My grandmother has an extraordinary gift. She can see ghosts, demons, and different kinds of entity and creatures that cannot be seen on a naked eye. She has a third-eye and some people called it sixth sense. It’s one of the gifts that were given to her since birth and along with that gift is a curse.
I call her lola(grandma) Bebot , and she is 'manghihilot’ and manicurist in our place. Some called her Bebot and some called her Bobot. The reason why I cannot disclose her real name is for private reason. She doesn't want to get attention and be celebrated because of her stories and unique gifts. She just wants to live a peaceful and quite life, away from all the drama and noise of this world.
A lot of our neighbors would ask for her service and when I'm still young she always bring me as she goes up to their houses and give manicures, pedicures and ‘hilot’ (massage). And ever since while I'm with my lola 'Bebot' she would always share to me her experiences and adventures in her younger years. Stories that are out of ordinary, supernatural experiences that is beyond our imagination.
And one of them is this story, she told me that long time ago she used to be part of a group. This group is a group of faith healers where most of them were women, some were young and old men, there are even few children. They reached more than a hundred in numbers and they all came from far flung areas in Negros Oriental. A lot of people who seek for help where healed and cured of their illness that's the reason why most of the people would go there so they will be cured. Most of the cured patients would stay and commit themselves become a disciple while the rest of them traveled from afar to master the art of faith healing.
They have their gathering in one of the remote area in East Balabag, Valencia, Negros Oriental called Fatima Chapel, an old chapel where it can no longer be found to this present day. Lola Bebot and the others would stay there for a month before the start of Holy Week also known as ‘Semana Santa.’ They do incantations, chants, rosary, healing; reading of the book called Almanake; gathering of herbs in remote areas in the middle of the forest; making potions, smoking of incense and many others.
The incident of what I am about to tell you happened way back in the first week of April 2002 where lola Bebot and her fellow friends embark on a journey that they will never forget. She and her cousin Angeline joined the group and went there to take part in the preparation of the Holy Week. They met the elder and the leader of the group whom they called Nanay Diding. Nanay Diding is not only a faith healer; she’s also a soothsayer and a palm reader. “Bangiitan na mananambal” that’s what they usually say according to lola Bebot.
The chapel where they used to gather was surrounded with lots of different kinds of trees. Among the trees on their surroundings are huge and tall grass called ‘cogon’ that reaches more than eight feet. They have their quarters where some of the members would sleep and do most of their work. At the back of their living quarters were filled with jackfruit trees. And a few meters from their quarters was their comfort room.
On that said faithful night was full moon. It was around 8 to 9 o’clock in the evening, where lola Bebot and her friend, Susan were about to pee.
As they were about to go to the comfort room, Lola Bebot took the detour at the back of their living quarters where amidst jackfruit trees and many other tall bulwarking trees filled the area. Susan told her not to take route at the back but lola Bebot persisted. Her friend Susan was not taking chances of the danger that lurks around the area so she took the other way around in front of their living quarters. As lola Bebot and her friend was done they were about to return to the living quarters, while they were on their way back lola Bebot saw something glistening and floating in the dark in the middle of the jackfruit trees like an orb. The object was indescribable. Out of her curiosity, she tried to get close to it trying to see of what was there. Susan, who’s starting to get a strange feeling about it, told her not to get close to it. “Bebot, do not go there!” Susan warned. “Stop staring at it or it will taunt you.” But lola Bebot was curious and drawn with it as she was transfixed with the glimmering light amidst the dark.
When she got closer, she saw a woman, as pale as the moonlight clothed in white linen with such a long hair. As lola Bebot got even closer, she saw the woman with her feet not touching the ground and the woman was floating in the midair staring directly at her and gazing at her every move.
It gives a chill right through her bones down to her spine! Lola Bebot frightened out of her wits ran straight to their living quarters and went to the stock room. Not knowing what to do because of panic, she immersed herself inside the barrel filled with Holy Water. Her friend, Susan who catches up with her found lola Bebot under the barrel. “What are you thinking? What are you doing with the Holy Water?” Susan exclaimed. “I’m bathing myself with Holy Water Susan so that white lady can’t come near me.” Lola Bebot answered. Susan retorted, “That’s what you get of your stubbornness Bebot. You always get yourself into trouble because of it.” Lola Bebot would always tell me that jackfruit trees lures demonic and different kinds of entities because they like to wander around and dwell on it because of its sweet aroma that it offers.
Two days after that incident lola Bebot tried to forget everything that she saw during that Tuesday night and moves on. She put all the things aside and continue with their daily lives working and preparing some herbs.
It was Thursday as lola Bebot and five of her friends named, Angeline, Alice, Muying, and Nanay Maria where downstairs gathering piles of wood barks, branches and shoots for medicine. They work tirelessly from morning until nightfall has arrived. As they were packing their things, lola Bebot saw something unexpected.
She saw a man with such dark skin with fur all over his body. The man’s face looks hideous with eyes where blazing red. It has wings that spread all over as it lands on top of the coconut tree. Suddenly the wind blows out of nowhere that gives chill as the creature jumps through the near bamboo trees engulfed area. The man crawls upside down, giving a shrilling voice.
Lola Bebot told her friends, “Do you want to see what I see?” she grabs the wrist of her two friends, Nanay Auring and Nanay Maria. Alice sat beside at their back as they hold lola Bebot. Lo and behold, they saw the odd-looking creature. “My God! My God!” nanay Maria exclaimed. They were all terrified with what they saw.
From then on lola Bebot never went back to that dreadful place. It’s been sixteen years that had pass since then the chapel has been demolished and is no longer without a trace.
I strongly believe that we are not the only beings living on this earth. There are two worlds that exist, the earthly plain and the spiritual plain also known as the supernatural. On this world that we live, there are creatures and entities that exist that cannot be explained and proven by science. Science is too young to understand these things. Science still cannot prove their existence so they deny their very own existence but it doesn’t mean that it’s not true. Because of human pride and arrogance we rely too much of our own ability but never give credit to the ones who give us this life and the one that sustains us, also the gifts and abilities that we have which all came from God.
Evil is real and so is good. If evil is real, so is Satan and his fallen angels and God with his holy and mighty angels in heaven. There were one third of fallen angels that were banished from God because of their rebellion and since then on the world was filled them. They’re here and they work day and night to drag humanity down into the pit of hell-fire along with them. What lola Bebot saw and encountered are just one of the minions of the dark forces.
We are constantly battling against them and people are unaware of why the world has become like this corrupted, crooked and evil. We only have two choices to fight them or to be overcome by evil.
There is darkness and there is light. If there is light then there is also goodness. It all depends in what we choose, to be in darkness or to be in light. The battle is no ordinary and there is no power in this world or any human might can win this.
That’s why Peter wrote,
'Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you. Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. '
1 Peter 5:6-10
Our mortal souls will be battling over this and I will tell you now that there's is no chance of winning if we fight this battle in our own, in our own human capacity and human strength for we are corrupted and limited being. It is only through the power of the Most High God, who's power is absolute. The only one who can overcome, protect us and cast away evil through his Holy Name. However, this is possible, we have hope and that is with the Almighty God through his son Jesus Christ. Christus Adonai in Latin also known as Yehoshua Rabbi Mellech HaMoshiach in Hebrew. With our spiritual weapon that He gave and shared to us which is His Word and that is the Holy Bible.
This is called spiritual battle, the battle against these dark forces of evil and even apostle Paul wanred us of this.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
- Ephesians 6:10-13 KJV
I did not write this just to preach but I wrote this because I have my fair share of this spiritual battle and the experience of supernatural and I want everyone to know that they exist. They are real and they will stop at nothing until they will overcome you. The question is, are you equipped enough to fight and defend yourself from them?