Mimi's Chilling Tales For Grown Ups Only

       Towns and cities in the Philippines that trace their beginnings to the Spanish regime followed a certain construction pattern:  churches were built close to cemeteries. In fact, there may still be ancient churches where the campo santo (cemetery) is right behind them or within the same stone wall, as in European countries of the Renaissance Period.        A very good example of this type is the Paco Park which is   a walled -in, circular in shape park originally  envisioned as the burial place of well-off aristocratic Spanish families who resided in old Manila. The cemetery was built in the late 18th century and decades later,  a Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to St. Pancreatius was also constructed  within  its circular walls.  But interment in Paco Park ceased in 1912 and most of the descendants of those buried there have transferred the remains of their ancestors elsewhere. The cemetery was converted into a national park in 1966 and is  now listed as one of the most beaut

In the rural areas of the Western Visayan Islands, there is a prevalent belief that the dreaded aswang (supernatural evil creature that mingles with ordinary people) has the power to substitute a newly dead corpse with a banana stalk. Somehow the appearance of the substitute could undetectedly pass off as the real one – perhaps by the magical power of the aswang.         Three teachers – two females and one male (named Mr. Doble, Ms. Duran and Ms. Dulay) – arrived a month before enrolment time and presented themselves to the village head who took them to the school premises. They were welcomed by Tiyo Lucio and Tiya Marta, a childless couple who lived just across the newly built school. The loquacious husband cheerfully told the teachers that they may board with them if they wish and also offered to help them  settle  in their new environment. He also boasted what a terrific cook and housekeeper his wife was, that he was in fact planning to buy her a portable oven.         After r

According to a tenacious legend circulating throughout Europe, after Pilate had delivered Him to the Jews for crucifixion, Jesus was being dragged out to the judgment hall when He paused for a moment  to rest. Seeing this, Cartaphilus, a porter employed by Pontius Pilate, cruelly struck Him on the back with his hand and jeered, “ Go quicker, Jesus, go quicker, why do you loiter?” In reply, Jesus looked back at the porter and said, “ I am going and you will wait until I return.”     In some versions of the legend, Jesus was struck by Cartaphilus as he staggered past bearing his cross. Since that day, Cartaphilus  has roamed the earth unceasingly, unable to die until the last judgment.    ( Culled from Dr. Karl PN Schuker’s writings in the book “ Illustrated Guide to the World’s Natural and Paranormal Mysteries” ) My maternal grandma ,Fortunata Darocca Villalobos  or simply Wawa Ting  (meaning little grandma in Ilonggo)   to us children – was  the original tale spinner of the fami

Is the belief in witchcraft true only in the Philippines? Does the practice of witchcraft continue to exist in modern times? The answer to the first question is NO. Hindi lang ang Pinoy ang takot sa aswang at ang taglay nitong kapangyarihan. The fear of witches and their evil powers goes far back in time. Remember the notorious Salem witchcraft trials in America? Have you ever heard of the term “witches” Sabbath? Certainly there was great fear of witches in Europe, Africa, South America and elsewhere and this fear dates back to Biblical days.  -mimi illenberger-mapa

In Philippine folklore, mermaids or  sirenas,  are voluptuous maidens with long hair and incredibly beautiful faces. They have been known to lure human beings with their magical voices. These creatures, however, are only human from their head to their waistline. The lower part of their torso is scaly fish. KADIOS AND THE MERMAID ( A Love Story)      At the wake of my mother’s cousin in Valladolid, Negros Occidental, I was told this enchanting tale by Tito Robin over cups of steaming  salabat  (ginger tea) and crunchy  galletas  ( a local biscuit popularly served during wakes in rural areas) in an effort to keep me from falling asleep. It is a story of how a handsome barrio swain fell in love with a sea siren and decided to join her in her world below the sea. Tito Robin narrates:      Lolo Kalaw was the most sought after person in this seaside community. People didn’t seem to mind that he was already blind in one eye and hard of hearing because of advanced age. At 89, his

An elderly neighbor assured me that when it comes to unusual tales and Visayan folklore, the person to see was the neighborhood hunch back, Lolo Delfin. She was right because I went home impressed. The visit turned out to be quite an educational afternoon. The psychic  septuagenarian was a perfect host and his animated story telling kept me glued to my seat for hours. “Do you know that belief in fairies is universal?” Lolo Delfin began. “Foreign authors report that Britons, Scandinavians, Canadians, North and South Americans all have tales to tell about fairies. No oriental country is without legends about them. I believe this universality indicates a possibility of historic basis for truth – that fairies openly inhabited the earth once upon a time.” Fairies, according to Philippine folklore, prefer live in lonely wooded areas and hillsides but when civilization expands into places of their original abode, they can choose to remain and live with human hosts using their powers of

Freddie was a twenty two year old student in the College of Engineering when he met the lovely and articulate English professor. Ms. Sandra C was in her early thirties, the wife of an up and coming corporate lawyer and the mother of two hyper active boys. Their chance meeting came about when he approached her for a small donation to the university fund drive. As president of the university student council, he was spear heading a campaign to raise money for the ancient school chapel that had fallen into disrepair. It did not take long for them to discover they had so many common interests. The age gap did not seem to matter when they were together. They shared the same views with life in general, laughed at similar jokes, subscribed to the same books and magazines and even enjoyed the same past time - fishing. They were extremely compatible, they could have been soul mates. A few days before graduation, Freddie surprised Sandra with a ”going away" present. It was a small box