OKA TOKAT! KWENTONG BATA

When I was in grade school, one of our favorite past times during recess or if the teacher is not around is to talk about horror stories – based on personal experience and stories conveyed through mouth. There were stories about “kapre”, “tiyanak”, flying coffin, dwarfs, ghosts, and the most common stories about “aswang” transformation to a wild pig or large dog. And when we were in grade four, we also tried the “Spirit of the Glass” and “Spirit of the Coin.”

Then if we found out that we are talking about “aswang” and other “malignos” on Friday, suddenly somebody will exclaim, “Beware. Today is Friday. They might be listening to us.” We had this belief that “aswang” might be listening to our conversation if we talk about ‘em especially on Fridays. We were just grade school then, so we believed whatever stories our classmates share to us.

I really like talking, reading and watching horror stories since I was in grade school. It’s mysterious, adventurous and exciting. I could remember that there were two Tagalog horror movies I watched on TV and I had nightmares after watching ‘em – I saw the same scene from the movie in my dreams. The movies were “Anak ng Demonyo” starred by the young Ian Veneracion and "Elias Paniki" starred by Ramon Revilla Sr.

I came from a province where folklores and myths are still lurking, far from the city, no cables and we are satisfied from watching the local channels (today some of the households already have cables). When I was a child and we don’t have yet a TV in our home, there used to be an American horror TV show titled “Friday the 13th” aired on Channel 9. Later on, when I was already in grade school, on Channel 2 there was a show “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” aired every Friday. When I was in HS, I always watch Oka Tokat! every Tuesday night. Later on, Oka Tokat! Magazines were also published. Then there used to have a Taglish horror show (I forgot the title) aired every Monday night hosted by a gym-buffed guy. On Channel 5, there was a show “Fact Or Fiction”. After the defunct Oka Tokat! on Channel 2, when I was in college, I used to watch Nginiiig every Saturday afternoon. I usually have PE class on Saturdays. I would then go home as early as I can just not to miss the episode.

I’m turning 23 and I don’t have yet that extreme and horrifying experience from ghosts, “aswang” and other unwanted creatures lurking on earth. Though I already saw a ghost (as what I believed ‘twas a ghost and ‘twas actually my late grandmother) and then the other was a man whom I assumed was my father. ‘Twas already time for dinner and the surrounding was covered by darkness because of black out and our father was outside our home. So I decided to go outside to call him. The moment I opened the door, I saw a man in white shirt and assumed that he was my father because the man was wearing the same color with my father. And I shrieked, “Father, it’s time for dinner.” There was no reply from him and I decided to close again the door and went back to the dining table because I thought he (my father) will gonna use the door at the back. Then when my father arrived, I asked him, “Father, were you the one I saw outside and whom I talked to?” He said “No.”