcoming series for this waterfall). Our guide told me that people who come here without blood-offering to the unseen spirits will die. Several deaths have happened here and the residents and town folks have learned that those are the visitors who did not offer a blood. From that time on, every first  time visitor who goes there is already advised to offer a blood.

The waterfall itself is an image of a white lady. Notice the photo. At the rocks are different symbols like lions and a huge image of soldier who seems to be taking care of the waterfalls (I will show the images soon).

Final Words

Note that these are just ghost stories and it depends upon your conviction. Personally, I believe in ghosts, I believe in hell and I believe that this world will be ruled by the evil and by the Anti-Christ. But the rule will be temporary because Jesus will come the second time around to save the believers (as stated in the Bible).

About the rituals I discussed above, I personally don't believe it but my guide still did it because it was their belief. But I am not bothered should there have been no  blood-offering rituals that happened.

So we should not be afraid. Yes, some unexplained encounters happen but my conviction is that one should not be afraid if you have the Words of God in your heart. That will be your protection. Ghosts won't harm, they will just give fear. Real humans both give harm and fear.
SPEAK YOUR HEART OUT. DON'T BE SHY TO POST YOUR COMMENT, THOUGHTS, OR FEEDBACK. MAG-REREPLY AKO ONCE MAKITA KO ANG COMMENT MO. :)

Axact

EDMAR GUQUIB y DEL CASTILLO

Born and Raised in Vigan, Philippines. Hardcore Ilocano-Cordilleran. Professional Nurse on Weekdays. Coffee Addict. Travel Blogger in Between. For collaboration or partnership, email your business proposal at admin@edmaration.com.

Post A Comment:

62 comments:

  1. I can see at least 2 faces on the photo of Burayok-Pinsal Falls. Hehehehe!

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  2. ^_^ wReY and R0bbY | The downside of traveling solo? Haha!

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  3. Ding Fuellos | Ang galing ng mata mo sir. Hehe. Some photos na nakuha ko may mga images na mabubuo. Maybe creative lang talaga ang brains naming mga pumunta doon pero noong nalaman namin yung story ng place ay nangilabot kami, Haha. Ma-relate namin yung mga nakita namin sa mga istorya at ritual na ginawa ng mga guide, lols.

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  4. very timely... these places however are astounding nonetheless and stories such as these only add to the over-all appeal that makes them worth visiting

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  5. Vonn Angelie David | I love that spirit Vonn! The sense of adventure is living!

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  6. Brave a s I am I will never test my courage going to eerie places. Malapitin ako sa bad spirits. Believe it or not , I have seen dead people.

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  7. Eds, tumayo lahat ng buhok ko sa katawan while reading your story. At hindi ko kinaya tingnan yung waterfalls pic mo, baka kasi may biglang white lady na lalabas, katulad ng mga email pranks.

    Hindi rin kami pumupunta sa mga eerie places, since Summer can sense it and I dont want to chicken out when she pointed out that someone is in my back. Collapse ako nun if happen. hehehe

    At ikaw na nag magaling mag narrate ng Ghost Story. Pang MGB ang dating.

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  8. Sky Summer | Haha, ako basta may kasama go ng go parin, LOL! Kapag museums, kaya ko pa yan kahit mag-isa. haha.

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  9. I am alone here reading your blog and its already 10pm...hahhahha... goosebumps indeed!

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  10. I am a scaredy cat, Edmar! I wanted to put off reading your post for later. But I was pushed to finish it until the end! I can't believe that I'm still having goosebumps!!!!! Argh.. anyway, I recall having these really weird feelings too when I passed through the hallway of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. The same feeling was experienced when Rubel and I passed by the different rooms in the Burgos Museum. Waaah.. still getting goosebumps! Kainis! Hahaha!

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  11. Amaya Chika | Even reading this blog post will test your courage and faith. hehe.

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  12. Mai Flores | Waaah! Hahaha! It is my special post post Halloween. Takutan tayo! Hehe.

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  13. Those places look rather creepy indeed. Great places to visit to get a spooky Halloween.

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  14. Adeline Yuboco | Hehe. Actually I was kinda enjoying them more those times than thinking of supernatural beings. hehe.

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  15. Very in tune with the Halloween season. Those places are really creepy. The only kind of creepy I have is Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor.

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  16. I didn't know na haunted pala yung Burgos Museum? Nagtour pa naman ako dun ng mag-isa!

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  17. The mere fact that you always travel alone is already creepy :) specially with those kinds of destinations. The creepiness is very much complimented by your choice of minor color manipulations with the photos. Ride safe always buddy ^^

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  18. The places definitely look scary but what makes these places scary are the stories attached to them. Without it, they're just ordinary. Boooo!

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  19. Christian | Lakad Pilipinas | Ayus lang yun! Hindi ka naman aanuhin ng mga multo dun eg. pabalik-balik nga ako eh, haha.

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  20. dimaks | The Urban Walker | Thanks Buddy! Yes, I intended to make them appear like that! To add to the Halloween theme. hehe.

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  21. Creepy, creepy, creepy . . . . I think all of us had a share of creepy experience in one way or another. Some may have ignored the feeling or refused to entertain it but some may be sensitive to the truth about the other dimension that is why they can tell the story of that experience, just like you. I do have mine too a long time ago in the house I was renting, when things was started to get out of hand I just shouted "I am not going anywhere, you have a choice to live with me or leave this place ... then I quoted one of my favorite Bible verse "He who is in me is Greater than he who is in you" after a few days it stopped and never bothered me again =)

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  22. R.O.M.E.L.O. | Ayee! Hehe. Actually bro the places I featured are some notable landmarks and are not ordinary places because of their historical values. They are known for their historical importance and not the ghost story itself. Hehe. Not many tourists know about their ghost stories except for the locals because tourists see them as great attractions :)

    The waterfall I featured though is not famous and not highly known but I included it here because I find the story interesting. However the 1st 4 are famous places in these provinces that tourists are visitng.

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  23. Ricky Bernardino | Ricky! Amen to that! Actually the reason why sometimes I am not afraid of these ghosts because I stand with those Words you uttered. One other Bible line that is my favorite is "If God is with you, no one can be against you: :)

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  24. Wooh, that's creepy! In addition, you present your photos in scary way, very timely, too.
    Definitely agreed to you on your lede, as long the Words of God live in your heart, never be afraid.

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  25. Jerome Ibuyan | Ghosts are afraid of God, so God is our greatest asset against them.

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  26. You'd have to pay me before I go anywhere near those places past 4pm :)) I've had some horrible 'experiences' working in one of the older schools here in Manila (which was also a scene of a Japanese massacre during WW2). There were weird sounds and I freaked out when the lights at my office were dying one by one. The electrician on duty couldn't explain it since the lights were in perfectly good condition.

    So yeah. What a Halloween post from you, but I still won't go :P

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  27. This blog post scared the hell out of me. So timely and effective! I am sharing this to my cousins beside me..creepy!!!

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  28. I'll bring my friends there after 2014 when kevin francis is back.

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  29. Ok bro... I seriously didn't finish reading the post. Madali akong matakot sa ganyan... hihihihi...

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  30. I don't think i'd want to visit that blood offering waterfall.. Creeps me out.. Good thing i haven't encountered anything as scary as your experience in Pindangan ruins..

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  31. katakot hahaha nag iisa pa naman ako sa room ngayon dito sa San Pablo hahaha

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  32. From the looks of it, you've had really scary experiences and I don't plan on reading them!! sorry... :)

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  33. Oh... I loved this post! Your photos are great! Mukha ngang creepy those places..

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  34. I guess the photographer in me got more curious on what pictures to take if I have a chance to visit these places, at night. :D

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  35. i would definitely visit these places someday. gusto ko ng adventure always tsaka gusto ko ng mga nakakatakot na lugar.

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  36. Ralph Marcuss Manarang | Nice! I will look forward for those posts man! :)

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  37. Berylle Kaye Hong | I tell you the waterfalls is beautiful and there is something in that place that feels strange. LOL! Hehe. The blood offering is part of the adventure, I tell you it will be memorable and great experience!

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  38. Traveling Morion | Effective ba ang story telling bro? haha!

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  39. Grasyah | The Island Mom | Great! I am also into creepy destinations basta may kasama ako at safe ang place pupuntahan ko yan! Kung nasa mode naman ako at mag-isa, keri lang basta nasa mode, hehe.

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  40. James Gordo | That's the spirit of adventure bro!

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  41. The photos are creepier than they seem to be. Excellent captures and the way you presented every scary place is just amazing! The ruins in La Union... is I think the most frightening. It's like there's "Walking Dead" around.

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  42. marri | I also think so, based on my experience, hehe.

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  43. Scaryyy. I haven't experienced anything that has something to do with ghosts and I don't want one! *goosebumps*

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  44. A great thought traveling in different style....They are not scary they are funny...)

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  45. villas in spain In a different perspective, they really are, hehe.

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  46. hair raising experience, I worried about that blood offering

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  47. Chrisair | Oo nga, creepy talaga. But don't worry, blood lang siya ng animals and not tao, hehe.

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  48. I would love to go these places! OLD everything! :-)..bonus na lang ang ghost hunting..hehe

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  49. Mar, may nakikita ako sa may falls....

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  50. Paula O | Ang galing ng mata mo! Hehe. Marami talagang makikita diyan, 'di ko pa naba-blog ang ibang photos na may mga mabubuo ka talagang images, @.@

    Kung adventure ang hanap mo, go lang dito! hehe.

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  51. aww! that really excites me! horror stuffs sounds very interesting for me and my sisteR! xx

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  52. MaryJane Tauyan | Nice for a girl like you. You and your sister must be very brave! :)

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