𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝗜𝗻-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝗧𝗦𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗦 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Report by Diya Gurung | Graphics by Jayane Leslie Feliciano | Layout by Leanna Kaylee Manuel

In team headquarters and in-house trainings, athletes of Tarlac State University (TSU) pour themselves to hours and days of labor in their so-called “second home,” a place where they dedicate their time honing their skills and strategies, strengthening camaraderie, and celebrating triumphs. However, behind giving their best play and showing spine-chilling performances, their scary experiences in their headquarters cast a shadow over their safe space. From flickering of lights and strange noises to sightings of shadow people following their steps—these are some of what sends the real shiver down their spines.

A volleyball player from the TSU Women’s Volleyball Team shared her scary experiences when they had their first in-house training of 2023 at the College of Public Administration and Governance’s second floor. According to her, the first week of training was normal not until she heard the sound of someone trying to force open a doorknob from the male’s comfort room. She thought someone had been locked inside, so she called for assistance from her other teammates. However, when they tried to open the door, it felt like someone from inside was pushing it, so they left it. The doorknob started to make a noise again, and they were able to open the door—there was nothing but empty cubicles and their spooky feelings.

Haunted by their first experience, she thought that it would also be the last, but more eerie events occurred since then. Such as sightings of a child they named “Precious” who walked by their windows and was behind another teammate during their open forum, and two big shadows following her. 

Their ghostly encounters left them with a lasting haunt before their in-house training in the CPAG building wrapped up. She said she acted tough enough to use their restroom alone at 9 P.M. and she felt a bit easy ‘cause she saw two of her teammates outside. Still, after leaving the restroom and entering their room, she was met with her two other roommates running away from her in fear, asking her if she entered the room with someone. Confused, she checked her two other teammates, one of whom was crying, having seen a lot of unknown people following her out of the restroom. Even after a prayer, sightings of shadow people continued to shiver their nerves, as well as violent scratch marks and the start of her sleep paralysis.

Their team trained harder to get a head start in The State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA), they held their in-house training at the TSU Hostel where she said that “expected na namin na mas maraming paramdam dahil sa mga kwento ng mga nakapag-checked-in na sa hostel.” Their stay at the hostel was indeed also a head start to more frightful experiences as they experienced moving chairs from next door, sudden closing of lights, and strange noises whenever they tried to sleep.

In the bathroom, the door alarm went off while she was brushing her teeth which indicated that there’s someone out the door but no one was there. But moments later, when she saw someone through the door opening, the door alarm did not go off which freaked her out and disturbed her teammates in the shower. Crying in fear, she didn’t want to tell her teammates what she saw.

“‘Te, nakikita mo rin ba yung paa?” her teammate asked, sending a shot of panic among them. Everyday, she went through sleep paralysis and was always being followed by a big man who she has also seen in her dreams.

Moreover, the comfort room of the College of Arts and Social Sciences building also gave them a chilling experience during their in-house training for Intramural 2023. While inside with another teammate, the doorknob suddenly rattled, and when gathered the courage to open the door, they found two teammates, who had tried to open the door, thinking someone was trapped inside due to the rattling doorknob—knowing they did not touch the doorknob before opening it.

In their sanctuary called “team headquarters,” they have not only felt the exhaustion of rigorous training but also the presence and activities of the unknown being in their “safe space.” Whether their unsettling experiences has compelled them to face their fears and become braver athletes, a manifestation of their tired mind, or just something to give them the heebie-jeebies, this volleyball athlete showed that despite these experiences in team headquarters, an athlete overcomes its challenges and follows their dreams—or these shadow people will follow you.