Marcos recalls 'unsettling' childhood experiences during visits to The Mansion in Baguio

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President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recalled on Friday his childhood visits to The Mansion in Baguio City, saying he and his companions would sometimes feel an unsettling presence in the historic estate.

A few days before Undas, Marcos shared his experiences at the presidential summer residence in a video feature titled “The Baguio Mansion House Horror Stories.”

“Nung bata kami, pupunta kami diyan ‘pag Holy Week. Siguro, hindi ko alam, baka imagination lang namin, pero para kaming may nararamdaman,” the President recalled.

(When we were kids, we would go there during Holy Week. I do not know, maybe it was just our imagination, but it felt as though there was a presence.)

“‘Yung mga tumira doon, lalo na ‘yung mga bantay doon, sila mismo ang talagang nagsasabi na meron silang nararamdaman, may naririnig, may mga pangyayari na hindi nila masiyadong ma-explain,” he added.

(The people who lived there, especially the caretakers, were the ones saying that they felt something, heard things and witnessed incidents they could not quite explain.)

The Mansion was originally built as the summer residence of American governors-general. It later became the official summer residence of Philippine presidents during the Commonwealth era.

Marcos' father, the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was the country's 10th president.

The historic property has witnessed significant moments in Philippine history and sustained heavy damage during World War II, when Baguio was subjected to air raids and bombings.

Marcos also recalled the intense fighting in Baguio during the war, suggesting that the reported paranormal activity might be connected to soldiers who died there.

“Maraming na ano diyan nung giyera. Noong panahon ng giyera… matindi yung labanan sa Baguio, paakyat ng Baguio, kaya maraming sundalo diyan ang nasawi,” the President said.

(A lot happened there during the war. The fighting in Baguio and along the way up was intense, which is why many soldiers lost their lives there.)

“Maraming casualty diyan na Amerikano, Pilipino, Hapon. Kaya’t siguro yung iba doon ay naiwanan na sa Baguio at nakikibisita sa atin kapag tayo’y pumupunta doon,” he added.

(There were many casualties—Americans, Filipinos and Japanese. So perhaps some of them remained in Baguio and pay us a visit whenever we go there.)

In January 2009, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines designated The Mansion a National Historical Landmark.

In 2024, the historic property reopened to the public as the Presidential Museum, displaying memorabilia and artifacts from previous administrations. — MCG, GMA News

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