I have no significant memory of participating in any Halloween parties during childhood (perhaps not even in school), so I have no photos of embarrassing or hilarious Halloween costumes to share. It's already the second of November here in the Philippines, but it's not too late to share some spooky stories from personal and family's experience alike, is it?
I'd like to share these three:Sleep paralysis.
I was probably still in high school, rooming with my two younger brothers when I first had this experience. I was having an afternoon nap when something strange happened. I wanted to wake up, but I couldn't open my eyes nor was I able to move a muscle. I started freaking out in my head when suddenly I heard an eerie voice of a man who kept saying "hindi mo kaya, hindi mo kaya" (you can't do it, you can't do it). In my exasperation, I began reciting the Apostle's Creed in my mind to drive away what I believed was the devil's voice. To my relief, Dad suddenly burst into our bedroom, and I woke up crying. As if realizing what just happened, he simply hugged me, and told me to pray.
Take a shower.
One morning in December almost ten years ago, Mom woke up to the sound of someone taking a shower in the main bathroom. Nothing unusual; just the occasional sound of running water from a shower or open tap. She initially thought it could be either one of us running late for school. It obviously couldn't be Dad because they have a master's bathroom. Just when she was about to call out to whoever was in the bathroom, she realized that it's already 7:00AM.
Back then, Dad, my brothers and I have all gone to school and work by 6:30AM. Who could it be?Later that day, Mom learned about my aunt's passing. She died from aneurism in the US. Mom thought it could be her who took a shower in our home, not knowing yet that she's no longer in the same world as ours.
Have a seat.
It's common knowledge that my brother, Roi, has the habit of sleeping late even on school nights. According to him, it's almost 2:30AM when he heard the water dispenser refill a small tank in the machine that holds readily available chilled water. He heard this despite watching TV (in lowered volume). It didn't bother him because this happens whether or not someone took a glass from the water dispenser. Then he heard the swing door separating the living room from the kitchen lightly swayed. Our house is surrounded by windows, so it could simply be a light breeze passing through. However, he suddenly felt a presence in the living room, and when he saw an indentation formed on the couch as if someone took a seat, he freaked out. Roi stormed to the bathroom to take a very quick shower, and ran to their bedroom in just a matter of five minutes.
I would say I am blessed that I don't have a gift of seeing things from another dimension. This is actually part of my daily prayer, that I am spared from these kind of phenomena. Growing up, Mom and Dad have instilled in our minds that we must only fear God and man.
I believe that there is purgatory, and that there are lost souls that haven't found the light. All they need are prayers to help them get into the other side. With this, I'd like to end this post with a simple prayer for all the lives we've lost:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
P.S. This post was inspired by Alissa's Spooky Stories.
Do you have similar stories for Halloween? Do share them here.