‘Spirits’ roam suicide drop zone

The Marcelo Fernan bridge. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

In between songs played at full volume in nearby karaoke bars and the honking of cars, Bernadette Atig can sometimes hear the sound of a woman’s scream at dawn.

Atig, her husband Conrado and their three children are living under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in sitio San Roque, barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City for seven years.

A native of Zamboanga City, Atig is a housewife while her husband works as a machine operator at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ).

When they first moved to the area, Atig learned from neighbors about men and women who died after jumping off the bridge.

“I’m told that these people had problems with their love lives and families,” she said.

Otherworldly

Before the Fernan bridge was built, dead bodies were dumped into the grassy area.

Atig’s house is located there along with some karaoke bars and an eatery.

Thus it was no surprise that she and her family had their share of otherworldly experiences.

Atig recalled one such experience while taking a bath at 3 a.m.

“I felt someone behind my back. When I looked back, I saw a shadow of a woman,” Atig said.

Terrible

She recalled having goosebumps when she saw the shadow of a woman with long hair.

The following day, Atig heard a woman crying while she was lying in bed.

“Luoy kaayo siya paminawn kay sige siya ug bakho. Kanang naa jud siyay grabeng naagi-an ba (She sounded pitiful because she kept on crying, like she experienced something terrible),” she said.

“Wala man mga namatay or gipatay sad diri sa amo-ang balay. Mas motuo ko nga kaning mga nagparamdam namo usa sa mga biktima sauna (No one died or got killed in our house. I believe that those who were making their presence felt by us were victims before),” she said.

Atig said she learned from neighbors that a woman’s body was chopped and found inside a plastic bag.

Her remains were recovered at the grassy area.

Nervous

Last week, Atig shared that her five-year-old daughter cried when they were about to sleep.

Her daughter told her that she saw a woman dressed in white sitting in front of her crying. However her daughter didn’t see what her face was like.

“I was really scared because my daughter did not stop crying. My daughter told me what she saw and I started to get nervous,” she added.

She explained to her daughter that the woman may have been crying because she was scolded by her parents.

Atig said she later asked the female spirit not to scare her daughter and visit her in her dreams instead.

Atig then asked a faith healer to help them but was told to go to church.

Mass was held at home and the priest who officiated also put incense at the house.

“They are now in my prayers. I always pray for them to find eternal peace and happiness with our God,” she added.

On All Souls Day in Nov. 2, Atig said she plans to offer a Mass and prayers to those souls who died at the bridge area.

Prior to moving to Cebu City, Atig said she had a paranormal encounter back home in 2000.

Different aura

She said she worked at a factory and had a female friend who was possessed at the time.

She said she took her friend to her rented home in Zamboanga City and then sensed the spirit possessing her.

She said it wasn’t a human spirit but a spirit that lives under a big tree.

Atig said the spirit liked her friend and used her to tell her friend that he liked her.

“I had a male voice and unexplained strength. The possession lasted four days and the church helped me,” she said.

Because of that experience, Atig said she has developed a sense for detecting the presence of spirits.

“Lahi ra jud ang aura ug naa na sila or wala. Kung naa sila sa palibot, makulbaan ka, manlimbawt ang imong balhibo, unya mamugnaw ka (It’s a different aura whenever they’re around. When they’re around, you experience fear, goosebumps,” Atig told Cebu Daily News.