Greetings!

We are Ma. Cristen Gabriel, Karren Gail Alvarez and Jeramie Mariell Saguinsin, students of Far Eastern University, Philippines and we are undertaking AB Mass Communication as a degree. We are enrolled in a Journalism course, in particular, Investigative Reporting. In line with this, we have to do a research on a certain topic and conduct an interview with a foreign expert. Our Investigative report is entitled Babae sa Balete Drive (White Lady in Balete Drive).

Babae sa Balete Drive is one of the famous Urban Myths in the Philippines. A lot of presumptions on the place were drawn by the people who were able to watch, hear and read about the mysteries regarding the white lady in Balete Drive.

In line with this, we would like to ask you these questions;
1. Why do some people do not believe that paranormal exists?
2. Is there a photographic evidence of ghosts? Or videos?
3. Is there any other way to confirm or prove that ghosts really exist?
4. Why do they exist?
5. Tendencies of spirits. What these spirits or ghosts can do to human, animal or thing?
6. Can ghosts hurt people?
7. Why do you think the white lady appears in that place (Balete Drive).
8. Is there any way to communicate with her/them?
9. Do you think she mean to scare people?
10. What can we do to help her rest in peace and stop her apparition or from appearing in that place?

Thank you very much!

There aren't any experts in ghosts, only those with a lot of experience in the paranormal or supernatural.

Most "experts" in this field are self proclaimed . And there is no definition that I know of for an expert in this field.

But as someone who has had a keen interest and spent a lot of time and effort over the last 35 years studying and investigating when possible, paranormal events, I will try to answer your questions.

1. Some do not believe because of their religion that forbids belief in such things. Some are not willing to believe anything that cannot be recreated in a laboratory and studied. Some because they do not understand what it really is.
This is a question for each individual really can't be generalized.

2. There are tons of photographs and video claiming to be of ghosts and such. Many have been proven to be faked or altered.
There are also many that when studied by photograph experts are found to be untouched, but the content cannot be absolutely said to be a ghost. Just unexplained.

3. I don't think there is a way to prove on a basis accepted by everyone that ghosts , spirits , demons, devils, angles, or the like exsist.
But with thousands upon thousands of reports of these things happening all over the world every day. There is something more that needs to be seriously studied.

4. I will not attempt to say why they exist. Personally I have experienced this and will attest they do. No clue of why.

5. The effect they can have on humans and/or animals is subject to what stories you choose to believe. Everything from slaps, scratches, being pushed all the way up to causing death in a few cases have been reported. Much much more study and verification should be done before any solid conclusions should be drawn.
The only clear and true effect is they cause fear and confusion mostly.

6. Questions 5 and 6 essentially are the same. Or you can clarify.

7. I will look into this and give you an opinion as soon as I can. As this also includes questions 9 and 10 . I will try to back to you soon about these.

8. Many believe they can hear them, many believe they can communicate with them. If a tape recorder is left on and questions asked it is said that you can hear responses on the tape . This is called E V P (electronic voice phenomena) and has been widely documented. Still the results are open speculation.


All of the questions we have about the paranormal are just now being studied and facts being gathered and looked at.
I don't think any conclusions can be drawn as to what they are, why they are here, and what affects they can have , with any amount of credibility on a scientific basis because of the lack of being able to recreate and study them at will.

I will say that from personal experience and the overwhelming amount of reports , by all kinds of people from every country in the world the paranormal is a part of our lives that exists all around us yet is one of the greatest mysteries we will encounter , and may never be able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt it exists. Or that it doesn't.

Personally , I believe it , have experienced it, and would like to know much much more about it.

I hope this helps you to some extent , and keep looking in here and I will get back to you with the remaining questions.

It seems that the White Lady of Balete Drive is quite a famous haunting
In Quezon City.

It is said that the entire area , including some of the dwellings
In that area (buitl during the Spanish era . 19th century)
Are subject to hauntings. The White Ladt being the most famous.

She is most often encountered by motorists driving through at night
And find her in the rear seat of thr car. Usually spotted in the rear view mirror.
The reports say she is dressed in a white nightgown and has no face
Or her face is covered in blood.

Some invesigators believe it is the ghost is a lady who was raped
And killed by japanese soldiers during WW2.

So the answers to your questions:

7. It is widely believed that when a person is killed suddenly and voiolently
That the spirit , or energy remains at that spot. Some say it is trying
To let others know what happened , or the spirit is confused and doesn't
Know what to do. These are the most commly accepted answers about placement.

9. If it is a spirit of a person I don't think the objective is to scare people.
There may be no objective if it is a soul trapped here for some reason , or it may
Be trying to let others know what happened , or to warn them of danger.
According to other ideas, it may by a demonic entity that is wanting to cause
Fear and misery among the living because a demon is evil and its purpose is
To cause ngativity in any way possible. This is not widely accepted in this case.

10. This is seen from many different aspects.
It is said that the spirit can be told it is dead and needs to move on.
Some say prayers and blessings will help to move the spirit onto where
It needs to go.
But many others will say that attempting to contact or communicate with
Spirits , can cause them to become attached to the people or persons
Attempting the contact and gives them more power to posses or control.
There are many claims that people who have strong faith in their religion
Or belief in God (by whatever name they choose to believe in Him) can call
Upon that power to be channeled through them and either help it on its way
Or command it go by the power sent through them.


There are many things going on around us all that we may never understand
Or explain. And any attempts to contact or interact should be taken seriously
And done by those who understand the potential risk and danger this may represent