Hoya Lawyer

From: Taro Hagiwara

Subject: Hello,Seeking your legal representation

Reply-To: TaroHagiwara@hoyacorp.net.tc

Hello,  

I have been directed by the management of HOYA CORPORATION based in Japan,to contact you and seek the legal representation of your law firm in collection of debt, we will be very glad if your law firm is willing to render its efficient and professional legal services. We currently  

have some outstanding invoices that need to be paid by our customers in your country.We have made several attempts to enforce payment but to no avail. Can you be of help to us? 

I await your response.  

Taro Hagiwara

HOYA CORPORATION

Head Office 2-7-5 Naka-Ochiai,

Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8525 Japan

Website:www.hoya.co.jp

Steel Attorney

From: Martin Victor

Subject: Re: I need your Counsel (Debt Collection)

Good day,

We at South London Steel, UK, hereby request to retain your legal service in collecting a debt owed us by a company in your area. I am of a strong opinion that once i coordinate our correspondence with your firm to the debtor, they will have no option but to send payment through your firm's trust account to us. As i learnt is the procedure in the United States of America.

Litigation, we will hold as a last resort. Please find the details of our debtor for your conflict check.

Eyre Steel Company

1820 E Jefferson Street

Seattle, WA 98122-5744

Upon receiving your retainer agreement, i will have a telephone conference with you, informing you of more details of the transaction.

Payment of $765,000.00 for products was made to the seller in July of 2011 and our calculation shows that delivery is about five Months late, for the regular purchase agreement requires seller to effect goods not later than 60 days upon payment or legal action may be enforced if delivery delay exceeds 120 days.

Sincerely,

Martin Victor.

South London Steel.

Unit 9 Liberty Centre

Mount Pleasant

Wembley

HA0 1TX

Tel:+44 702 403 5402.

The Shapeshifting Neighbor

Story

Actually, this story was told by my friends. According to them, it was only known by people living in E. Jacinto and Herrera Streets, Brgy. Ibaba, Malabon City.

No doubt, that even the urban people do still believe of the mythical creatures of our ancestors. Aswang and manananggal are the most popular of those. Stories about them tells us that they migrated from provinces with the reason similar to those normal individuals who test there fate in the urban cities. Then, plague the people on it.

Only few people had seen this shapeshifting neighbor they are talking about. No one knows if he is a male or she is a female, but my friend said, it is surely a female. He added that this creature can be synonymous to aswang, which likewise can shapeshift in many form. In addition, he also told me that this creature only goes out every night (of course!), and when there is a pregnant woman near her.
The only place where they often saw this creature is at the basketball court, named Plaza, and in Pilapil, in the form of a huge, black dog whenever that place is empty. But some says she always appear in a dark place in the form of a huge cat. Despite of its appearances, there's no incident of her attacks to a person nor dead people seen in an isolated place with unexplainable death.
But there's an incident of where this creature always change her form - from human to an animal.
One night, there was a guy who went to their CR. Their CR is not connected to their house, it was built outside, in the rim of the Tonsuya River. Actually, not only one family uses that CR but every one is free to use it. Back to the story, when he is near to the bridge-like woods heading towards the door of the CR, he saw someone went there first. He waited the person to finish and go out, but hours later he decided to knock the door when suddenly the wall opposite to the door was being destroyed. He was shocked of what the person inside is doing. Abruptly something flew outside from the CR - a huge bird. Frightened, he ran faster going back to his house forgetting what he actually wants to do there. While crying, he told his family of what he saw, but they didn't believe him. They just calmed him up and let him sleep. Day came, they saw the CR destroyed very much as if a whirlwind blew it. So, now they started to believe to that person who told them of what happened that night. They also theorized that that creature lives near them. My friend added, whenever you pass the houses near that CR, you always feel cold mysteriously with goosebumps that makes you more scared.
On the other hand, there were stories which this creature is also involved. They said, this creature is watching pregnant women in that same place where she is known.
One story is that, at night, a pregnant women (the mother of my friend who also gave me information about this mystery) caught a black dog watching her while washing her feet. At first, she just ignore that animal, but it seemed something different with that creature there. So, slowly, she picked a lag with a nail on the tip, then, smashed it to the dog. Definitely, it was injured - wounded in her butt. In the next day, they saw an old woman having a wound on its face, as if it was sliced by something. She was intrigued about that wound in old woman's face. Although the wound was in the dog's butt, but elders said that the face of an aswang when in the form of animal is at it's butt. So, she decided to ask her about the wound, and answered, she was wounded in an accident.
Another, a group of people are running after a fleeing dog when it was caught under the house of a pregnant woman watching her. But it was so fast that they didn't got it up.
In the other hand, an eye witness dealing with this being was told by a group of teenagers. One night, they were sitting in a usual place were they often see each other. One of them suddenly saw an old woman looking on them. They just ignore the stranger by staring. But it seemed the woman was still looking at them. So they tried to call her. First after they called her, she hid. On the second time, when she appears again, they called her, then hid again. It was on the third time when they call her, she went near to them. They ask her if theres a problem, but she just replied also with a question while looking in the same place. After the conversation, the old woman left but a question formed in their mind - why is she looking in the same house, even while talking to them? Time passed, and they found out that the house where she is looking at had a pregnant woman on it.
I can't say that its just a story made by imagination, made by those people who just want to get fame and just want to scare everyone especially those children who don't go home early. The only one who knows the truth is the one who saw it.

The Ghosts of MV Princess of the Stars

Story

[Taken from Internet:]

Pagmumulto ng mga Biktima ng MV Princess of the Stars   Ayon sa mga residente sa isla ng Sibuyan sa lalawigan ng Romblon, ang lugar kung saan lumubog ang MV Princess of the Stars, hindi sila magkakaroon ng katahimikan hangga't hindi mahahatak ang naturang barko palayo sa kanilang lugar gayun din ang mga bangkay ng biktima na nakulong sa loob at mabigyan ng nararapat na libing.   Ang mga naninirahan malapit sa baybayin, kung saan bumaliktad ang barko at nakikita ang harap ng bapor sa dagat Sibuyan, ay nagpapahayag na nakakarinig at nakakakita ng nakakapangilabot na mga tunog at pangitain mula ng lumubog ito noong Hunyo 2008. Mga Kababalaghan Babaeng nakaputi Sa lalawigan ng San Fernando, madalas daw silang nakakakita ng isang babaeng nakaputi habang naglalakd sa dalampasigan, mga taong kumakanta, gayun din ang hindi maipaliwanag na ingay ng isang marahas na kaguluhan. Ang mga tauhan ng Philippine Coast Guard na nakabantay doon sa nakakaramdam din ng mga hindi maipaliwanag na pagpapramdam. Babaeng nakapula Noong Oktubre 26, ang mga opisyal at residente ng San Fernando ay nag-alay ng misa para sa biktima ng trahedya. Ang kanilang alkalde na si Nanette Tansingco ay inanyayahan ang mga kamag-anak ng mga namatay gayun din ang mga kamag-anak ng nawawala na umupo sa tabi ng mga opisyal. Nabanggit niya sa isa sa kaniyang tauhan na si Arlene Relos na nakakita siya ng isang babaeng nakapula at ngumiti sa kaniya bago nag-umpisa ang misa. Sinuring mabuti ng mga empleyado ng town hall ang buong baybayin ngunit wala silang nakitang babaeng nakapula. "We looked for her but she was not there. There was talk that she might be one of the dead passengers who visited us to say thank you," ayon kay Relos. Ang naturang barko ay pag-aari ng Sulpicio Lines Inc. kung saan my karga itong 864 na katao nang pumalaot ito mula Maynila papuntang Cebu noong Hunyo 21. Ang bilang lamang ng nabuhay ay naitala sa 56 ng lumubog ito sa kasagsagan ng bagyong "Frank." May natagpuang 350 na bangkay sa mga sumunod na araw matapos ang paglubog. Ang iba ay pinaniniwalaang nawawala. Ang mga maninisid ay nakakuha ng 113 na bangkay mula nang magumpisa ang retrieval operation noong Oktubre 26. Pagpapramdam sa mga Maninisid Ang mga maninisid ay patuloy sa pagsasalba sa mga biktima at patuloy din silang nakakaranas ng mahiwaga at di-pangkaraniwang pangyayari sa ilalim ng tubig. Ayon sa mga empleyado ng Harbor Star, ang mga maninisid ay nahirapang kunin ang ika-13 patay na halos nalagay sa peligro ang kanilang buhay. Dumaan ang tatlong oras sa pagsubok na kunin ang labi ngunit sumuko din sila. Nang makuha nila ang bangkay kinabukasan, nilagyan ng ekis ng mga tauhan ng forensic ang nakasulat na numerong 13 sa body bag sa paniniwalang mawawala ang malas. Ayon naman sa isang maninisid ng Coast Guard, may isang pagkakataon na nahirapan ang buong tauhan na hanguin ang angkla ng isa sa kanilang rescue ships. Ang kagamitan na ginagamit nila sa paghango ng angkla ay mistulang nabalaho sa isang malaking bato sa seabed. Ngunit nang sinisid nila 95 na talamapakan sa ilalim ng dagat upang tingnan kung ano ang naging problema, nakita nilang wala namang nakaharang o anu mang balakid at naiangat nila ang angkla ng buong gaan. Ayon naman kay Alkalde Nanette Tansingco, ayon sa mga kuwento ng mga nakakakita, madalas daw silang may namamataang dumadaan na "gintong" barko sa mismong lugar na pinaglubugan ng barko. Mga hindi Maipaliwanag na mga Tunog Ayon sa mga residente na naninirahan malapit sa tumaob na barko, may mga naririnig silang mga pagkatok na nagmumula sa gitna ng dagat, sa parehong oras kung kailan lumubog ang barko. Ang mga pagkataok ay mistulang mga dagundong na nagmumula sa pinto o pader ng barko. May naririnig din sila na iyak at atungal ng bata. Kakila-kilabot na Panaginip at Gabing hindi Makatulog Sila Levy Samuele at Ernesto Clerin, na kapwa namatayan dulot ng trahedya, ay pumunta sa San Fernando noong nakaraang buwan upang maging saksi sa naturang retrieval operations. Ayon sa kanila, nakakaramdam sila ng kakaibang pakiramdam kung saan may malakas na puwersang humahatak sa kanila papunta sa lugar kung saan lumubog ang barko. Si Clerin, na namatayan ng asawa ay patuloy na napapanaginipan ang kaniyang asawa bago siya bumiyahe papunta sa pinagyarihan ng trahedya. Si Samuele naman ay patuloy pa ring hinahanap ang kaniyang pinsan at tatlong taong gulang na pamangkin. Mula nang siya ay dumating sa nasabing lugar, nararamdaman niyang nasa paligid lamang at nagmamasid-masid ang kaniyang mga yumaong kamag-anak. Naalala pa ni Samuele na bago pa man lumubog ang nasabing barko, ay naramdaman niyang humihingi sa kaniya ng tulong ang kaniyang pamangkin. Kung minsan naman ay naririnig niyang tumatawa ang paboritong manika ng kaniyang pamangkin. PInaglaruan niya ito bago siya sumakay sa barko. Flotation device May isang mangingisda na lumayag malapit sa lumubog na barko. Nagtapon siya ng lumang flotation device/life saving device at nang ito ay dumampi sa tubig, agad-agad itong nawala at lumubog sa ilalim ng dagat na mistulang may umaagaw sa naturang kagamitan. Hindi na ito bumalik o lumutang man lang sa ibabaw ng tubig.

Ghost Haunting of the Victims of MV Princess of the Stars   According to the residents of Sibuyan Island in the province of Romblon, the place where the MV Princess of the Stars sunk, they can't be at peace as soon as the shipping vessel is not taken away and also the corpses of the victims which was trapped inside and still not given a proper burial.   The residents near the shore, where the ship inverted and where you can see its face in Sibuyan Sea, was telling that they hear and see goosebumping sounds and apparitions from the sunken ship this June 2008. Mysteries Lady in White In the province of San Fernando, they often saw a lady wearing white dress while they're walking in the seashore, singing people, and even unexplainable noise of an aggressive riot. The employees of Philippine Coast Guard guarding the ship also feel unknown things. Lady in Red October 26, the officials and residents of San Fernando offered a mass to the victims of the tragedy. Their mayor, Nanette Tansingco, invited the relatives of the victims who had died also the relatives of the missing victims to sit beside the officials. She had told her employee - Arlene Relos, that she saw a lady wearing a red dress who smiled to her before the mass begin. They examined the whole shore but they didn't saw a lady in red. We looked for her but she was not there. There was talk that she might be one of the dead passengers who visited us to say thank you, Relos said. The said ship was owned by Sulpicio Lines Inc. which had 864 passengers on it from Manila to Cebu last June 21. Its in the midst of the storm Frank, the victims who was saved alive was only 56. They found 350 corpses only the next day after it sunk. The others were believed to be missing. At the start of retrieval operations - October 26, they only found 113 corpses. The Haunting to the Divers The divers continuously retrieves the victims and continuously they felt unknown and mysterious happenings under the sea. According to the employees of Harbor Star, the divers had a hard time to salvage the 13th corpse which their lives were almost put to danger. Three hours passed, they finally gave up in attempting to get the body. When they had got it the next day, the forensic experts put an X mark on the written number 13 on the body bag believing the bad luck will vanish. Another one, according to the Coast Guard diver, they didn't pulled the ankle of one of their rescue ships easily. The tools they used to pull the ankle seemed stocked on the large rocks of the seabed. However, when they decided to dive on it 95 feet below see level, to find out what the problem is, they found none nor any problems, and finally they pulled the ankle easily. Mayor Nanette Tangsingco said, according to stories she heard, they often saw a golden ship passing in the same place where the ship sunk. Unexplainable Sounds According to the residents living near the inverted ship, they hear knockings from the middle of the sea, at the same time the ship also sunk. The knockings seemeb to come from the doors and walls of the ship. They also hear cries and yells of childrens. Terror Dreams and Unsleepy Nights Levy Samuele and Ernesto Clerin, who had both dead relatives caused by the tragedy, went to San Fernando last month to witness the said retrieval operations. According to them, they sensed a different feeling which pull them to the place where the sunken ship is. Clerin, whose wife died in the accident, was always dreaming about her before he went to the place of incident. Samuele was still searching of his missing cousin and its 3-year old child. As he went to the said place, he felt that his relatives were just somewhere and watching. Samuele remembered the time before it sunk, the child of his cousin was asking help to him. Sometimes he hears its favorite doll laughing. It had been played before going to the ship. Flotation device There was a fisher who sailed near the sunken ship. He dropped an old flotation device/life saving device, and as it touched the water, it vanished suddenly and it sunk towards the depths of the sea just like someone grabbed it. It never came back nor floated in the surface anymore.

Sources:

http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Balita:_Pagmumulto_ng_mga_Biktima_ng_MV_Princess_of_the_Stars

Cantilan's Malitangtang Bridge

About

  The Malitangtang Bridge, in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, is said to be the home of many unknown beings. Well, its just an urban legend.

  Actually, even those person who had been there once, give respect to the bridge for unknown reason. When you see it personally, you'll just think it was a simple bridge, but behind the innocence of the structure, there lies the stories of the unknown. Some people are scared passing through the bridge. They are worried of what might suddenly appear in front of them.

  Engkantos are very mysterious being. They will curse you once you done something unpleasing for them. They are unpredictable! You'll find them beautiful as you see them, but they're actually wearing a mask hiding something.

  Malitangtang Bridge is far different to Biringan City in terms of engkanto manifestations. Although the two are similar in some aspects - example: being the passage way to another world, Malitangtang Bridge is real and you can even set foot on the place, unlike Biringan which is completely invisible.

Stories

[From an Interview:]

Umaga ng oras na iyon, halos wala pang liwanag sa kalangitan. Naisipan ni Mang Narding (hindi niya tunay na pangalan) na ibyahe na ang jeep niya sa rutang galing Cantilan papuntang Parang. Habang binabaybay niya ang daan, nagkaroon siya ng apat na pasahero. Normal pa naman noong hindi pa nila nadadaanan o nararating ang Malitangtang Bridge. Yung iba sa mga pasahero ay natulog muna, yung iba naman ay nakatingin lamang sa labas ng bintana.   Patuloy sa pagmamaneho si Mang Narding ng may bigla siyang napansing misteryoso sa mga pasahero. Sa oras na iyon, lumagpas na sila sa tulay ng Malitangtang. Napansin niyang parang may dumagdag sa mga pasahero niya, ni hindi nga siya tumigil para magpasakay ng isang tao. Basta na lang may dumagdag na isa.   Lima na ang kanyang mga pasahero sa jeep noong oras na iyon. Hindi siya kumibo, marahil dahil sa kaba at takot. Tinitingnan niya kung sino ang dumagdag sa kanila. Habang inisa-isa niya ng tingin ang kanyang mga pasahero, napansin niya ang isang magandang babae. Maputi at mahaba ang buhok. Tinitigan niya ang babaeng ito, ngunit sa kanyang pagtitig, may nahalata siyang isang bagay. Wala siyang guhit sa ilalim ng ilong. Hindi lang siya kumibo kahit pinagpapawisan na siya sa takot. Biglang nagsalita ang babae, "Manong, ibaba niyo na lang ako sa isang tabi." Tinuro ng babae ang lugar na pagbababaan niya. Noong makababa na siya, sinilip ni Mang Narding ang babae kung saan siya pumunta, ngunit hindi niya ito nakita na. Humarurot na siya ng takbo ng jeep.

It was morning, the sunlight in the sky is still unseen. Mang Narding (not his real name) decided to begin his trip with his jeepney routing from Cantilan to Parang. He had four passengers at that time. At the beginning, when they hadn't passed and arrived at the Malitangtang bridge yet, everything was normal. Some of his passengers were sleeping, while the others were looking outside the window.   While Mang Narding drive continuously, he suddenly noticed - there's something unusual to his passengers. They had passed through the Malitangtang Bridge that time. He also noticed that there was someone added to his passengers, it was strange, he didn't even stop to fetch someone. It just added up suddenly to them.   He had five passengers in his jeep that time. He didn't say something, perhaps because of fear. He look at them to figure out who was added. While gazing at his passengers, observing one-by-one, he noticed a beautiful girl. Fair-skinned and has long hair. He stared at her, but as he look at her, he noticed one thing. She had no philtrum. He just didn't utter something even he was perspiring because of terror. Then, the girl suddenly talked, Sir, let me go down in one side. She pointed the place where she wanted to go down. Mang Narding look at her when she got off, but he saw no one. So he drove the jeepney faster.

[From an Interview:]

Mayroong magkakaibigang nakasakay sa motor. Galing sila sa Silop (isang swimming pool resort) at pauwi na sila sa Cantilan. Habang binabaybay nila ang Malitangtang Bridge, may nasagasaan silang isang matandang lalaki. Ni hindi nila nakitang may isang tao sa harap nila. Waring biglang may lumitaw sa harap nila mismo. Tumigil sila para saklolohan ang matanda, ngunit laking gulat nila. Tumayo ito na parang walang nangyari, naglinis lang ng kanyang damit sa mga alikabok na dumikit.   "Lolo, baka gusto niyo pong dalhin namin kayo sa ospital? Para mapacheck-up ka namin." Sabi nang isa habang inaalalayan ang matanda.   "Wag na mga iho. Hindi kasi kayo nagdahan-dahan eh." Sabi na matanda.   Naglakad ang matanda patungo sa isang bahay. Sinundan nila ng tingin. Ngunit sa awa na rin, pinuntahan nila ang bahay para alukin ang matandang magpaospital. Pagdating sa bahay, nagulat sila ng tanungin ang may bahay kung naroon ang matanda. Ang sinagot lang sa kanila, walang matanda roon.   Kumaripas sila ng takbo patungo sa motor nila, at diretsong umuwi.   There is another story similar to these, but they said it was an old lady, not an old man.

[From an Interview:]

Noong nagkakabit ng linya ng kuryente ang grupo ng isang engineer, napanaginipan niyang sinabihan siyang wag niyang itutuloy sa lugar nila dahil madadaanan ang kanilang lugar. Dapat ay ilihis nila ito ng ibang direksyon. Ngunit hindi siya nakinig, ipinagpatuloy nila ang kanilang balak na direksyon. Kinaumagahan, nadatnan na lang nila ang isang buong pulupot ng kuryente na nakapulupot sa isang poste ng kuryente. Imposible iyon na gawin ng isang tao, dahil ang wire ng kuryente ay kasing laki ng braso ng isang tao. At sa sobrang haba at bigat niyon, paanong napulupot niya iyong mag-isa. Marahil kagagawan iyon ng mga engkanto roon. Dahil doon, pagkatapos nilang tanggalin ang pagkapulupot, nilipat nila ng direksyon ang linya ng kuryente.   pang kwento ay tungkol sa pag-aayos ng tulay. Napanaginipan naman ng in-charge na engineer kung paano dapat ito gawin. Sabi sa panaginip ng engineer, dapat taasan ang tulay para hindi sumanggi ang barko nila, sa tuwing dadaan sila sa ilog.

Other Infos

  The mountain near the Malitangtang Bridge is said to be the dwelling place of the engkantos (not the bridge itself) who only appear on the bridge. Some people saw cocoa trees on the top of the mountain. No one owns those plants. So who planted those trees? No body knows. I remember the story of Maria Cacao in this one.

  Another strange thing connected to the bridge is the river under it. It was said that the river was endless. No one knows the end as well as the starting point.

Source:
Contributed by Mr. Christopher Azarcon-Luga

A Congressman Talks About the Ghosts of Capitol Hill

Someone sent me this youtube video that I thought was interesting enough to post.  I didn't know many of the ghost stories from Capitol Hill and this little blurb sums them up and discusses them.  In the video, a Congressman takes a reporter around the United States Capitol to talk about some of the myths, hauntings and scary stories that have been shared over the years.  The Congressman is from Livonia, Michigan and is Thaddeus McCotter.  I wouldn't comment on his politics because I try to stay as far away from politics as possible these days, but I did like the ghost stories.

Alien Invasion in Iloilo

Las Pinas, which became famous of the reliable UFO sightings video records; Mount Banahaw, which was rumored of UFO abduction; and Novaliches, Quezon City and Cagayan de Oro, also a place of sighting, but Iloilo, invaded by Aliens?

Story

In San Joaquin, Iloilo, residents were feared of this unexplainable visitors which, based on rumors, are all extraterrestrials - aliens in other word.

According to the people who witnessed and saw them personally, they were human-like with wrinkled forehead, long ears and a glowing eyes, wearing a loose dress like priests'. They first appeared at time of full moon.

Mostly, the witnesses were minor-aged children, because of that they may probably tell the truth of what they actually saw. Those beings might be TRUE.

Based in the GMA Channel 7 - Imbestigador, Antonio Israel, a specialist of UFOs, who was convinced that this beings are visitors from other world, had an opinion concerning them, he quoted, "Ako'y naniniwala, kung hindi man ito nanggaling sa outer space, ito ay marahil o malamang nanggaling sa ilalim ng dagat. Ang mga ganitong nilalang ay tinatawag na 'hoppers or creepers'." (I believe, if they may not came from outer space, they might originated from under the sea. These beings are called 'hoppers or creepers'.) He also explained the possible reason why they went offshore. Fr. Rex Jiloca, the previous parish priest, also told his opinion of the happenings. According to him, those things the people saw might be a manifestation of evil spirits warning the people.

At the end the television show concluded that those were just created of imagination and can be explained by science itself.

Source:

GMA Channel 7 - Imbestigador

Moaning Monks and Other Stupid Ghosts

 Looking for ghosts in odd places is one of my favorite pass times. This is even more fun when I am traveling. Before I go anyplace, I do a quick internet search to see what places in the area I am going are haunted. Then I do more research to try to confirm that they are haunted. While travelling to Michigan and Ohio, I noted that according to several internet sites The Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Michigan is haunted. This was curious to me. This is what Shadowlands Haunted Places says:



"At night if you are not in your room at midnight someone comes on the loudspeaker and says LOCKDOWN and the doors and the lights turn off and the TVs shutoff and then the elevators come and monastery figures come out and spikes come out of the wall and ceiling and the ceiling caves in and then its all gone in the morning."

I found a carbon copy of this statement about Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Michigan on several other paranormal sites, but I didn’t find any real information. Several things bothered me about this story. First the story itself seems more than a little unbelievable to me. Surely if someplace this haunted existed, it would be featured on every paranormal television show in existence. Secondly, after I explored the small town of Sandusky, Michigan I found there was nothing resembling a Great Wolf Lodge there. There is a Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio. It was once Bear Lodge before it was bought out by the Great Wolf Lodge chain of resorts. I decided to focus my study on the Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio.

I travelled to the Great Wolf Lodge in Cincinnati, Ohio as Sandusky was too far out for me to visit. I asked staff about the haunting in Sandusky. They laughed or gave me that I’m too polite to laugh blank stare that you get when you ask a ridiculous question. I also phoned Sandusky and no one there acknowledged any kind of haunting. After exploring a couple of the resorts in the Great Wolf Lodge chain, I have to say that this is a least likely place to be haunting. They all look pretty much the same so the photos I took in Cincinnati might as well be Sandusky or the resort I visited in Charlotte or Traverse City. They are packed with screaming children until 11pm when the magi quest and arcade close down. After this, the grownups sneak out quietly looking for the bar. I got a mudslide. If anything like described above ever happened at a Great Wolf Lodge, the reports would be everywhere. All this to say, I think that the story above is a bunch of crap. This isn’t the first load of crap internet ghost story I’ve found, but it is the most silly. What is the moral of this story? Just because someone has posted a ghost story on the internet doesn’t make it true. Although I love a good ghost story, some ghost stories are utter nonsense.



 

Stephany's Lawyer

Stephany Kiyoshi

I sent you the request to know if you can represent me to enforce a contract agreement between my ex husband and I. I am currently in South Korea for an assignment. Please see attachment for scanned copy of the divorce decree and agreement. I tried calling a couple of times and with the time difference (+13hrs EST) it is a little bit difficult to gauge the best time to reach you. We were divorced in Japan but my ex husband Wayne Kiyoshi relocated to the United States precisely (Your City and State here) which is in your jurisdiction. He is a citizen. This is the reason why I contacted you as there is already an agreement in place. I am pretty sure that my ex husband will avoid litigation and want to settle amicably once he finds out that I am retaining your firm to help enforce/collect payment and in the event of default, litigate. My ex husband has the mean to pay for balance he owes me and I know for sure that he has assets in (Your City and State here). 

 We had an out of court agreement (Out of court settlement) for him to pay $496,500 plus legal fees. He has only paid me $183,500 since when he was in Japan and later relocated to the United States without paying the balance $313,000 he owes me.

I am hereby seeking your firm’s assistance in collecting the balance from him. He has agreed already to pay me the balance but it is my belief that a Law firm like yours is needed to help me collect/enforce payment from my ex-husband or litigate this matter if he fails to pay as promised.

I expect this to be resolved in a timely manner. Sequel to this, I await the retainer agreement and mode of remitting payment for the retainer.

 Yours truly,

Ms. Kiyoshi

Lauretta's Attorney

From: Lauretta Hirochi

Subject: ***SPAM*** Lagal Assistance.

Date: March 24, 2012 1:58:31 AM PDT

I am contacting your firm in regards to a settlement agreement with my ex-husband Mr. McConnell Hirochi who resides in your state. Last year, we had an out of court agreement (Settlement Agreement) for him to pay me $1,050,000.00 alimony, but he is yet to meet with full payment of the amount. He acts like he is not willing to pay up.

I am seeking your firm`s assistance in collecting the balance from him or file a contempt charges against him if he fails to pay as promised because he has delayed for too long. If you are in the position to represent me at the moment kindly advice immediately.

Yours Truly,
Lauretta Hirochi

Lauryn's Lawyer

From: Lauryn Shinguru

Subject: Requirement for your legal assistance with my divorce settlement

Date: March 24, 2012 12:36:20 AM PDT 


Good day,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your email and to thank you for the prompt response to my email. I am however contacting your firm in regards to a divorce settlement with my ex husband Gingrich Shinguru who resides in your jurisdiction

I am currently on assignment in South Korea. We had an out of court agreement (Collaborative Law Agreement) for him to pay $496,500.00 plus legal fees. He has only paid me $183,500.00 since.

I am hereby seeking your firm`s assistance in collecting the balance from him or litigate this matter if he fails to pay as promised because He has delayed for too long. If you are in the position to represent me at the moment kindly advice immediately.

Your's truly,
Lauryn Shinguru

Two Successes (But Not Mine)

Today I'm happy to blog about the achievements of others.

Nottingham Writers' Verse Of The Year competition went well on Wednesday night. We had sixteen entries on the theme The Darkness Behind The Door. The winner was our Poetry Secretary, Viv Apple, who (surprisingly) has never won it before. We hand in our entries anonymously to be recited by a team of readers and then have a secret vote. It was gratifying for me to be amongst the majority that voted for the winner. Viv has had stories and articles published over the years but these days concentrates on poetry where her success has continued. You can hear Viv recite her poem here.

I think most people who visit this blog are grateful for the wonderful links that Patsy Collins posts for both poetry and prose competitions. They will also be aware that her début novel Escape To The Country has just been launched and she has been very busy guesting on other blogs. If you haven't visited Patsy's blog please take a look. You won't be disappointed.

The Many Ghosts of King's Island

It is amazing what you can find along the way when you go on a road trip.  Ghosts lurk around every corner and phantoms seem to find you when you are looking for fun.   In my past travels,  I have noted that many places devoted to fun are also haunted by sorrow.  Many of the Six Flags are haunted and Disney Land is as much of a ghost land as a wonderland.   It is, therefore, no surprise that King's Island in Cincinnati, Ohio is teaming with ghosts.  What was a surprise to me, was that I should just happen upon such a haunted place by accident.  While staying at Great Wolf Lodge, I thought I would ask the staff about the allegedly haunted Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky.   What I found was that the amusement park that I could see from my back patio is notoriously haunted.  

There are a plethora of ghosts haunting the various rides at King's Island.   A little blond girl in a lovely blue frock is said to wander the Waterworks.  Her ghost is said to be linked to a tiny cemetery located just off the grounds of King's Island.   The Eiffel Tower ride is haunted by a ghost named Tower Johnny.   He is said to have made an unfortunate decision on the night of his graduation.   In 1983, he climbed up the elevator shaft of this ride and lost his footing.  He fell to his death after being cut in half by the elevator cables.   His ghost has been seen wandering the Eiffel Tower ride and tormenting those who are seeking a more earthly thrill.  The Octopus Ride is also said to be haunted by an ill fated rider who died  on the ride and White Water Canyon is haunted by a ghost named Woody who comes out after dark and throws rocks at those who happen by. 

I couldn't go to King's Island during my trip because it was still closed for winter.  But peaking through the fence at it in its stark, lonely, winter garb made it seem all the more haunted.    The rides were quiet and the air was thick with the last breath of winter.   I could imagine ghosts wandering in the shadows of the silent park and as night came I could almost see a lonely girl in blue looking for her way home.

.

Tommy's Lawyer

From: Tom Lee

Subject: Dear Counsel We have a collection/litigation

Date: March 16, 2012 8:26:28 AM PDT

Reply-To: TomLeeEsq@consultant.com

I am Tom Lee Esq with Asca Patent Law Office firm here in Japan.

We have a collection/litigation matter for you in your jurisdiction.

Kindly get back to me as soon as possible so that i can furnish you

with further details. Due to time difference between Asia and America

we prefer communication via email.

Regards

Tom Lee Esq

Asca Patent Law Office

Morikawa Bldg. 5-29-7 Shimbashi

Minato-ku Funabashi

Japan

Email;TomLeeEsq@consultant.com

Strange Photos

I spent yesterday driving around Detroit. Its beauty still lingers in the shadows. Although much of the city has wilted and decayed, the architecture is still stunning in a way that would invite ghost stories and dark tales. I tried to capture a few photos with my phone, but didn't do a very good job. The last photo I took of one abandoned building was the most interesting. The picture didn't even look like a building. It looked more like an X-ray of someone's spinal cord. It is quite haunting.


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Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Number Is Up

At last my story Waiting For The Number Eighteen has appeared in this week's People's Friend – March 17th edition. I thought I must have missed it as it was accepted before Christmas and I was paid ages ago. First thing I did was ring my mum. The central character is named after her and the picture they've used even looks a bit like her.

Apart from that things have dried up a bit but I'm persevering. I did win Nottingham Writers' autumn prose competition with Rachael's Party and on Wednesday it's our Verse Of The Year competition which I won last year so I'll be trying to defend my title. I'll keep you informed of the result.

The Moonshiner's Ghost

My family is from Michigan. On my grandmother’s side, the family has lived in the farmlands of the thumb of Michigan for many generations. The Washington Township Cemetery is filled with the gravestones of my ancestors going back for many generations. The Vincent name covers the stones that fill the pastoral cemetery. Wandering through the old graveyard is like wandering through my history. In the center of the old cemetery, there is a monument that tells a different story. It tells the story of an old ghost.

The monument is known as the moonshiner’s monument. It is the largest and prettiest marker in the cemetery. Apparently, during prohibition it was used by moonshiners. The moonshiners would hide their moonshine in the old marker. The panels were easily removed and they would place their product within the tombstone. Distributers would then pick up the moonshine and leave their money behind. As was often the case, the distribution of these illegal spirits ended badly. In some kind of skirmish near the stone, one of the moonshiners was shot and died near the monument. His ghost is said to linger in the cemetery. He wanders the shadows looking for a peace that may never come.

The Lady of the Lake

Huddled up against the shores of Lake Huron and tucked away in the shade of maple trees, there is a small cemetery. The cemetery is called Forester Cemetery and is the home of a lonely white lady ghost. The cemetery sits perfectly positioned to provide a perfect view of the great lake. The tombstones there are old and some have been broken and propped back up. Many of the markers have been so eroded that the names are gone. The wind from the lake has wiped away all traces of those who lie beneath them.

One of the many occupants of this quiet necropolis is named Minnie Quay. When Minnie was only fifteen years old, she fell in love with a sailor. She loved this sailor with a poignancy that only first love can offer. Her parents, however, did not share her passion. They forbade Minnie from ever seeing her beloved and told her that she could never expect to see her young beau again. Minnie was heartbroken. Her young man sailed away and died at sea. Minnie was so overwhelmed by grief she couldn’t bare it. She dressed herself in white and walked down to the shore of Lake Huron. She cast herself into the icy waters and died beneath its frigid surface. Her body washed up on shore and she was buried at Forester Cemetery. Since that time, people have claimed to see Minnie wandering the shores by Forester Cemetery. They’ve seen a tragic figure in white wandering the beaches looking out in hopes of catching on last fading glimpse of her lost love. Some even claim to have seen Minnie walking from the beach and through the grounds of the small cemetery by the lake, her cheeks stained with tears and her eyes desperate with grief.

The Ghost of a Girl Named Howard

The Weedon House was built in 1817 and sits at the center of Huntsville, Alabama's historic district.  It is surrounded by constitution village and other historic structures.  It is a classic example of Federalist style architecture and was home to Howard Weedon, one of Huntsville's more renknowned female artists. Ms. Weedon was famous for her lovely and touching paintings of African Americans.  In an era when most African Americans were depicted as either animals or fools, she captured the spirit of her subjects and gave them life and humanity.  Her painting were even used as models for some of the characters in Gone with the Wind.  When Huntsville was occupied by Union forces in 1862, the Union Army requisitioned Weeden House and used it for its officers quarters.  After the war, Howard Weedon and her sister Kate lived out their lives in Weedon House.  There, Howard was able to paint and live her dreams of creation as a starving artist.  Ms. Weedon lived and died in Weedon house.  Some say she still stays there.  Weedon House now belongs to the city of Huntsville and is open for tours.

My mother got to visit the Weedon House this week.  She interviewed to be the director of the museum that now occupies the house.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her because she has a passion for history and old houses and she would do an amazing job tending to this old house.  While she was there, she saw water damage on the walls and those interviewing her explained that the walls always weep there.   They aren't sure why and they haven't been able to stop the weeping.   Those that believe in ghosts site this as the most conclusive evidence of a haunting a Weedon House.  The walls there always weep and no one knows why.  The weeping isn't the only sign of haunting in the old house.  The old grandfather clock in the foyer is said to continue chiming even though the clock has no working parts and phantoms have been seen lingering in the upstairs window.   I hope my mother gets her job at the Weedon House, maybe I can learn more about the ghosts there and maybe I can find the secrets behind its weeping walls.

Sigbins are the cure for AIDS

About

The Sigbin is a mythical creature that's more popular in Visayas and Mindanao. Old folks say that the sigbin walks backwards with its head tucked between its hind legs and that it "resembles a hornless goat, emits a very nauseating smell and possess a pair of very large ears which are capable of clapping like a pair of hands." They also say that it ventures out of its lair during Holy Week in order to "look for children that it will kill for the heart, which is made into an amulet." For some reason, the story about it being the cure for AIDS spread like wildfire in the late 1990s even if nobody really knew what a sigbin looked like. Some drawings actually make it look like a kangaroo.

Story

Rich government officials in Mindanao who lived in mansions or large estates were believed to be raising sigbins. They were accused of being too greedy to share the wealth with the people. The blood of the sigbin, its meat, or its oil was supposed to cure AIDS within seconds.

Fact

There are no words to explain just how ridiculous this story sounds and the fact that many people actually went sigbin hunting. Many hapless people who wanted to make a fortune by catching the animal that would cure AIDS were said to have been shown pictures of albino animals that the con men passed off as genuine sigbins. Many of those who wanted to try their luck at sigbin hunting were asked to pay a fee for the privilege of being part of the sigbin hunting group.

Sources:

http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/41192/urban-legends-that-drove-pinoys-crazy

Night Shift Nightmares

This is my final post in my series saying goodbye to the Alabama State Psychiatric Hospitals.  This post is one I wrote when I was working the Night shift on a psychiatric floor.  Sadly, psychiatric floors are becoming fewer and far between these days making the closure of the Alabama State Hospitals even sadder.   I wrote this a couple of years ago when everything was quiet and the lights were out in the hospital. 

I'm working the night shift tonight. I don't usually work the night shift, but I thought I'd do something different this week. At night, when most of the staff have fled the psychiatric floor and you are left alone with two nurses and a few patients, you hear things you would never notice during the day. They day is bedlam and all the noises blend together, but in the quiet every rattle becomes distinct. I was doing an intake with a patient in their room when I noticed a strange and unaccountable noise that sounded like a large metal object being drug over the door and wall. The noise was very loud and it almost made me drop my clipboard. I asked the patient what the noise was. They responded that the noise came and went and that noises like that have filled the room since they've been here. The patient had assumed it was all in their head. I assured them it was not and they were very relieved.


I had heard that noise before in that room. I had been doing a treatment plan with another patient and I had thought it was another patient dragging something on the wall, but tonight all the other patients were in the group room. Tonight, the halls are empty and the nurses are eating dinner. Of course, I know that several months ago we had a sentinel event. A sentinel even is an event that makes hospital reconsiders their policies and rewrite their rules. We had a patient kill themself in the very room I had been sitting and listening to odd noises in. There had been a thorough investigation into the incident and it was determined that the staff had done all they could for the poor woman, but she had been determined and creative. I am proud of where I work. We have some of the best staff and the best reputation in the area, but on psychiatric units, sometimes bad things happen.

Very few here believe in the supernatural. They are all people of medicine and think ghosts are the product of mental illness driven magical thinking. They enjoy the stories but they would never notice the odd noises. But sitting here alone in the dark, I have to wonder what is in that room? Does that unhappy woman linger in the shadows making her presence known only to the patients? Is her ghost still here struggling to find the happiness she couldn't find in life?

Mercedita - An Engkanto of Binangonan, Rizal

Stories

[Taken from a social networking site [1]:]

Mag-ingat, baka mapag laruan ka ni Mercedita! Pag sapit ng ala-sais ng gabi ay huwag na daw paghuntahan si Mercedita, dahil naririnig niya ang usapan at maaring sumagot siya. Kung hindi ka pa takot, kukwentuhan kita. Si Mercedita ang sinasabing engkantada sa kweba sa Batasin, sakop ng Wawa, Libis. Napakalinaw ng tubig sa parteng ito ng Laguna de Bay, kaya paboritong labahan ng kababaihan. Pag may dalagang naglalaba ay may kasamang manliligaw na binata. Tulad ng eksenang napapanood sa penikula nina Vilma Santos at Edgar Mortiz, kung hindi mo na inabot ang panahon nina Carmen Rosales at Rogelio de la Rosa. At si Mercedita ay nagpapakita sa mga lalaking lumalapit sa kweba. Sa di kalayuan sa kweba daw natagpuan ang labi ng dalawang binata mula sa kilalang angkan na nalunod sa Lawa nuong Dekada 60’s. Ang ipinagtataka ng marami ay kabataan at atleta ang nasawi, sanay na lumangoy sa Lawa. Ang bulong -bulungan ay dinala daw ni Mercedita ang magkaibigan sa kanyang daigdig. Sa mga hindi maniniwala sa engkanto, itinuturong dahilan ang maghapong pagbabasketball ng mga nasawi at ang posibilidad na pinulikat sila at naghatakan palalim sa Lawa. Mapaglaro daw si Mercedita. Parang napagti-tripan ang taong napapadpad sa kanyang lugar. Hindi pa malimot ng mag-asawang taga-Calumpang kung paano ang kanilang bangka ay umikot-ikot lang sa lawa, isang umagang isinama nila ang sipuning anak upang makasagap ng sariwang hangin. Sa kanilang pagkabahala, itinaas ng Tatay ang bata at nakiusap sa engkantada na hayaan na silang makadaong sa lupa, alang-alang sa batang nuon ay nag-iiyak sa takot. Sa isang iglap umusad ang bangka, at iyon ang pinakamabilis na pagsagwang ginawa ng ama sa kanyang buong buhay. May mga basketbolistang taga-Maynila na naglaro sa Rizal Cement Company, kabilang na ang asawa ng nuo’y sikat na telebisyon talk host. Apat silang nagkayayaang mamangka sa Lawa. Ganoon na lamang ang kanilang panghihilakbot dahil mula sa Wawa hanggang sa makadaong sa RCCI Compound, ay inabot sila ng walong oras! Sa paikot-ikot ng kanilang bangka at marahil sa gutom na rin, parang hilong talilong ang mga atleta na pamula nuon ay isinumpang hindi na babalik pa sa Binangonan. May kwento na si Mercedita daw ay may mortal na kasintahan, isang albularyo na binigyan ng engkantada ng kapangyarihang makapagpagaling ng maysakit. May kumontra naman na propaganda daw lang ng manggagamot iyon upang simikat ang kanyang paghahagod, pagtatawas at iba pang paraan ng pagtataboy ng karamdaman at masamang espiritu sa katawan. May sabi-sabi rin na si Mercedita ay kadaupang palad ng isang banyagang pari na naging Kura Paroko ng Binangonan. May lihim na lagusan daw sa likod ng altar kung saan sinusundo at inihahatid ni Mercedita ang pari kapag tinawag niyang mag-misa ito sa kanilang daigdig. Ang mga engkantong kasama ni Mercedita ay umaahon daw dito sa bayan at namimili sa palengke. Kapag malingaw ang nariring o ingay ng salitaang hindi mawari, hudyat na may taga ibang daigdig sa tabi-tabi. Kapag nakakita ng babaeng pantay ang nguso, o walang linyang parang kanal mula sa ilong hanggang sa labi, iyon ay kasama ni Mercedita. Sa mga hindi naniniwala, at laging humahanap ng paliwanag, binangit nila na tutuo ngang may bahay na bato sa Batasin at marahil ito ang sinasabing kweba. Pag-aari ng dayuhang pamilya na ang negosyo ay ospital at paaralan sa Maynila, ang bahay na bato ay naging tirahan ng isang kaanak na pinanawan ng bait. Inilayo sa lipunan sa kung ano mang pampamilyang dahilan. At marahil, ang paghahabi ng kwentong engkanto ang babala upang huwag lapitan ang bahay na ngayon ay abandonado na at kinatatakutan. Ang matatanda ay may paraan upang pigilan ang likas na pagka-makilot at pagka-gala ng bata. Ang panakot: may engkanto sa tabing dagat, may nuno sa punso sa bukid, may kapre sa kaingin pag gabi. Katulad ng sinasabing lihim na lagusan sa likod ng altar. Ayon sa kaibigang nuon ay sakristan ay paraan ng taong simbahan upang huwag nilang inumin ang alak ng pari patago duon sa likod ng altar. Si Mercedita ay isang walang katapusang kwento na manganganak pa ng maraming kabanata mula sa malikhaing isip at malagong dila. by: CKH Chef july 6, 2010 CKH Chef July 6, 2010

Beware, Mercedita may play on you! As 6 o'clock in the evening, never talk about Mercedita, because she may hear your conversation and she may answer you. If you are still not feared, then I tell you more story. Mercedita was the said engkantada of the cave in Batisan, part of Wawa, Libis. The water here in this part of Laguna de Bay is very clear, thus became the favorite laundry place of women. When there is a maiden washing clothes, she is accompanied with her suitor. Just like the scene in Vilma Santos and Edgar Mortiz's movie, if you weren't born yet at the time of Carmen Rosales and Rogelio de la Rosa. And Mercedita appears on men who went near the cave. Not far from the cave, they found the two bodies of young men, from a well-known family, who were drowned in the lake last Dekada 60's (1960's). The mysterious thing people thought was, the two are both young and athletes, both were skilled in swimming on lakes. According to the stories, Mercedita brought the two to her world. While to those who didn't believe, the said cause was the over playing of basketball and the possibility of having cramps which leads them to pull each other deeper unto the lake. They said, Mercedita is playful. As if, those who passes or walks through the place will be played at. A married couple from Calumapng can't forget the time how there boat just moved riduculously round at the lake, one morning when they brought with them their catarrhing child to breathe some fresh air. Of there fear, the father raised his child and pleaded to the engkantada to let them go offshore, for the sake of the child which that time was crying of fright. In just an instant, the boat moved, and it was the fastest rowing the father had done on his entire life. There were basketball players from Manila who played at Rizal Cement Company, one of them is the husband of a popular television talk show host. Four of them persuade each other to go boating on the lake. However, they were frightened because, from Wawa to the RCCI Compound, they spent almost 8 hours before they got off the lake! Of there boat being uncontrolled, and also because of hunger, the athletes got dizzy which started on that time, they pledged not to go back in Binangonan anymore. There was a story that Mercedita got a mortal suitor, an albularyo which the engkantada gifted the power of healing diseases. But there are others saying that it was just his propaganda to be famous in his massage, tawas and other treatments of driving away sickness and bad spirits in the body. There was another rumored story that Mercedita was a companion of a foreign priests which became the parish priest of Binangonan. There was a clandestine passage behind the altar where Mercedita fetch for a mass on their world, and accompanies him to that passage when he goes home. The engkanto friends of Mercedita sometimes go offshore going to the village and buys in the market. If you hear some kind of noise or words you can't understand, it symbolizes that there are unknown beings somewhere. If you see a woman who don't possess a philtrum, she may be Mercedita's companion. To those who don't believe, and always seek explanations, the said stone house in Batasin is true, which perhaps the cave they are talking about. It was owned by a foreign family, whose businesses in Manila are hospital and a school. They once lived in that house but they became insane, and they were hidden in public for some family reason. And, maybe, the creation of engkanto story is a warning not to go near the stone housev - now, abandoned and frightening. Elders knew ways on how to avoid children's being mischievousness and rovingness. Scary warnings: there is an engkanto on the seashore, there is a nuno sa punso in the field, there is a kapre at night. To the said clandestine passage behind the altar, according to a sakristan friend, was just the church's way to warn people not to drink the wine of the priest secretly behind the altar. Mercedita was one of the infinite story which becomes wider to many chapters as time passes by, from playful minds and transmission of tongues. by: CKH Chef july 6, 2010 CKH Chef July 6, 2010

Sources:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=130693470302612

Manananggal and Aswang in the City

Stories

[Taken from a News Website [1]:]

Manananggal gumagala sa Caloocan City (Manananggal roaming in Caloocan City) By: Gemma Amargo Nababalot ngayon ng takot ang mga residente sa isang liblib na barangay sa Caloocan City matapos na masaksihan ng mga ito ang isang lumilipad na babae na kalahati ang katawan na umaaligid sa bahay ng isang buntis, kamakalawa ng gabi. Ayon sa mga residente ng Brgy. Tala, dakong alas- 11:55 ng gabi nang makita ang lumilipad na babae na pinaniniwalaang manananggal na may mahabang buhok at matutulis na kuko at nagliliyab ang mga mata. Ang naturang manananggal, ayon pa sa mga residente ay umaaligid sa bahay ng isang Tessie Acuna, 31, na walong buwang buntis. Binanggit naman ni Mang Tomas, isang residente sa naturang barangay na hindi na bago sa kanila ang ganitong mga pangyayari dahil tatlong taon na ang nakakalipas ay sumalakay na ito sa kanilang lugar. Isang buntis din umano ang sinalakay nito at napatay. Kinuha umano nito ang puso at sanggol sa sinapupunan ng ginang. Dahil dito, muling nagsagawa nang mahigpit na pagroronda ang ilang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na armado ng matutulis na kawayan at gulok. Hindi naman umano nila makuhang humingi ng tulong sa pulisya dahil sa pangambang baka pagtawanan lamang sila ng mga ito. Two at night, the residents of the distant barangay in Caloocan City was covered with fear after they witnessed a flying woman with her half body roaming around the house of a pregnant. According to the residents of Brgy. Tala, at about 11:55 pm when they saw a flying woman, which they believe to be a manananggal, having a long hair and a pointed nails, and a flaming eyes. The said manananggal, according to the local residents, was roaming around the house of Tessie Acuna, 31, eight-months pregnant. Mang Tomas said, this was not a new story for them because three years ago the same being attact another resident in their barangay. Likewise a pregnant woman was said to be attacked and killed by this. She took her heart and unborn child from inside her body. Because of this, some groups of men armed with pointed bamboos and bolo planned again to patrol at night. They said, they can't consult help from police because they might just laugh at them.

[Taken from a News Website [2]:]

Manananggal namataan sa La Union (Manananggal seen in La Union) By: Artemio Dumlao SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Imbis na fetus ng buntis na babae ang hanapin nang namataang manananggal na lumapag sa bubong ng estasyon ng radyo sa Wallace Air Station ay pinaniniwalaang ibig nitong makita ng personal si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na dumating noong Biyernes ng umaga. Napag-alaman sa sister radio station (DZNL) ng Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) na isang security guard ng Voice of America compound ang nakakita sa kalahating katawan ng babae na lumilipad at lumapag sa bubong ng power house bandang alas-12:30 ng madaling-araw ilang oras bago dumating ang Pangulo sa nabanggit na lungsod. Kaya naman biglang kumalat na parang apoy ang balita at nagkaroon ng haka-haka ang mga residente na posibleng ibig lamang makita ng harapan ang kanyang idol na si Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo na naging kontrobersyal na "manananggal" din ng mga tiwaling opisyales ng pamahalaan. Ilan naman sa mga residente ng nabanggit na lungsod ay hindi kinagat ang kumalat na balita at ang iba naman ay nag-isip nga kung may katotohanan ang napaulat. Hindi naman kaagad nabatid kung naipagbigay-alam ang kumalat na balita sa Pangulo na nagtungo sa naturang lungsod upang bigyan ng moral support ang naisalbang dinukot na si Jakie Rowena Tiu. Magugunita na noong 1998 ay may namataan din ang residente na manananggal na umaaligid sa mga kabahayan na pinaniniwalaang naghahanap ng mabibiktima. SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union - Instead a manananggal searching for a fetus of pregnant woman, they saw her went down to the roof of a radio station in Wallace Air Station which was believed that this being just want to see President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who arrived last Friday morning. Found out from the sister radio station (DZNL) of Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) that a security guard of Voice of America compound saw the half body of a woman flying at the roof of the power house at about 12:30 am, hours before the President arrives in the city. That's why the news spread like a fire, and the residents' opinion was probably the being just want to see personaly her idol - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, which was rumored by the corrupt officials of the government to be a "manananggal" herself. But many of the local residents didn't believe on the news, and some doubted if it was true. It was not known right away if the rumor was told to the President who went to the said city to give the kidnapped Jakie Rowena Tiu a moral support. If we remember that on 1998, there was also a manananggal seen by a resident flying over the roofs of houses which was believed to be looking for a victim.

[Taken from a News Website [3]:]

Magsasaka nilapa ng aswang (A farmer attacked by an Aswang) By: Joy Cantos CAMP CRAME — Nanalasa na naman ang kinatatakutang aswang na gumagala pagkagat ng dilim sa Davao del Sur makaraang lapain nito ang isang 52-anyos na magsasaka sa Barangay San Guillermo sa bayan ng Hagonoy kamakalawa. Ang bangkay ng biktimang si Cornelio Regidor ay natagpuang tadtad ng kalmot ng matatalim na kuko sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng katawan na pinaniniwalaang kagagawan ng kampon ng kadiliman. Batay sa ulat na nakarating sa Camp Crame, natagpuan sa loob ng kanyang bahay ang duguang bangkay ng biktima na wasak ang dibdib at walang internal organ. Naniniwala naman ang mga kamag-anak ng biktima na aswang ang pumatay kay Regidor dahil walang anu­mang tama ng saksak ng patalim o bala ng baril sa katawan. Sa naunang ulat, gumagala ang aswang sa nabanggit na barangay sa tuwing gagapang ang dilim sa kalawakan kaya maaga pa lamang ay nagsisipagsara na ng kanilang mga tahanan ang mga residente. Gayon pa man, binalewala naman ng pulisya ang paniniwala ng mga residente na kagagawan ng aswang ang pagpatay sa biktima dahil walang nakasaksi na makapagpatunay na aswang nga ang responsable sa krimen. Patuloy naman ang im­bestigasyon ng pulisya upang malutas ang misteryosong pagpatay sa biktima. CAMP CRAME — The frightful aswang started to wander again whenever darkness came at Davao del Sur after attacking a 52-year-old farmer of Barangay San Guillermo in the town of Hagonoy this past two days. The corpse of the victim - Cornelio Regidor, was found full of scratches of sharp nails in any part of his body which was believed to be done by a creature of darkness. According to the news sent to Camp Crame, he was found inside his house bathed with blood, and whose thorax was totally destroyed and with missing internal organ. The relatives of the victim believe that Regidor was killed by an aswang because there was no knife stab or even a bullet of gun seen in his body. In the first report, the aswang roams on the said barangay when every night came, thus every people closes there homes early in the evening. However, the polices just ignore the belief of the residents that the victim was killed by aswang because there was no witness that can make it true that aswang was responsible with this crime. In the other hand, the polices still continue solving the mysterious death of the victim.

Sources:
[1]http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=143618
[2]http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=172673
[3]http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=46174

Aspirin between the knees....

I've previously discussed my beliefs in my other blawgs, and have drawn a pretty hard line in the sand regarding some of them. I'm a moderate who believes in the shades of grey a great deal more than a distinct black or white. That being said, I try really hard to see both sides of an issue. Case in point: the recent war regarding birth control. I got angry at the Democrats for offering only one person to speak at the religious debacle debate in front of Congress a few weeks ago. I thought one person was ridiculous, although I understand that Republicans can be assholes and may have only allowed them one person to speak--but wouldn't it have been the smart decision to bring back-ups just in case???

At any rate, the testimony they offered (which was subsequently declined by the assholes previously mentioned) was that of Sandra Fluke. She had a lot of stuff to say. None of that testimony talked about how much she loved sex (although most people do--it's kinda fun, amIright?). In fact, she declined to talk about her experiences with contraceptives. She instead focused on the stories of women who were unable to afford their contraceptives and suffered terrible consequences as a result. Stories of a woman whose polycystic ovarian syndrome got so bad (due to lack of hormonal treatment) that she grew a tennis-ball-sized cyst on her ovary and had to have the entire ovary removed. Stories of a woman who was married and couldn't afford her birth control. Stories of women who were struggling with hormonal issues and unable to secure the treatment they needed due to the fact that their medicine is also considered birth control. STORIES OF MILLIONS OF WOMEN THROUGHOUT THIS NATION.

Enter Rush Limbaugh. 

I can go ahead and tell you that I'm not the biggest Rush fan. I find him hypocritical, obnoxious, and pretty stupid. He didn't disappoint this time either. Not only did he call Ms. Fluke a slut, among other things, he also told her she prostituted herself since the government was essentially paying her to have sex. He then told her the least she could do was post videos online of herself having sex, since she had been paid to do this.

Now, I'm all for first amendment rights. That being said, I fail to see how ANYONE could defend these stupid, ridiculous, fantastical comparisons, particularly women. Enter Angela Moribito. A self-proclaimed right-winger and "100 pounds of fury," Angela not only agreed with Rush Limbaugh (something she later claimed not to have done), but she also let-er-rip with this lovely little pearl of wisdom: that Sandra Fluke will always be remembered as "a Welfare Condom Queen [sic]." Apparently, Angela thinks Ms. Fluke has chained herself to the "sinking ship of Pelosi Liberalism," while seemingly--and most ironically--not realizing she herself was chaining herself to the Titanic that was inevitably Rush Limbaugh. 

I get it--some people equate condoms/birth control with slutiness. What I fail to understand is how they've equated THIS TESTIMONY with slutiness. One thing I know for certain: the world would be a much better place with a little more sluttiness and a whole lot less judgmental assholes throwing gender-bombs at people. 

Ta-ta for now. It's time to go take my birth control. 

Free Kindle Copy of Circe

 Inspired by the haunted hospital where I did my internship, Circe touches on my favorite parts of  what makes ghost stories intriguing.  If you would like a free copy of  Circe, email your email address to me at jessica.penot@gmail.com.

Dr. Black is a good man with a few vices. He is willing to sacrifice his career for his wife, Pria. He takes an internship at a hick institution in Southern Alabama to make his wife happy, but once he is situated in this old hospital, he finds that old habits die-hard. He is sexually compulsive and easily seduced by his supervisor, Cassie, who takes him to the bowls of the institution and shows him its tragic history. As Dr. Black loses himself in his obsession with Cassie, he becomes convinced that she is the key to Circe's mythology and magic and a series of bizarre murders leaves him convinced that she has opened the gates to another world. Madness and sanity begin to blur for Dr. Black and he becomes entangled in the mystery at the heart of Circe. A mystery that's as old as the ancient hospital itself. A mystery that could incriminate Cassie, an old god, or Dr. Black himself

The Old Bryce Hospital for the Insane

Earlier this week, I wrote about the closure of all of the Alabama state psychiatric hospitals.   I thought I should do several posts in honor of the demise of such an important part of Alabama's healthcare system. After I wrote this post, I said I would do several posts on the ghosts of the Alabama psychiatric hospitals.  This is my second post in that series.  Today, I revisit Old Bryce Hospital and I add to my original post by posting two anonymous comments I got on the hospital.  These comments were wonderful to me because they describe the experiences of those who have been to and seen the ghosts of Old Bryce Hopsital for the Insane:

Alabama Hospital for the Insane was designed to be a refuge for the mentally ill. Its architecture was designed based on the ideas of Dorothea Dix and Thomas Story Kirkbride. It was meant o be moral architecture that would contribute tot he healing process within the hospital The hospital opened in 1861 and for a while it held to the ideals of Dix and Kirkbride. The first superintendent, Peter Bryce, was an idealist and he had studied mental health in Europe. He believed that patients should be treated with respect kindness. He even abandoned the use of restraints. The hospital was later named for Bryce and it went on to be the model for progressive mental health care.


Time quickly eroded Bryce' legacy, however. By 1967, there were more than 5200 patients residing in a facility that was never meant to hold that many. Observers described Bryce as a concentration camp and a model for human cruelty. In 1970, one patient named Wyatt started a class action law suit against the Alabama's other mental hospital, Searcy State Hospital. This lead to major change in the way the mentally ill were treated in Alabama. The number of beds were cut drastically and humane treatment of the mentally ill became an absolute necessity. The landmark Wyatt v. Strickney Casee would change Bryce drastically. Old Bryce was the African American portion of Bryce Hospital and was notorious for being even more cruel than its white counterpart. After Wyatt v. Strickey and desegregation, Old Bryce was shut down entirely and other buildings were used. The African American patients were integrated into the white population.

Old Bryce still sits quietly deserted, however, as a reminder to the old days when patients were held like prisoners with no rights. It is covered in graffiti and has been vandalized many times. Its even been set on fire. Trespassing is forbidden here, but the curious have reported seeing all manner of horrors coming out of the dark around Old Bryce. Lights flicker on an off in the building that has no electricity. Phones ring in rooms with no phones. Phantom lights drift from room to room. Furniture moves on its own and footsteps echo through the abandoned hallways. The living patients may be gone, but many believe Old Bryce is still filled with the ghosts of those who once suffered in its walls.

Here are two comments from Anonymous visitors to the haunted hosptial:

"I live on the side of the river where "Old" Bryce is, and I attend the U of A where "New" Bryce is. If you're out on Highway 82 coming from town, take the left before 84 Lumber (the right after it if you're coming from Coker). You go down the road a bit, and you'll see two stone entrance things (one on either side of the road). Go down to the end of the road (or where there's a huge branch in the way like it was when I was there) and you'll be able to see the building. Word of caution, there is no sign, no markers, nothing. They've almost been trying to erase its existence it seems, so keep an eye out if you go, and it is trespassing to go inside so be careful.  As of last night, I've been out there 4 times, but only down to the end of the road once (during the day at that). The first time at night, the streetlights couldn't light up the road at all, and we couldn't see anything so I panicked and turned the car around. The second time at night, I drove just past the stone things and turned on my brights but they didn't go any further than where the light from the streetlights ended(they're yellowish, not blue) and I saw blue...things, like almost hospital gowns in a way, so I chickened out and turned the car around promptly. The last time (last night actually), I drove to where I had before and turned on my brights again. My headlights flickered (they never do that) twice very quickly, and I turned the car around. Every time, I went with a friend (she didn't see the gowns), but last night she said she saw dark hands, like the darkness was crawling toward us. We'll probably go back again, but we're never getting out of the car. Haha."

"Three friends and I went there tonight. It is a very creepy place. You walk down this long stretch road that's pitch black, and the building sort of sneaks up on you. I jumped because I looked up and we were standing right in front of the asylum, when I hadn't seen it seconds before. The front lawn is littered with debris and broken glass and empty beer bottles. We walked up to the front with all of this crunching underfoot. There's absolutely no way to walk silently throughout the building. The place is in ruin. It's completely dilapidated. The floors and stairs are littered with debris, there are wires and poles hanging from the ceiling. Every last window is busted out, and in some places there were plants growing in the building. I mean, this place was just your textbook, archetypal haunted house. The place is covered with graffiti inside and out. Paintings of devils and penises and hundreds of names smear the walls. My friends and I explored the furnace room, the cafeteria, and just about every other wing of the place. Of course we hear the creepy sounds and our flashlights sent shadows flitting across the walls, which made me jump more than a few times. And overall, the place just has an haunting atmosphere. I've heard all of the stories of ghosts and seances and Satan worshipers and cult meetings, but your biggest fear should probably be cops, homeless people, and asbestos poisoning. The cops are often on patrol, and its easy to tell from a distance that there's a flashlight shining in the abandoned building, and it's completely and totally illegal to be there. I've heard first hand stories of friends entering a room and finding a homeless man sleeping, and one of my friends personally got chased out by one. And, of course, its an old rotting building, asbestos likely abounds. However, I plan to visit again. Doing research, I hear that there are other, creepier, buildings behind it. I've read of people finding lobotomy machines and masks and even some creepy drawings. I'd really love to explore some more. Overall, it's truly a haunting place. Whether or not you believe in the paranormal, it's true that hundreds have been tortured and many killed there. And, c'mon, it's a freaking abandoned insane asylum! How much cooler can that get. Definitely check it out if you get the chance."