MY FIRST brush with the supernatural came when I was a very young girl. It was a rainy afternoon. A lazy one, too, as it was a weekend so Mama thought it would be a perfect time for a cuddle. Daddy entered the master's bedroom first followed by Mama while I was at the end of the short line.

When I looked back, I saw that the santol-wood Sacred Heart of Jesus statue was quite not where it should be. In fact, it was moving...towards me! Que horror! Was I just imagining things?

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Until I became an adult, I dismissed memories of that cozy afternoon as the result of a tot's overactive imagination. Still, the memory remains vivid - a cold drizzle that deserved a cuddle in my parents' bed, the fright I felt as I looked at the statue that was now almost halfway down the hall, and even the urgent push I gave my mother to hurry her up. Of course, present-day reports on moving statues only confirm that what I saw was the real thing.

Many strange things in our universe tell us that we are not alone. Philippine folklore reflects the fullness of our culture and our belief in the amazing mysteries and forces of our earth - from dwarves to witches to fortunetellers to kapres.

We even share with our Asian brothers the misfortune that befalls our men - the dreaded and deadly bangungot, which Western men do not experience.

Speaking of dwarves, one maid of ours left quickly because she saw little men in their cute dwarf costumes sitting on a mango tree limb in our backyard.

She described them in colorful garb complete with pointy caps - exactly how picture books would illustrate them. Then, there's this beautiful office building built in the 1850s in Iloilo when Americans were still running it.

From the upstairs manager's residence, the American wife of the manager went berserk because she saw the glowing tip of a kapre's cigar outside the window where a balete tree was and still is. She'd also catch glimpses of his hairy legs dangling from one of the branches.

When I dropped by that office this year to tour the house, I could see how old it really was. I looked up and saw the ceiling fan notorious for sightings of dwarves enjoying a merry-go-round on its blades.

The current manager's wife confirmed there truly are mysterious goings-on in their quarters and pointed out that it's in the huge airy bathroom where the main events usually take place. The office name is my secret but I'll give you a clue: it's along the muelle.

Dad's old bulding in Luzuriaga was a perfect venue for strange happenings. We have lived there before moving to our present residence. A manughimalad told Daddy that a "river" runs through our kitchen and that we have unseen residents sharing the building with us. Perhaps that explains why some maids could hear the sound of boats blowing their whistles. Since my room was far from the maids' quarters, I don't really remember hearing whistles.

A maid, though, who the underground denizens didn't get along with, woke up one time with strange markings on her face. Dad said they just got even with her after she cursed them and threw salt at them. Since Daddy was a quiet man and never one to curse, the dwarves took a liking to him and would occasionally and playfully tickle his ear when he took his naps. Sometimes, they'd whistle to him and he'd whistle back. Oh, Daddy's hidden talent...

In our present house, mysteries would occur, too. We would hear our names called out by beings mimicking other household members' voices. So, our maid would come running and asking what we need but we'd, of course, tell her there was nothing.

But they can't fool us most of the time because we'd know which member is out that time so we don't answer if we hear our names called in the absent member's voice. (Akala niyo ha!)

My maid and I heard three knocks on the front door at night on two occasions. Of course, there wouldn't be anybody on the other side. I also caught my favorite dog turning his head from left to right as if following the movement of someone passing by from the kitchen to the dining room to my mother's bedroom. The master's bedroom has had things going on there, too, but I don't have the luxury of space now.

There used to be a weekend home where our house stands now and when we abandoned it for a while, a neighbor saw on one clear moonlight night the figure of a lady in a white gown. Aw, I'm disappointed. How come I never saw her even though I'd get out of the house to check on a new puppy at 2 am! Perhaps, her unearthly beauty pales compared with my earthly one.

Isn't our world bee-you-ti-ful? And I mean beautiful. I am always filled with wonderment when I read or hear stories of the unknown. I avoid watching horror movies for I believe in the Christian principle to always think of what is noble and pure and good, etc. And there's "Garbage in, garbage out" to remember also. Still, I had always had this fascination with what I cannot see and I think this is not unique because so many people do share my fascination or what else could explain horror movies that break box office records. The presence of other beings only confirms that we do not own the earth and we have to take seriously our roles as mere stewards. Booo!!!

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Oh, by the way, for all the suki of Waxworks, the annual Halloween live exhibit event usually held at The Negros Museum, Waxworks IV: Sirum-Sirum will be staged from October 24-31, 2008 at 6-10 pm. This time, Waxworks uncovers seven new spine chilling and skin-crawling chamber outposts embracing the depths of our very own Visayan folklore.

According to Waxworks marketing and promotions manager, a story-teller-tour guide will accompany you through the Ranig-Ranig, Tubnon, Idalmunon, Lupan-on, Kahanginan, Ibabawnon, and Langitnon chambers. Here, supernatural beings, dark spirits, malevolent souls, and treacherous creatures will be revealed along with scary visuals, eerie music, frightening effects, creepy tour-storytelling, and haunting interactive performance. Mwahahahahaha!!!

Tickets are at P20 for children/students and P30 for adults. This is one cheap thrill. Boooo!!!

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila.

(October 27, 2008 issue)
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