Sto. Nino Academy

Submitted by: Lonely Bones

First of all, I always consider haunted schools as “urban legends” that is why I would like to share my school’s spooky stories or should I say, facts!

In four years of my stay in this school, I have heard many rumors about my alma mater being haunted. Different stories from different students and teachers about lady in a dress, moving chairs, headless man and white ladies. I am not sure whether this stories are true or not but I guess it is your decision either to believe or not.

The Lady in Dress

This story said to happened last 2008 (or 2009). The school was having their JS prom. Everyone was enjoying the night. Dancing and eating and such. The teachers roamed the campus to inspect each classrooms in case there were students doing something displeasing. One teacher claimed that he/she saw a girl in a dress inside one of the classroom that was locked. He/she called the other teachers and when he/she looked at the girl again, she was gone.

Another case was a group of student claimed that they saw a girl in a dress walking alone on the dark hallway of one of the school building. Because the color of the dress is unknown, whether the two girl is related, no one knows.

The Headless Man

This story said to happen last 2010, the graduation ball of the fourth year. A group of seniors was taking a picture of their reflection on a mirror in one of the CR of the school. When they looked at the picture at the picture in the camera, they saw a headless man (If I remembered correctly, it was wearing a Barong) standing at the very side of the picture.

Moving Chairs

I know that moving chairs are quite normal but still… According to some students that I heard talking about ghost while I’m on the CR (The same CR above), there was a particular room at one of the school building where chairs would move frequently with or without people inside.

The fact is the room that they were talking about was my room when I was a freshman. In a year of my stay there, I experienced no moving chair but just an eerie feeling, like someone is watching you from behind.

Is Someone in the Room?

This story was told by my teacher when I was a junior. It was a busy day (Or should I say night) for the teachers because they were computing our grades and the release of our cards were coming. She was searching for our high school head teacher to pass something.

It was pretty dark. She claimed that she saw our head teacher entered her room. She went to the same room and while she was climbing on the stairs, she heard our head teacher talking to someone. When she reached the room, she was surprised to see no one inside the room, no one except darkness and silence.

The Oldest Building

Gloriamaris, the first and the oldest building in the whole campus, standing for almost 30 years. The building is the home of the elementary. Most part of the whole structure is made by wood. Many students claimed that they saw a white lady standing or walking at the second floor hallway and sometimes, inside the rooms. I, myself have an experience on this place.

I was a senior. I arrived at my school together with some of my classmates around 5 am to finish something and yes, it was pretty dark. I became curious about the white lady that was rumored to haunt the Gloriamaris so I left my classmate and went to the said building. It was pretty scary walking around the vicinity when it was still dark. I reached the building and went to the second floor where the ghost said to “live”

I saw nothing but instead, I heard a sound, like something hard was being thrown, inside one of the rooms. I became super scared so I quickly left the building and ran to my classmates without turning back. When I reached them, one of my classmates was looking at me in a creepy way.

It was lunch when I asked him why he was looking at me. At first he denied it then later on, he told me “SOMETHING is following you while you’re running” After that, I swear I will never go in that building again.

Image Source:
http://pearlsolid9.weebly.com/uploads/1/3/4/6/1346094/9221061.jpg

The Unknown Disease

People are enamored with inexplicable things. Mystery - that's the usual topic of some conversations, and the most interesting headline of a tabloid newspaper. This creates a big impact to human mind. It stimulates a person's imagination and ability to explain. They tend to believe in an information that's more incredible and peculiar than believing in a fact.

Maybe one best example is Pres. John F. Kennedy's death. There are many conspiracy theories in the whole incident. People love the thought that there are photos of mysterious individuals which might have a huge role on the scene. They instead believe in the theories behind the mysterious personalities than in a simple theory that the president's death was actually caused by human error.

Anyway, that's enough for an introduction of this article. There's this rumor in Pangasinan which scared the citizens of the province and even the people in the urban cities. It was said that a mysterious unknown flesh-eating disease was spreading all over the province. This story was featured in TV news and was finally concluded only as a hoax.

Story

This rumor became an instant hit in social networking sites. Some fan pages started requesting a prayer from their followers.

The main origin of the news was the Monday night report of the ABS-CBN news program "Bandila". They reported that an alleged 'unknown flesh-eating disease' was causing the two Pangasinenses' sickness which made them look like a decaying corpse. One was in Villasis, the other was in Santa Barbara. The reporter appears to be wearing a doctor's attire while interviewing. The reporter also said that the disease was slowly spreading in the said province. They theorized leprosy, skin allergy, lupus, and psoriasis. They also mentioned that one of the patients had worms coming out from the wounds. The hush tag #prayforpangasinan trended in Twitter after the news was broadcast.[1][2]

Actually, the female patient was first reported last year (2013) in GMA through their 'GMA Kapuso Foundation'. They helped the 21-year-old woman identify and treat the disease she got.[3]

Then after that, the netizens started connecting the said misleading news to a prophecy. Before I tell you the prophecy, just a reminder, I'm not suggesting that the prophet isn't genuine or should I say a false prophet. It will be your opinion if you believe he is or not.

Anyway, in April 2013, an Indian prophet named Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj, founder of Jesus Ministries, prophesized that a 'grievous disease that consumes flesh of men and will pierce through the bones will spread all over the world' and it will begin in Pangasinan, Philippines. A video of Bro. Vincent Selvakumar who translated the prophesy was circulating in the internet.[4]

The prophet also foretold the Bohol earthquake, which happened in October 2013, and the Typhoon Yolanda, which came in November of the same year.[4]

Here's what he actually said[4]:

"The Lord says there is a place called PANGASINAN. The Lord says it is in the northernmost part in your land. From there a grievous disease will spread all over the world. That will consume the flesh of men; all their upper (outer) skin will begin to decay. It will pierce through the bones. The fear of this disease will spread all over the world. The Lord said that this (disease) will begin from the Philippines.” “This will then spread to CEBU.”

They claimed that his prophesies will be fulfilled if the people of the Philippines will not repent.

The Disease

The female patient was diagnosed by a dermatologist to have Pyoderma gangrenosum. The skin disease really resembles Leprosy, however the two are different. But according to Department of Health, it was leprosy. Dr. Grace Beltran opposed because DOH didn't really made an actual biopsy.

The Pyoderma grangrenosum is a kind of condition that causes soft body tissues to become necrotic, causing deep ulcers which usually occurs on the legs.[5] According to Beltran, the one who diagnosed and treated the woman, the skin disease was very rare, and it is not contagious as what was reported. She added that the disease may be related to internal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer.[6]

The male patient was said to have a Psoriasis, according to DOH. But because he didn't allowed to undergo a biopsy, Beltran only speculated that he as well had a pyoderma.[3]

Sources:
[1] http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/529278-pangasinan-prophecy-flesh-eating-disease-outbreak-in-philippines-province-a-hoax/
[2] http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580549/mysterious-flesh-eating-disease-in-pangasinan-a-hoax-health-exec#ixzz2uZs2NqDi
[3] http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350191/news/nation/pangasinan-woman-s-skin-disease-very-rare-but-curable-dermatologist
[4] http://www.localpulse.net/technology/prophecy-sadhu-sundar-selvaraj-pangasinan-philippines-goes-viral-207/
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyoderma_gangrenosum
[6] http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/350075/news/regions/skin-disease-case-in-pangasinan-not-leprosy-says-doc

Daisy

Haunted houses are made when they have a dark past in which the ghost still haunts. Those ghosts might seek for revenge to his/her captor, and they might be jealous to the living.

I found a story in a book about a 1950s house in Cavite wherein a ghost of a young lady still haunts and scares his neighbors through her sad moaning.

[Taken from The Sound of Fear by Gabby Libarios]

.... Built during the 1950s, it was a baronial house belonging to the landed gentry of Cavite. Bathe in opulence and grandeur, the house was not only meant for residence. It was also a place for grand celebrations, where the cultured, the educated, and the toast of the town converged to partake of joyous merrymaking that lasted until the wee hours. Some townsfolk would suggest that the festivities held there were always of grand scale. Music spilled into the streets, wine flowed like water, and all the lights switched on, making the house look ablaze from afar. However boisterous and pompous the celebration were, people in the surrounding area regarded the house as their temporary escape, which offered them an experience - albeit vicariously - what it was like the charmed life. But as always, there was another side of the story, especially if no one alive could attest to the house's history, which, over the years, has become a mix of truth and untruth passed around by word of mouth. Some people would say that it was the hiding place of powerful drug lord. Other would suggest that it was a hotbed of vice, where the high rollers and card sharks gamble their riches, sometimes life and limb, all in the name of money. Just the same, the houses had nothing but notoriety. But among the lies and fabricated tales, there was always one story that kept the house's history interesting, horrifying, and sad all at the same time. It was the story of the Santos family. Despite their wealth, which came from the father's successful mining company, the sons and daughters were taught to lead a simple, low key life. Every morning, the father would read the paper and drink his coffee on the veranda. The mother, who always wore melancholic smile, would tend their garden, quietly pruning the plants and pulling out the weed sprouts, while the kids, except the eldest who was always in her room, would run around the garden. Named after a flower, Daisy had always been quiet and reserved. She would spend most of her time inside her room, carefully thumbing through her dog-eared books by classic authors. Oftentimes, she would just sit in front of her dresser and comb he long black hair for hours. If the weather permitted, she would linger on her balcony and relish the crisp, fresh air summer. Their neighbors would say that sometimes they would hear Daisy singing from the balcony. Her voice is so lovely, they would say. On days when Daisy would accompany her mother to church, people would always notice her. Some say Daisy was the most beautiful girl in town. In fact, her mother's friends never failed to compliment her, however inadequately or too informally clothed she was. Boys, on the other hand, simply gawked at her presence. Little did Daisy know that her beauty, which held so much power, would soon be her curse. Barely a month after her 18th birthday, Daisy was brutally raped and murdered. The crime happened when the rest of the family was out for an afternoon mass. Her lifeless body was found in the backyard. Her clothes were ripped, blood dripping between her legs. Investigations said she was in her room when her attacker barged in. Bruises on her stomach and legs suggested she was beaten first. Loose black hair found on the floorboards near her bedroom indicated that the rapist dragged Daisy by the hair out of her room before committing the heinous crime. Despite the thorough investigation, the culprit was never found. Some say it was Daisy's spurned lover. Others say it was their house help who always harbored feelings for Daisy. The family eventually moved out and never returned. Although there were the occasional visits from real estate agents, no one had ever taken interest in the house since then. Though it was relegated to a mere urban legend, Daisy's death still echoes in that little town in Cavite. Legend has it that every night, the sound of a weeping young girl can be heard from the house. ....

Source(s):
True Philippine Ghost Story Book 15

Note(s): The picture depicted above is not the actual picture.

Mt. Apo's Venado Lake

Mount Apo is the highiest mountain in the Philippines, with an altitude of 2,954 metres (9,692 ft). It is located between Davao City and Davao del Sur province in Region XI and Cotabato province in Region XII. The name Apo means ancestor.

There is a lake at the foot of the said mountain which they called the Lake Venado. The name came from a Spanish word Venado which means deer. Locals call it linaw (clear) because of its crystal-clear water that reflects the mountain. Many people would say that the lake is enchanted, that an engkanto (fairy) or some kind of entity was living there.

This simple small lake not only gives a breath-taking picture scene to mountain climbers but was also believed to take lives of these innocent hikers. Well, it is true that almost every year people die there for some reason. The lake is the favorite camping site by people who come there. Some of them dare to take a deep on it.

In April, 2007, a group of mountain climbers set-up there camp beside the lake. One of them died after swimming in the lake. Many minutes later, his companions don't know where the climber go. Their leader didn't thought of him going to swim on the placid and inviting lake. The local government of Davao City strictly prohibited campers and/or mountain climbers to swim on it. Minutes later they heard someone calling for help. They ran straightly to the lake and found the hiker was drowning. They attempted to rescue him but they failed. The hiker was no where to be found, he drowned deep the lake.

Because of his vanishment, urban legends rose. Local tribesmen warned tourists about the said fairy living in the lake.

His co-climbers reported him to the authorities. However, he was not found for many days. For his long disappearance, rescuers speculated that he was already dead. Days later, he was finally found, dead.

Aside of the reported incident, there were other people who were reported missing in the Lake Venado. Some of them still missing until now.

Experts thought of possible reasons of death. It can be caused by physical accident or natural disaster, but for locals, its not the reason why. They are blaming the entity living there. No one can say it's not true because there's no proof to question its validity.

A local leader suggested that tourists or hikers should undergo first for a prayer ceremony in respect to the engkanto living there. The ceremony is called Pamaas. Elder indigenous people perform the ritual to placate the mountain God Apo Sandawa, before they start climbing. The tribe leader of Sitio Sayaban was convinced that the many spirits living on the mountain were disturbed from their peace and demanded a sacrifice to remind the local population and visitors that they do exist.

A Friend's Hidden Secret

My parents brought me to our province in Mindanao from Luzon when I was still a baby. We lived together with my grandparents. My father went abroad for a job, and didn't come back anymore. Shortly, after my father sent a depressing letter to my mother, she also decided to go abroad for a job. So, I grew up there with no parents but with my grandparents. I have no siblings, I'm their only child. Our house in the province is quite big, but I don't consider us wealthy. We have neighbors, however, unlike in urban cities, there's a wide distance between houses. They were comparable to a traditional Filipino Bahay-kubo (hut) with plants surrounding the house. I had a friend there, and his name is Bryan. I was older than him. His family was a friend of ours since they arrived in our province. His father works in our family as mandayagay (coconut climber). Because they were the nearest neighbor we had, we often play with his sister named Catherine. Even though we have electricity, we don't have PSP, computer, cellphone or any gadgets there. Thus, the only way we can enjoy ourselves is through playing traditional Filipino games, like patintero, luksong-baka and luksong-tinik. I admit that we also play games only for girls, like piko and bahay-bahayan. Aside of it, we can also go to fishponds, rivers, and beaches which are very near to our home. I can say living in the province is much more enjoying than living in urban city. It's seldom to feel bored there. An unexpected death happened to their father. No one knows the reason why. It was a sudden death. He was still strong the day before his death. Some say it was caused by pasma, some say a kind of disease. Years later, my mother decided to bring me to Metro Manila. She wanted me to finish my studies there. Since then, I never visited my province. I have no news about my childhood friends. My uncle went home to our province. When he came back, I asked him what do it look like now. Of course, I didn't forget to ask him about my friends too. As we talked about Bryan and Catherine, I asked him if he knows the reason of their father's death. Well he answered me yes. He told me everything about him, and how did he actually died. It was a silent afternoon in the fishponds. It was almost 6 o'clock pm. There was a family living there. Dado (not his real name) was cuddling his son inside their house to make it sleep. As the child slept, he laid him to the cradle, and went out to cook rice. His wife was out to buy something in the village. Minutes later, the child suddenly cried very loud. He was wondering why, so he left what he was cooking and went inside the house to check what's happening. As he arrived to the baby, he saw a black cat hanging in the cradle. The cat was reaching the child inside it. It looked at him with a blazing red eyes. Afraid of what he saw, he took immediately his bolo to kill the animal. But because the cat was in the cradle, he was afraid that he might strike his child instead. So he used the blunt side of the bolo. Then, he smashed it in its back. The feline rushed out through the window, bleeding. Dado chased the cat to kill it. As he get closer to the animal, he smashed it again, and created another wound on its back. Then, it ran much faster. He decided to let it go, then he heard suddenly the sound, "wak wak wak". Upon hearing it, he thought of an aswang. Hence, he went back faster to his house thinking someone will get his baby. On the next day, Bryan's father died. They were thinking pasma as the cause of his death. The day before he died, he was watching over the coconut flesh he was fuming with fire. There was a pouring rain that time. Combining the heat caused by fuming the coconut and being soaked by rain may cause pasma. When they prepared the body for a wake, upon changing its clothes, they saw two swelling straight wounds at its back. They wondered where did he acquire those injury. Dado heard of the wounds behind him, and told his experience the day before his death about the cat that he struck at the back two times. Of course, people just believed on the story without knowing the reality. If it was true, I can't believe I played with his children.

Maria Labo

Ever since, stories about aswangs in the Philippines were always pointed to the Visayan islands, most especially in the Provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, and Aklan, as the origination. The known legend about Tiniente Gimo and Maria Labo came from them.

Maria Labo was the name used to refer to the female vampire who came from Iloilo or Capiz (others suggest from Sorsogon). She was popularized by the story that she murdered her two sons and then cooked them. She was recognizable by her huge scar across her face, thus she got her name. Aside of the provinces in Panay Island, her story is also famous in other neighboring provinces like Cebu. She even reached the city of Davao.

Legend

It's my professor who gave me an idea about her. He even gave me the popular text message that terrorized people who receives it. Well, I also searched some of her stories and collected them here just to make a clear and whole tale about her life. When I found the Ang Tatlong Katauhan ni Maria Labo, it made me understand what actually happened to her. Until now, I am in search of the said article in a news paper that made her popular.

[Taken from Internet:]

A young woman named Maria went to Canada as a caregiver. There, she took care of an old man which, according to rumours, was possessed by the so-called "vampire" (some "aswang") curse. When the old man died, he passed the curse (some say, his powers) to Maria. Finding no luck in Canada, Maria went home. It was then that her thirst for human flesh started. When her husband, a policeman, went home one night, he looked for their kids. The deranged Maria pointed to the stove where she had cooked their children. Enraged, her husband struck her with a bolo ("labo") where she obtained a scar on her face, earning her the monicker Maria Labo. They said, she fled to Visayas, then to Mindanao, in a quest to satiate her hunger for human flesh and viscera. Like a typical aswang, she has the ability to change her appearance. Sometimes she appears as a beautiful young lady. At other times, she appears as an old woman.

[Taken from a Text Message:]

She was recently a saleslady in a mall (I don't know where specifically in the Philippines she is now), living as a normal person, and whenever you remember abruptly about her at exactly 3 in the morning and afternoon, she'll suddenly appear in front of you then kill you. Some said, she has a cellphone number. (I don't know what will happen if you'll call her.)

[Taken from a Book:[1]]

Ang Tatlong Katauhan ni Maria Labo By: Abelardo Gajarion 1. Mula nang naging malaganap ang militarisasyon sa kanayunan naging magulo na ang probinsiya ng Sorsogon. Walang masaganang ani ang mga magsasaka't mangingisda. Maraming maliliit na negosyo ang nagsara. Hindi makapasok sa eskwela ang mga bata. Halos hindi na nga makalabas ng bahay ang mga tao. Lahat nahihintay na lang na mabagsakan ng isang bomba, para sabay-sabay na mamatay. Maliban kay Maria Labo. Malapit sa paanan ng bundok, malayo sa kabayanan, nakatira sa maliit na bahay na yari sa cogon at kawayan ang mag-asawang Maria at Ermin Labo. Mayroon silang dalwang anak, sina Pablo at Rosalinda. Si Ermin ay isang magsasaka habang si Maria naman ang naglalako ng mga ani sa kabayanan. Mula nang mawalan ng ani ang kanilang gulayan, ipinasya ni Maria na sumama sa kaibigang naghahanap ng domestic helper papuntang Espanya. Naisip niyang mas marami ang kanyan kikitain sa pagtatrabaho sa ibang bansa kaysa sa paglalako ng gulay na hindi na nga niya nagagawa dahil sa kaguluhan sa kanilang bayan. Isinangla nila ang kanilang lupang sakahan at ang kinatatayuan ng kanilang bahay para pambayad sa kanyang placement fee. Pagkalipas ng tatlong buwan, lumipad si Maria papuntang Espanya. 2. Sa isang lumang mansion, sa isang bayan na malayun-malayo sa siyudad napadpad si Maria. Bumaba siya mula sa isang kakarag-karag na bus sa tapat ng isang malaki at lumang-lumang gate na bakal. Napupuluputan ito ng mga gumagapang na halaman. Ayon sa agency na nagpadala sa kanya, isang matandang lalaki at isang katiwala na lang ang nakatira sa mansion na kanyang magtatrabahuan. Pumasok siya sa gate na bahagyang nakabukas. Tanaw niya mula sa kinatatayuan ang kulay abong mansion. Bago makarating roon, kinailangan munang maglakad ni Maria ng halos dalawang kilometro. Maalikabok ang daan na nililinyahan ng malalaking puno sa magkabilang tabi. Pagdating sa tapat ng mansion, nagulat pa si Maria nang makitang halos tatlong beses na mas matangkad sa kanya ang pintuang gawa sa matigas na kahoy na may mga ukit-ukit na ubas at mga bulaklak. Gawa sa bato ang buong mansion. Napansin niyang halos hanggang tuhod na niya ang mga damo sa bakuran. Halos mapuno na rin ng mga gumagapang na halaman ang kanang bahagi nga mansion. Kumatok siya gamit ang bilog na bakal na nakasabit mula sa sabitan na hugis ulo ng leon. Luminga-linga siya, nagbabakasakaling may tao siyang makikita, ngunit walang sumalubong sa kanya. Matapos ang halos limang minutong paghihintay, kusang bumukas ang pinto. Bumukas ito nang mabagal na mabagal at gumawa ito ng nakakarindi at nakakangilong ingay na parang bang matagal na itong nakasara at noon lamang nabuksan. Wala siyang makitang tao sa loob sa kanyang pagpasok. Hindi niya nakita ang matandang lalaki na kanina pa siya taimtim na tinititigan mula pa lang nang pumasok siya sa gate at maglakad patungo sa bahay. Hola, como estas? bati sa kanya ng isang lalaki mula sa kaliwang bahagi ng mansion. Napaigtad si Maria sa gulat. Hindi niya inasahang lalabas na lang bigla ang isang lalaking may magarang-magarang kasuotan. Soy Eduardo. Que te llamas? Hindi alam ni Maria ang isasagot. Comprendes Espanol? Umiling-iling na lamang si Maria. Kung hindi man wala, katiting lamang ang kanyang nalalaman sa wikang Espanyol. Tinitigan muna siya ng lalaki bago nagpumilit magsalita ng Ingles. Follow. Follow. Si Eduardo ang katiwala ng mansion. Matagal-tagal na rin siyang naninilbihan doon. Nagbabalak na siyang umalis, ngunit hindi niyo iyon magawa hangga't hindi pa niya napipili ang tamang babaeng mag-aalaga sa kanyang amo. Inabot sila ng kalahating araw para lamang libutin ang buong mansion. Inisa-isa nila ang bawat kwarto. At sa bawat kwarto ipinaliwanag ni Eduardo ang mga takdang gawain ni Maria. Pautal-utal na Ingles ang ginamit ni Eduardo, maging iyon ay hindi gaanong naintindihan ni Maria. Tienes hambre? E, are you, e, starved? Hindi alam ni Maria kung ano ang isasagot kaya tumango na lang siya. Nahalata ni Eduardo na hindi naintindihan ng kanyang kausap ang sinabi niya. Doon niya nalaman na natagpuan na niya ang babaeng matagal na niyang hinahanap. Senor Gustavo wants to ... e, hablar ... e, speak to you ... Tatlong buwan na ring nagtatrabaho sa mansion si Maria, ngunit hirap na hirap pa rin silang magkaintindihan at magkausap. Mas madali na lang para sa kanila ang magsenyasan. Sa loob ng tatlong buwang iyon, dalawang beses pa lang nakakapasok si Maria sa kwarto ng among si Gustavo. Sabi ni Eduardo, sa pautal-utal na tagpi-tagping kwento, si Gustavo ay matagal nang may karamdaman. Maselan ang kalagayan nito kaya hindi pwedeng makita ng maraming tao. Noong unang pagkakataon na nakapasok si Maria sa kwarto ni Gustavo halos hindi rin sila nagkita. Ipinakilala lang siya ni Eduardo, ngunit doon lamang sila nakatayo sa pintuan. Madilim ang bahagi ng kama kung saan nakaratay si Gustavo kaya hindi halos naaninag ni Maria ang mukha ng matandang lalaki. Nang ikalawang pagkakataon, nakapasok at nakalapit na si Maria kay Gustavo. Kinuha niya ang arinola sa tabi ng kama ng amo. Kulu-kulubot na ang balat nito. Manipis na manipis na ang maputing buhok sa ulo. Halos puti na lahat ang mga mata nito. Bago siya umalis tinanong si Maria ni Gustavo. Mahinang-mahina ang boses nito, halos hindi na marinig ni Maria. Are you Filipina? Tumango si Maria, naintindihan niya ang tanging tanong na itinanong sa kanya ng amo. A, opo, si, si, Senor Gustavo. I am Filipina. Nagtataka si Maria. Iniisip niya ang mga posibleng dahilan kung bakit siya pinatawag ni Gustavo gayong nariyan naman si Eduardo para ibigay anuman ang pangangailangan ng amo. Iniwan niya ang nililinis sa kusina para pumunta sa kwarto ng amo. Bago makalabas ng kusina, pinaalalahanan pa siya ni Eduardo. Maria, nunca, e, do not go out of the room if Senor Gustavo, e, is not asleep yet. Marahang kumatok saka pumasok si Maria sa kwarto ni Gustavo. Lumapit siya sa matanda. Sinenyasan siya nitong lumapit. Tila may ibubulong ang kanyang amo. Dahan-dahan niyang inilapit ang kanyang mukha sa mukha ni Gustavo. Kabadong-kabado si Maria. Hindi man lang niya nahulaan na ang pagpasok niyang iyon ay ang kanyang huli. Dahil paglabas niya, hindi na siya ang dati. 3. Malaki ang nagbago sa pamilya ni Maria simula nang bumalik siya galing Espanya. Dalawang buwan na rin ang nakakaraan mula nang bumalik siya sa bayan nila sa Sorsogon. Inggit na inggit ang mga tao nang dumating siya. Apat na buwan lang siyang namalagi sa Espanya, ngunit marami siyang dala-dalang pasalubong. Marami siyang dalang mamahaling mga plato, kubyertos, at kandelabra. Nabawi nila agad ang lupang isinangla at nakapagpagawa sila ng bagong bahay. Ngunit, ang ipinagtataka ng lahat ay kung bakit ni hindi man lang nila makita si Maria na lumabas ng bahay. Lagi silang nag-aabang na luluwas sa bayan si Maria ngunit hindi man lang nila ito matiyempuhan. Gayon din si Ermin at ang kanyang mga anak. Takang-taka sila sa panlalamig ni Maria sa kanila. Hindi ito gaanong nagsasalita bagamat nananatili pa rin itong maasikaso at mapagbigay. Kapag gabi, sa kama, naririnig ni Ermin ang impit nitong pag-iyak. Kapag hinahawakan siya ni Ermin para aluhin napapaso ito dahil sa sobrang lamig ng kanyang katawan. Para siyang yelo sa lamig. Kinukumutan siya ni Ermin at niyayakap, ngunit pakiramdam nito para lamang itong yumayakap sa hangin. Minsan, isang hatinggabi, napabalikwas si Ermin nang marining niyang pumapalahaw sa bintana si Maria. Nang magmulat siya't hinanap ang asawa nagulat siya nang makitang duguan ang katawan ni Maria. Laslas ang leeg nito at sumisirit mula doon ang napakaraming dugo. Hindi siya nagpahalatang gising bagama't takot na takot na siya. Nakita niyang tumagos sa pader ang katawan ni Maria. Nangilabot siya. Nagkunwari siyang tulog nang lapitan siya ng kanyang asawa. Alam niyang nilapitan siya nito at tinitigan ang kanyang mukha. Naaamoy ni Ermin ang lansa ng dugo at ang amoy ng naaagnas na katawan. Ipinagdasal niyang sana panaginip lang ang lahat. At kung binabangungot man siya, sana magising na siya, at sana normal pa rin ang lahat. Paggising niya kinabukasan, wala si Maria sa kanyang tabi. Hinanap niya ito sa buong kabahayan ngunit hindi niya ito nakita. Tinanong niya ang kanyang mga anak kung nakita nila si Maria ngunit hindi nila ito nakita simula ng nakaraang gabi. Ikinuwento ng kanyang dalawang anak na nanaginip silang nakita nila ang kanilang ina na umiiyak sa kwarto nila. Duguan ang buong katawan nito. Laslas ang leeg at sumisirit ang dugo mula dito. Nilapitan sila at hinalikan ng kanilang ina, tapos paggising nila, walang anumang bakas na nagpunta nga roon si Maria. Kinilabutan si Ermin. Pare-pareho nilang nakita si Maria ng nakaraang gabi sa pare-parehong sitwasyong. Takang-taka pa rin siya kung saan naroon ang kanyang asawa. At habang tumatagal lalo siyang kinakabahan sa mga bagay na maaari niyang matuklasan. Mag-aalas siyete ng gabi, wala pa rin si Maria, nang biglang may kumatok sa kanilang pintuan. Dali-daling tumayo si Ermin para pagbuksan ang pinto. Inaasahan niyang si Maria na iyon. Ngunit, nang kanyang pagbuksan, bumungad sa kanya ang dalawang lalaking dayuhan. Ang dalawang lalaki ay mula sa Spanish Embassy. Ibinalita nila na noong isang araw. natagpuan ang bangkay ni Maria Labo na naaagnas sa ilalim ng kama ng amo nito sa Espanya. Ang among si Gustavo ay dating magaling na doktor na nabaliw dahil iniwan ng kanyang Filipinang asawa. Nasa mental hospital na si Gustavo habang ang katiwala naman nitong si Eduardo ay nakulong sa pagtatakip sa krimen ng kanyang amo. Hindi makuhang magsalita ni Ermin. Tiningnan niya ang buong kabahayan, inisip niya kung paanong patay na si Maria nang mahigit dalawang buwan, gayong dala-dala pa niya ang mga pera't kagamitan na nakikita niya sa paligid ng bahay. Hindi siya naniwala sa dalawang lalaki. Pinaalis niya ang mga ito at pinagsisigawan. Hinintay niya si Maria. Inisip niyang nagbakasyon lang ito sa kung saan at babalik na rin pagtagal-tagal. Hinintay niya nang hinintay ang kanyang asawa. Pagkalipas ng isang linggo dumating si Maria, ngunit, isa nang naaagnas na bangkay. The Three Faces of Maria Labo By: Abelardo Gajarion [translated] 1. As militarization became widespread in the barrios, it caused disarray to the province of Sorsogon. Farmers and fishers have no abundant harvests; many small businesses closed; children can't go to their schools; and people can't almost go out of their houses. All of them were waiting a bomb to fall on their place, so they'll die together, except Maria Labo. Maria and Ermin Labo resided in a small hut made of cogon and bamboo which was located near the foot of the mountain far from the village. They had two children, namely Pablo and Rosalinda. Ermin is a farmer, while Maria was a vendor of their harvests in the village. When they got no abundant harvest in their vegetable farm, Maria decided to go to her friend who was searching for domestic helpers who wanted to go to Spain. She thought she may earn more money by working overseas than selling vegetable which she can't even do because of the war in their province. They mortgaged their farmland, as well as the place where their house stood, to obtain money as payment for her placement fee. Three months later, she was sent to Spain. 2. Maria was brought in an old mansion in a village far from the city. She went down from a bus and stood in the front of a big and old iron gate. It was twined by crawling plants. According to the agency who sent her, only an old man and his trustee were living in the mansion where she's going to work. She entered the gate which is partly open. Far from where she stood, she can see the whole gray mansion. She needed to walk almost two kilometers before arriving the mansion. The road was dusty, aligned with large trees in both sides. Upon arriving in the front of the mansion, Maria was surprised seeing a large door, almost three times of her height, made of wood decorated with sculpted grapes and flowers. The whole mansion is made of cement. She noticed the grasses on its garden have grown as tall as her knee. The right side of the mansion was almost covered by creeping plants. She knocked the door using the round metal hanging on the lion head doorknocker. She gazed on all directions, thinking she will find someone, however no one welcomed her. After five minutes of waiting, the door just opened voluntarily. It opened very slowly and it made an unpleasant sound as if it was closed for so long and it was opened for the first time. Upon entering the door, she saw no one. She didn't see the old man who devotedly watch her from the time she entered the gate and while she's walking towards the mansion. Hola, como estas? (Hello, how are you?) Greeted by the man who appeared from the left corner of the mansion. Maria was startled. She, unexpectedly, didn't thought a man wearing a beautiful attire will just appear from no where. Soy Eduardo. Que te llamas? (I'm Eduardo. What's your name?) Maria didn't know what to answer. Comprendes Espanol? (Can you understand Spanish?) She just shook her head. Whether she knows Spanish or none at all, surely she knew a little. The guy stared at her first before speaking in English. Follow. Follow. Eduardo was the trustee of the mansion. He worked there for many years. He was planning to quit now, but he can't do it till he finds the right woman to take care of his master. They took half a day to finish walking around the mansion. They inspect and visited every room while Eduardo explained to Maria her job. He stammeringly used English, even Maria can't understand much. Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?) E, are you, e starved? Maria didn't know what to answer so she just nod. Eduardo noticed that Maria don't understand him. So he concluded that he found the girl he was searching for. Senor Gustavo wants to . . . e, hablar . . . e, speak to you . . . It was three months since Maria started to work there, but still they have difficulty in understanding and talking with each other. So its more easy for them to use sign language instead. Within that three months, she had had a chance to go inside Mister Gustavo's room only two times. Eduardo said, in stammering and patching story, Mister Gustavo was sick for so many years ago, until now. It was very intricate, that's why no one must see him. The first time Maria had a chance to go inside Gustavo's room, they even got no chance of seeing each other. Eduardo just introduce her, however they're only standing in the door. The area where Gustavo was resting was very dark which made it difficult for her to clearly see the face of the old man. In the second time, Maria got a chance to go nearer to Mr. Gustavo. She just get the urinal beside her master. His skin was wrinkled. His hair was so thin. His eyes are almost white. Before she departed, Gustavo asked her. His voice was so low which Maria can't almost hear. Are you Filipina? Maria nodded, she understood the small question of her master. A, opo, si, si, Senor Gustavo. I am Filipina. Maria wondered why she was called by Gustavo even though Eduardo was there to give his orders of whatever he needs. She thought some possible reasons. She left her work in the kitchen just to go to his room. Before going out of the kitchen, Eduardo gave her some warnings. Maria, nunca (never), e, do not go out of the room if Senor Gustavo, e, is not asleep yet. She knocked slowly at the door of Mr. Gustavo's room. She went near to the old man. He signaled her to go nearer. It seemed her master was whispering something. Slowly, she brought her face nearer to Mr. Gustavo's. Maria was very nervous. She didn't even predict that it'll be her last. Because when she go out, she'll be different from normal. 3There have been many changes in Maria's family since she came back from Spain. It was two months after she went back to Sorsogon, her province. All the people are very jealous of her when she arrived home. She had spent four months in the Spain, but she had brought many pasalubong (take homes) for that short time. She brought up expensive plates, utensils, and candelabra. The mortgage of their land was paid and they had built a new house. However, they (their neighbors) wondered why they haven't seen Maria went out of their house. They often wait her go out to walk around the town but they have no chance of seeing her. Likewise, Ermin and his children didn't go outdoors too. They are wondering very much of Maria's coldness to them. She's not talking, but she still remain caring and giving. At night, on the bed, Ermin hear her repressed cry. Whenever he attempts to touch her for comfort, he always feel, as if, burned of coldness of her body. She seemed like an ice. Ermin blanketed and hugged her, but he felt somewhat like he was just hugging on a wind. One night, Ermin jump up while hearing Maria squealling at the window. When he woke up to see his wife, he was frightened seeing her soaked in blood. Her neck was slashed and blood spits on it. He went back from lying on the bed not noticeably awake, although he was very scared. He saw Maria passed through the wall. He was terrorized. He pretended sleeping when she went near him. He knew that she went close to him and stared at his face. He smelled the bad odor of the blood and the rotten flesh. He prayed that all were just a dream. And if he's in a nightmare, he prayed he'll wake up, and wished everything are back to normal. When he woke up the next day, Maria was not on her side. He looked for her any where in the house, but he found her nowhere. He also asked his children if they saw her, but like him, they didn't, starting last night. The children told Ermin that they dreamt of their mother crying in their room. Her body was full of blood. Her neck was slashed and the blood oozes out from it. She went near them and kissed each of them, then when they woke up, they saw nothing or even saw any evidence that their mother went there. Ermin felt horrified. All of them saw Maria last night in the same situation. Still, he was wondering where his wife might be. Time passed by, he felt more and more nervous for things he might discover. Seven o'clock in the evening, still, Maria was not home, when suddenly, they heard someone knocks at the door. Hastely, Ermin got up to open it. He hoped it was Maria. But, when he opened, there was two foreigner standing. The two men came from the Spanish Embassy. They informed him that they saw the dead body of Maria Labo rotten under her master's bed in the Spain. Mr. Gustavo was an excellent doctor who became mad because his Filipina wife derparted him. Now, Mr. Gustavo was brought to mental hospital while his trustee, Eduardo, was prisoned from hiding the crime done by his master. Ermin was speechless. He look at the whole house. He can't imagine that Maria was dead for almost two months, inspite all the moneys and things she brought home. He didn't believe them. So he angrily told them to go away. He waited for Maria. He just think that she was on a vacation and she'll be home soon. He waited her wife for a long time. After some weeks Maria came, now . . . a rotten corpse.

Variations

Because of this variations of Maria Labó's legends, story about her became unbelievable.

Maria Labo was a simple beautiful young girl who was raped by village men. Swearing revenge, she is said to roam the fringes of small towns victimizing young men.

She was an OFW who acquired vampiric powers from the old man she took care in Canada. When she went home, she found herself wanting to eat human flesh. Thus, she killed her own children.

Some version, Maria Labó was just a human being without any supernatural powers, however she was a cannibal who ate her own two sons.

Yet another version, she was an OFW who was killed by a Spanish old man. She went home as a ghost.

Other version says that she came from Iloilo, some from Capiz and yet from Sorsogon.

About this

The story of Maria Labó has found its way in the local news papers and true ghost story books so most probably, this story is partly true. It took fame at the midst of 2003. This story caused a stir in the city some 5 years ago. But according to the story Ang Tatlong Katauhan Ni Maria Labo (as shown above), she was not actually an aswang (vampire) but a victim of murber of a madman overseas. She came back with her moneys and things, not as a human, but a ghost. Before she departed her family, she'd put them first in good place.

It seems her influence to many people stays till now, and even stories of her personal life is rumored.

Conclusion

According to the text message, whenever you remember her every 3:00 am or pm, she'll appear after you and will kill you. For me, it's very impossible for her to visit every person in the same time in different places whenever she is remembered. There could be hundreds or thousands of people who might think of her. Then the question is - who would she visit first? And perhaps, the reason why her story became more horrible (that she transformed into a vampire) because of how she'd gone home as a ghost.

Last Updated: February 11, 2014

Sources:
[1] The Best of True Philippine Ghost Stories. 2008. Alexie Cruz Ed. PSICOM Publishing Inc.
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