Iskolar 101: The 'Cursed' Library

Photo taken from Cebu Daily Inquirer.

Based on a true story.

I’m sure you’ve heard stories from your older relatives of spirits in trees, of the beings – friendly or otherwise – that made their homes in the essence of these sentinels of the forest. If you haven’t, then here’s something to think about: there’s a reason why people “knock on wood” as the expression goes.

UP Cebu’s main library – a mystery to many students (at least to freshmen) due to its closing after the earthquake of 2013. Being old as it is, the building is subject to its run through the rumor mill: stories of ghosts from World War II haunting its halls, challenges of courage, secret meetings in the dead of night, inexplicable sounds that wake the neighboring dormers; the usual drill. I should know, urban legends are a hobby of mine. But even urban legends have at least a grain of truth in them. 

This story comes from the earliest times of the library, when it opened in the 1970’s. Lahug at the time was still one of the forested areas of Cebu, and UP located right inside in the area. Before the library, a tree, one that is of the kind that is obscured by the sands of time, was cut down to make way for construction. Many believed the tree to be a balete one which adds to the mystery of the story. Now ordinarily, a ritual or sacrifice would be performed before felling the tree.

This time, there wasn’t any of that.

One of the albularyos begged the staff of the University to build the library elsewhere, and told them that even the Japanese soldiers who occupied the area dared not touch it. He even offered to perform the ritual for free, saying that the diwata of the tree would not take this affront lightly.

Several of the staff scoffed at the idea and advised the UPC Admin against it. Why shouldn’t they? Superstitions were and are still considered hogwash and old wives’ tales by many.

When the library finally opened, the staff who spearheaded the cause of its construction took a celebratory picture and one of them, as a joke or sign of respect, brought a branch of the tree with him during the picture. 

All was well, and the semester went along as any other semester would – until the first death. One of the professors was to attend a conference in Manila and left by plane. An explosion occurred on the plane, punching a hole through fuselage. Despite the magnitude of the damage, only one fatality occurred that day. You can check it in the papers, many people considered it a miracle.

The second death occurred months after, another one of the Four decided to visit her family in Negros, taking the ferry to get across the sea. She was on the boat when it left the port, but when the ferry arrived, she never disembarked.

The university buzzed during the Christmas break, replacements wary of being hired after the loss of the two professors. The remaining staff knew that it wasn’t just coincidence or bad luck at this point to the point that one professor quit his job and left the college. On the day of his departure, he decided to pay the library he envisioned one last visit.

He was never seen again.

It was then that the staff decided to consult the albularyo and performed the ritual a whole year after the opening of the library. Peace returned to the university at last.

However, they say that the diwata hasn’t moved at all but that she simply changed her living space. So if you feel the presence of things standing next to you, you’re welcome to look to the sides, up, down, under the tables, and between bookshelves.

Just don’t look behind you, they don’t like being seen.

***
This article for Iskolar 101 is written by Joshua Zachary Alo

Footnote:
We pray for the souls of the dead; may they rest in peace.

Disclaimer:
We are not confirming the truth behind these events.