It appears that the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) is also haunted by ghosts – not by ghosts like the flood control projects, but by actual ghosts spooking out visitors and residents alike.
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. was interviewed on a DZMM radio program on Thursday to discuss the agency’s e-dalaw initiative, which allows inmates to virtually visit the resting places of their departed loved ones for the commemoration of All Souls’ Day.
But instead of the discussion focusing solely on the program, the conversation turned into a Halloween special after Catapang revealed that they would be holding a Holy Mass at the NBP cemetery, as many ‘souls’ roam the grounds.
‘Of course, there are souls whom we need to pray for also [.] that’s why on Sunday, we will hold Mass at our cemeteries, including all those in our penal colonies, so that we can celebrate their lives,’ Catapang said in Filipino. ‘Because you know, BuCor is very famous for ghost stories.’
Catapang then said that even his residence, dubbed the ‘White House,’ has been haunted so badly that a priest refused to bless the area alone, saying he needed reinforcements.
‘In the area where I reside, there is a White House inside BuCor, with its own quarters [.] it is literally a White House because you cannot turn off the lights. Once you turn the lights off, the ghosts will come out,’ Catapang noted.
‘There was even a priest who visited because of several incidents. The priest said, ‘Sir, there are many souls here,’ since he seemed to be experienced in exorcism. But then the priest said, ‘Sir, I can’t do this alone, I need two more priests to calm down the spirits here.’ That’s true, no joke – you can even ask the priest we talked to,’ he added, speaking in Filipino.
The advice given to him, Catapang said, was to spray holy water over his bed before sleeping.
‘There are many lost souls in our cemetery at BuCor. You know, of course, a lot of people died there, for reasons we can’t always explain. Some said they just suddenly died because of COVID, remember?’ he said.
‘That’s the reason – one of my housemates once turned off the light, even though we warned him not to. When he did, he saw someone staring at him. That’s why when I sleep, I follow the advice: ‘Sir, get some holy water and spray it on your bed for protection,” he added.
Ghost stories have long been tied to the observance of All Souls’ Day due to its connection with Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead, which is celebrated in Mexico.
But the Roman Catholic Church has frowned upon the proliferation of ghost stories during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, believing that such practices undermine the solemnity of the commemoration.
Just this Sunday, Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy called on Catholics to reclaim the ‘true Christian meaning’ of Halloween by celebrating holiness instead of ‘horror.’
In his pastoral message titled ‘Children of God, Not of Darkness,’ the Cebu prelate urged parents, teachers, and parish leaders to guide children in choosing costumes and activities that reflect Christian virtues.
‘Let us guide our children to dress as saints, not as demons; as angels, not as monsters,’ Uy said. ‘Let their joy reflect the beauty of holiness, not the ugliness of sin.’
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines as early as 2019 has called on Filipinos to focus on the solemnity of commemorating All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day – ruing the public ‘gimmick’ in lieu of celebrating ‘Undas.’