5 Places in Baguio That Were More than Just Haunted Places

Baguio has been long recognized as the ‘Summer Capital of the Philippines’ but it has also been acknowledged as a place where supernatural occurrences transpire. From the colonization era up until now, a lot of people have died in some of the most popular landmarks in Baguio. These landmarks are not only ‘haunted’ but are also historical.

Before Baguio condos were for sale, these places were their means of lodging:

Diplomat Hotel

(g1d.me)

Before being the iconic hotel where headless friars and nuns are lurking, the Diplomat Hotel served as a monastery, school and retreat house. It was established on May 23, 1915. At the peak of World War II in 1941, the place was used by refugees as a hideout from the Japanese forces. The Japanese then found the refugees and bombed the place. It was reconstructed in 1947 with its original framework intact.

As told by The Pinoy Explorer, in 1973, Diplomat Hotels Inc. acquired and renovated the place. Tony Agpaoa, entrepreneur and ‘psychic surgeon,’ managed the hotel. These were the times when Baguio condos for sale were not yet visible. When he died in 1987, the hotel’s operations came to an end.

The Diplomat Hotel shouldn’t only be remembered as a place where headless priests and nuns reside but also as a refuge for those who fought in battles during the Second World War.

Casa Vallejo

(Screenshot from Vimeo.com)

Before Baguio got pervaded by condos for sale, there was Casa Vallejo. It was built by the Americans in 1909. It is also the oldest hotel in Baguio. Casa Vallejo’s original name was Dormitory 4. It was used as a German Prisoner of War Detention Center during the WWI in 1917 and shelter for civil workers when the Americans were developing Baguio as a vacation spot.

In 1923, it was turned into a quaint hotel by Spanish soldier Salvador Vallejo, thus the name Casa Vallejo. What makes it even more remarkable is that it survived the WWII bombings. It was damaged but Vallejo insisted on putting it back together. The hotel has been operating ever since.

Its 107 years of existence is probably the reason why it is identified as a haunted place but more than that, Casa Vallejo is Baguio’s testimony of history and heritage.

Teacher’s Camp

(Wikipedia.org)

Teacher’s camp was founded by William H. Pack and Morgan W. Shuster in 1908. It was a vacation normal school, a place where teachers were trained. Tents were pitched which served as classrooms. From these camping sites, the Americans then built additional facilities and turned the tents into dormitories. Up until now, Teacher’s Camp still serves as a training ground for teachers all over the country. It also offers affordable lodging if you’re trying to avoid an expensive Baguio condo for sale.

There were accounts that claimed Teacher’s Camp was a burial place of the mass killings during the Second World War, but also keep in mind that this place served as a training ground for educators throughout history.

Camp John Hay

(philippines-travel-guide.com)

The open space was first owned by native Mateo Cariño before being turned into Hill Station (now known as Camp John Hay) by Capt. Robert Rudd during the Philippine-American War.

In 1903, US President Theodore Roosevelt designated the place for the US Military Army’s exclusive use. WWII started in 1941 when the Japanese bombed over the Main Gate of Camp John Hay.

The Japanese made use of Camp John Hay at that time as a prison camp for Americans. This served as the headquarters of General Tomoyuki Yamashita.

On September 3, 1945, the Japanese occupation halted with the surrender of General Yamashita. The site was again in the possession of the Americans.

The camp finally came into the hands of the Philippine Government in 1991. It has been a tourist attraction ever since. 

Aside from the ghost sightings and loud wailings that surround the site, Camp John Hay is a significant piece of American history in the Philippines. 

Hyatt Terraces Hotel

(chuvaness.com)

In 1978, Heinrich Maulbecker, a German hotelier and resident manager of Hyatt Bangkok, was tasked by his bosses to check out a property called Baguio Terraces. Maulbecker was sent because his bosses were eyeing the viability of rebranding the establishment. The hotel successfully transitioned into a 5-star Hyatt Hotel. Back in the days, this was the kind of place that vacationers would sojourn to when a Baguio condo was not yet for sale. 

The hotel collapsed on July 16, 1990 when Baguio was struck with an earthquake. According to GMA News, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the area where at least 80 people died. The once high-spirited home of vacationers met a tragedy and was considered as one of the most haunted places in Baguio from that point forward.

More than being popular because of the 1990 Baguio earthquake, Hyatt Terraces Hotel was a pristine and lively place where several families spent their Holidays together.