This incident happened in the late 50 when I was studying and working at the same time.. I was then living with my uncle but I was also contributing for the rent of the room. Since I was a working student, I didn't have time to wash my clothes, so we hired somebody to do this job . She was Manang Erlinda ( not her real name) I worked in the Hospital from 11pm to 7am in the morning, then at 3pm I attended my subjects in Bachelors Degree in Commerce, major in Accounting. During those times there were few people with Television sets. so people tend to go to other peoples house to watch through the window especially if their living room is located under the house.
One night after coming from school ( about 9pm) I passed by the house of one of our townmates. With some people outside that house watching TV was Manang Erlinda. I stopped and conversed with her for a bit. Then I greeted her goodnight after asking her what kind of program was on TV. She was smiling all the time. It so happenned that night that I was off duty so I went to bed to get that badly needed rest. I fell asleep immediately.
Then around midnight, I heard a commotion in our neighborhood. Some people were crying. I asked my uncle what it was all about. He said,. "They brought home Erlinda's body from the hospital. She died about 4 pm yesterday".
"What are you talking about??" I exclaimed. "I just saw her last night and I even spoke to her. I also greeted her goodnight!".
My uncle said: "How could you speak to her. She was rushed to the hospital at about 11 am yesterday..She was having a difficult time delivering her baby.She had been in the hospital since that time and at about 4pm, she died! How could you have talked to a dead woman at 9pm last night!".
My uncle almost knew everyone in the neighborhood. He asked those whom he thought were watching TV on the window that night. Nobody saw me pass by. They said there are only two people watching TV on that time, and Erlinda is not one of them..I could not believe it, but it happened!
Almost the same time that night, a soldier who was also a boarder in that house went to the bathroom to pee. Upon entering the bathroom he saw Erlinda standing in the corner staring at him. He turned about, and almost fell from the stairs as he ran down. You see, he already knew that Erlinda died that afternoon. In his frightened state, he forgot to urinate!
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Here's another one. I was in High School at that time. Usually during Halloween (Fiesta ng Patay), we would have many visitors especially relatives coming from Manila or Lingayen. This time I chose to sleep in a room adjacent to our dining room. This was in my grandfather's house. I was all by myself inside that big spacious room.Near me were the big pictures of my great great grandfather and grandmother hang on the wall. The pictures were staring at me as I was about lying there, trying to catch my sleep.
At about midnight or 1 am, I happened to look at the dining table which I could see from my room. I saw my grandfather Laki Alvaro seated in one of those chairs preparing to make his nga nga ( a mixture of bettlenut, chewing leaves and etc) I said to myself why should my grandpa chew at this time of the night?
I can't understand it at that time. So I stared hard at the figure seated on the chair .Instead being afraid, I was relieved that at least I had company. So I fell asleep.
Next morning I asked my grandpa why he was preparing his nga nga in the middle of the night that night. I told him:" I saw you sitting on the chair opposite my bed. He sounded annoyed and said "why should I do that??I was asleep the whole night!" But I insisted seeing him seated on the chair beside me.
What you have seen was probably my father's ghost," he said calmly. "Your great grandpa he looked exactly like me when he was still alive..".
My grandpa was a very serious person so I believed him! And that was Fiesta ng Patay!-----#
Angelito Domaoan
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