The Haunted Hotel in Ormoc

Ok I know you won't believe this but I have the pictures to prove it! I was visiting Ormoc city on the island of Leyte in the Philippines, when I stayed at a haunted hotel.

This was not a high class hotel at all. I would rate it at 1 1/2 stars although I think it was given 3 stars on Expedia. The hotel was called the Pongoss and it was situated in the heart of the city. I chose the hotel for it's convenient location to the area.

A short tuk-tuk ride brought me there in five minutes from the pier where I had arrived by boat. I had no reservation because there was no reservation system online. That should've told me something right there. But I walked into the hotel confident they would likely have a room available.

I inquired within and I was informed they had many type rooms available. I asked to see the rooms and they enthusiastically accommodated. I chose one of the best rooms in the hotel at a rate of only US$37 including all taxes. That should've told me something as well.

Initially, I was very happy with my large oversized room for such a small sum of money. If you have been following my blogs, you know how I hate to spend money on hotels, as I preferred to use my points. No points could be used in this city as there were no chain hotels.

Everything was fine that day, and went as normal as any hotel. But that night things begin to change. I woke from my sleep at about 1 AM by a noise from the hallway. At first I thought I was hearing things, and I began to doze back asleep, but suddenly I heard it again. It sounded like a woman's voice crying out, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned".

It sounded like something straight out of a William Congreve book. What was going on? I was too frightened to open my door to take a look so I phoned down to the resident clerk on duty. The lady picked up and I asked her what was going on,

She told me that it was best if I stayed in my room, especially because I was a male. And then she relayed to me the story:

50 years ago to this date, a woman was to be wed in this hotel. Her fiancé was a two timer who had other love interests. But, for money, he was to wed this young girl named Lolita. They were to be in front of a large gathering of family and friends in the lobby of this hotel. She had picked out a beautiful dress for this memorial day.

But on the day of the wedding, the scoundrel never showed up. The woman was devastated. She couldn't possibly face all of her family and friends, knowing that she was jilted at the altar. So, to save face, in her wedding dress, she lay in the bathtub, and she cut off her own head.

No, I don't know how that's physically possible, but this was the story that was relayed to me. I mean, how can you possibly cut your own head off?

But the woman at the front desk continued with the story. She said that every 10 years the woman walks the staircase at night seeking revenge on any male with whom she comes in contact. For that reason, she advised me to keep my door locked, and my mouth shut.

Naturally, I didn't believe her. I mean this was such a crazy story who would ever believe something like this. I didn't believe in ghosts, and I certainly didn't believe that a woman could cut her own head off.

I had to see for myself. So I opened my door, and I walked out into the hallway and looked up into the staircase. And what did I see?

Lolita!!!!! Oh no!

And she was getting closer:

I heard again, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned."

I turned to go back into my room, but the door was locked! How was that possible? I had the key in my hand and I never locked it!

I panicked. I must get to the reception desk for help. But when I turned to run I felt my feet slip out from under me. I had slipped on her long wedding dress train. Now I was on the floor and the headless bride Lolita was upon me. Frozen, I could not move.

I passed out. When I awoke I was standing beside the headless lady and in front of the downstairs receptionist. It turns out the receptionist was her great grand daughter. And she was also a minister in a local church.

She performed the wedding ceremony in my catatonic state and I was told to kiss the bride at the end. What? She has no lips! Besides, I never even said I do! Did it matter? I guess not!

The next thing I knew Lolita pulled out a chainsaw and came at me. I still was frozen and could do nothing. And with that, Lolita received her revenge for that day 50 years ago. She did a head transplant on me. A woman scorned indeed!