A Ghost Story | The PGH Experience

The Philippine General Hospital has been around for almost a century, and such edifice with a long history of witnessing so many people coming and going, it is not surprising that it carries with it the echoes of those who walked along its dimly-lit corridors. Though modern conveniences now abound everywhere, behind the masquerade known as technology are some very old questions no medical or health science could ever answer. When I pass through wards filled with patients struggling to live, its walls retain the hopelessness and misery of those who already moved away. I sense their lingering emotions and it's the reason why I avoid staying long when I visit my aunt who works there.

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It was the summer of this year. Utol had a minor surgery whose goal was to enhance her aesthetic worth. She had to consult her doctor to see how the stitches from her surgery was healing. Being the reliable kuya, I had to wake up early to accompany her despite going late to bed the night before. The lack of sleep made me feel woozy. My very short fuse meant that I was best left alone. Sparing others from my grumpiness, I usually take a nap inside my aunt's clinic while waiting for my sister to return.

One morning, I took a nap while utol was having her consultation in the other room. The secretary who was also inside the clinic where I stayed told me that she had to go out and do some errands for the consultants. In short, I would be left alone. I was too durog to acknowledge her, and what mattered was that nobody will disrupt my peace. However, upon reaching the sleeping phase known as lucid dreaming, my ears could hear a lot of chatter. It felt like the room was filled with people.

I tried to force my eyes open and when I finally succeeded, I was surprised to learn that the door was open and patients of all ages were queuing to have their turn to go inside the consultants' quarters. What was strange about them is that most of those who were falling in line were adults and elder people. The clinic where I stayed specializes in Pediatric Surgery. The consultants there only treat kids. I tried to get up but I could not move. I wanted to roll over hoping that I would fall to the floor but my attempts were all in vain. Suddenly, some of those who were in the line noticed my struggle. They began walking towards my direction. They spoke of things which I could not recall, save for some snippets of memory about how they died.

Yes, they were all spirits.

People who experience an inability to control one's body while sleeping call the ordeal bangungot. I do not know if mine could be considered as one. What I know is that I was in the verge of panic. (because I could see the wrinkled face of a very old lady who was standing beside me) It took several minutes (and a Lord's prayer) to regain control of my body. When I finally did, I woke up still alone inside the room. There were no other people nor doctors calling a patient's name waiting outside the consultation room.

It was all but just a dream.

But the experience, where I cannot wake up despite my futile attempts to do so happened many times over, I already know what to do should I lose control of my body. And in many cases, I am aware that some unseen forces were taking advantage of my weakened state.

I have one ability only few people know about. Those who knew, also possess such ability too - and often, with theirs - much more powerful than mine.

And in the coming entries, I'd tell more about my encounters and how I came into terms with my strange talent.

-tobecontinued-