Supernatural - Is it real?

Mysteries in Grandma's Old House

Even when I was young, my mother and father told me many stories, especially about the mysteries experienced by our relatives in Grandma's old house.

My maternal grandfather bought over 20 hectares of land in the countryside. When my grandparents passed away, their children divided the land among themselves. One of my grandfather's siblings, Lola (1) Tildi, never married because of her promise to her father not to marry unless he remarried after their mother's death.

Since Lola Tildi had no spouse, her siblings left their ancestral house to her. The house was huge. With nine siblings, there were many rooms in the large house. As each of her siblings got married one by one and she was left alone, Lola decided to demolish some of the bedrooms.

When we were kids, my cousins and I often played inside the old house. But I still remember the fear I felt when I was alone inside. The house was suffocatingly large, and since there was no electricity in the countryside, it was very dark. The sound of the hardwood floors creaking with each step added to the unease. So, rarely did anyone stay alone with us in the old house.

One day, Aunt invited us to her eldest child's birthday party. Aunt Nelly lived near Lola Tildi's ancestral house. Because they were busy with farm work, they only started preparing for the party in the afternoon.

Aunt ran out of onions while cooking, so she asked Ate (2) Mai to get some from the old house. Lola Tildi said she passed through the kitchen door. It was already getting dark when Ate Mai was asked, and since she was scared of the old house, she told Uncle Robert (Ate's dad) to watch over her while she got the onions. Uncle Robert was just sitting nearby, so he agreed to watch over her.

As Ate Mai was climbing the stairs to enter the kitchen, Uncle Robert noticed that the branch of the Star Apple (3) tree on the kitchen roof moved as if there was a strong wind blowing. But since there was no strong wind, he carefully observed the branch. It was somewhat dark, so he didn't see clearly what was on the branch. Until he noticed a large figure crawling on the branch towards the kitchen. The figure was about six feet tall, completely black, with glowing eyes. He immediately shouted at Ate Mai to come back because there was someone on the tree branch.

Out of fear, Ate Mai hurried back to their house. I still remember her trembling and almost crying in fear. When Uncle Robert and his drinking buddies went to the large Star Apple tree, they didn't see anyone there. Uncle Robert said maybe he saw a Kapre (4).

They had always felt something strange about the tree. Sometimes, smoke would come out of it even though there was no fire nearby. Even Lola Tildi, who lived in the big house, was afraid of the tree because she once heard what sounded like someone walking near the tree because of the sound of the dry leaves being stepped on.

The mysteries in the old house and the large tree only disappeared when Lola Tildi died and the big house was demolished.

1. In Filipino culture, "Lola" means grandmother. It's a term of endearment and respect used to address or refer to one's grandmother.

2. In Filipino culture, "Ate" is a term used to address or refer to an older sister or an older female relative or friend. It is a term of respect and affection.

3. The Star Apple tree, also known as "kaimito" or "caimito" in the Philippines, is a tropical tree. The tree produces a fruit called Star Apple, which is round to oval in shape and typically purple or green when ripe, depending on the variety. The flesh of the fruit is sweet and juicy, with a unique taste. When the fruit is cut horizontally, the star-shaped pattern formed by the seed cells inside gives it its name.

4. In Filipino mythology, a Kapre is a mythical creature often depicted as a tall, dark, and hairy figure resembling a giant. It is said to dwell in big trees like acacias, mangoes, and bamboo. Kapres are believed to smoke large tobacco pipes and have a deep, booming voice. They are generally described as mischievous but not necessarily malevolent beings. Kapres are said to sometimes befriend or play tricks on humans, and they are often associated with stories of encounters in rural or forested areas, especially at night.