[5] True Filipino Horror Experiences (Tagalog)

Tapik

Hi everyone! I am the writer of that story about the Love Spell that happened in Southern Luzon. I'm glad that many of our co-members in this group enjoyed the story and so I thought I'd share another one that personally happened to me. This may not be as scary as the first story or most of the stories in this group but I'll share it anyway and I hope you like it. ☺️

"Tapik"

Year 2006, I was only 22 years old when I attended a friend's wedding some where in Mindanao. The wedding was held in a city and I am used to going to city provinces so hindi naman ito nakakabahala kasi parang Manila lang din. We stayed in this province for 5 days so we could explore the place more, pre and post wedding day. We stayed in the bride's house together with her family. The day after the wedding, our group decided to go to this beautiful island. The bride's grandparents were hesitant to let us go but we convinced them otherwise. They allowed us to go with a promise  that we will leave the island before dusk.

We were a group of eight. Five of us are from Manila. Two are the bride's cousins from the city province. The other person is the son of the family's caretaker. Pinasamahan kami ng bride's parents sa caretaker's son para meron kaming tour guide, kasi the caretaker's family is originally from the island before they moved to the city. Four girls and four boys, and I was the youngest in the group.

Our day started at the break of dawn. From the city province, nag bus ride kami for about 2 hours going to the port, then about 30-40 mins ferry ride to reach the island. When we got there, andun agad yung eerie feeling na di mo maexplain. Cguro kasi sobrang tahimik and the calmness is deafening. The island is not commercialized, more on nature tripping talaga, bundok, volcano falls, springs, dagat. This was in October so the place isn't very busy with tourist. But hella fresh! The island was indeed very beautiful with so many wonders to see.

Pagdating namin sa port habang pababa kme ng ferry, I already noticed this old lady maybe around mid 70s looking and smiling at me. I couldn't miss her from the crowd because she has a white scarf wrapped around her head covering her hair but showing her whole face. She was wearing a long black skirt and a dark blue knitted blouse. Her face was pleasant and not intimidating or scary at all. It actually has a warm glow. As a usual tourist, it's my nature maging friendly and smile politely sa mga tao and locals around me, so I gave her a slight nod and smiled at her before joining my group.

We rented a multicab as our service and toured the island. Since hindi masyado matao, we were able to reach and explore our destinations as quickly as possible kasi day tour lang ito and we have to be back in the port in time for the last ferry trip going back to the city province.

Maraming falls, hot and cold springs and white sand beaches ang pinuntahan namin. Our first stop is a white island inside the island. Sobrang ganda, it was breathtaking! After the first stop, we decided to have lunch in a local karinderya. Hindi naman kami maarte sa food but something wasn't right sa itsura ng pagkain, even our tour guide insisted na mag canned sardines nalang kami and skyflakes. He also made sure we only drink the water we brought in our own tumblers or buy an uncapped soda and make sure to uncap it ourselves. (Dati hindi ko alam kung bakit ganon but now I fully understand. 😌)

On our way to the next stop, as we were riding the multicab, nadaanan namin c lola with white scarf na nakatayo sa sidewalk, yet again, she's looking and smiling at me. Although I find it weird to see her again, nag smile back nalang ult ako. I didn't tell anyone kasi parang di naman big deal and no one seems to notice her. It was a small island after all, so I thought pwede mo nga naman makasalubong ang same person sa ibang lugar diba. On with the tour, pumunta kme sa isa sa mga waterfalls ng island, may konting trekking but it was worth it. Then we stopped by a pasalubong store para bumili ng mga tshirts and keychains and all.

As I was waiting for my friends to finish, I stood aside and to my surprise nakita ko nanaman c lola across the street. She's looking at me again but this time she wasn't smiling. Iniwas ko nalang yung tingin ko sknya and asked my friends to make it faster para makaalis na agad kami don.

We went on with our tour, jumping from one place to another. Sobrang ganda ng lugar nawala na sa isip ko si lola. Our last stop was the tallest water falls. Again, there's trekking. The trail could only accommodate a single file and mejo gilid ito ng bundok so we all lined up and followed our tour guide. I was at the end of the line and second to the last person.

We were happily trekking for about 20 minutes when the line halted. I looked up and there's lola walking while staring at me! Sinalubong nya kami. We were going up and she was going down. She walked past all the 5 people in front of me but stopped at where I was!! She stopped right in front of me, held both my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes and said "gwapa kaayo ka" then she ran her fingers through my long hair and gave me a creepy smile. I heard what she said but didn't understand what it meant so I just looked at her, puzzled. Then she just quickly walked away heading down the trek! I was dumbfounded and couldn't move for a minute! Parang iniisip ko kung anong nangyayare.

Our tour guide was quick to move na para bang tinalon nya yung top spot at hinarang c lola na medyo malayo na samin. His voice was very loud and I clearly heard him say "Nang, ayaw nang! bata pa na!" Tapos tinawag nya ako para lumapit sa kanila at sabi nya sakin, "Tapikin mo si lola". I was hesitant and scared, the warm glow on her face was gone! She looked at me blankly, with a straight face and her eyeballs seemed cloudy, I couldn't see my reflection. Kahit hindi ko alam kung ano, I knew something was going on. Inulit ni tour guide, "(my name!), tapikin mo si lola!" And so I did. Tinapik ko si lola sa balikat nya, she blinked then tumingin sya kay tour guide tapos umalis na sya na parang walang nangyari.

We were quiet for a minute, all our friends were shocked. Lalo na ako. Sabi ni tour guide, "Kanina pa yan sa pantalan (port), pati sa karinderya. Kanina pa nya tyo sinusundan. Akala nya siguro turista tayong lahat dito. Akala nya hindi ko alam."

No one was brave enough to ask our tour guide questions. Siguro para hindi na kami lalong matakot pa. And so we just went on. We were able to finish the tour and reach the tallest water falls. Took photos and quickly left. We made it to the last trip and went home to the city.

Pagdating namin sa bahay, naka ready na yung pangpaligo ko. Ni ready na nung nanay ni tour guide. It was warm water with salt. After bathing, pinahiran ako ni nanay ng luya sa forehead and sa tiyan. They also gave me a small packet of salt at wag ko daw yun aalisin sa katawan ko hanggang makauwi kami ng Manila.

That night, I overheard them talking in the dining area (bride's parents, tour guide and the caretaker). Kinikwento ni tour guide yung nangyare. Then his mother said, "Nakalimutan mo na ba? Buwan ng kapistahan don ngayon."

Again, this story may not be as scary as the other horror stories shared in this group. This may have already happened to others too. But you know the scariest part of it all? And what scares me the most?... It's the 'WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN?'... What could have happened to me kung hindi namin kasama c tour guide?.. That for sure, I don't want to find out.

The end.

ps. Since then, I always made sure na everytime a stranger touches or taps me, specially pag nasa probinsya or liblib na lugar ako, I tap them back. Whatever it is, meron man o wala, I'm giving it back to that person.

-DeanGirl2Y5

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