Teacher's Camp, Baguio: The Philippines' Most Haunted Heritage Site

The Spooky Past and Ghostly Whispers of Baguio, Teachers Camp

Perched at Leonard Wood Road in the Philippines' summer capital, Teachers Camp stands on top of a colonial treasure and spine-tingling ghost stories. Its early start in 1908 as an American and Filipino teachers' training camp (most especially the "Thomasites") belies a tempestuous past behind the camp's peaceful exterior which upholds its reputation as the country's most haunted haunt.

A Foundation Enveloped by Dark Legends (1908–1941)

Governor William Pack ordered the construction of the camp in December 1907 on the Old Igorot property called O-ring-ao. W. Morgan Shuster drew up the plans for the camp, which opened in April 1908 with tents serving as classrooms and dormitories. The first permanent structures like Benitez Hall and White Hall were seen by 1910, their Folk Victorian architecture containing modern ghost stories. Between 1936–1941, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) occupied the grounds, adding a military element to its presence before World War II erupted.

Wartime Trauma: The Heart of the Hauntings (1942–1945)

During the Second World War, Teachers Camp was converted into a military hospital where atrocities were perpetrated. Historical accounts and local lore alike verify that it was turned into a torture camp, beheading ground, and where hundreds were buried in mass graves. This period of suffering is generally believed to have "marked" the location with troubled spirits, transforming idyllic cottages into hotbeds of supernatural activity.

Modern Resilience & Eerie Legacy

Fixed during the post-war years, Teachers Camp resumed its academic function by 1947. Conceded a national heritage in 2008, it currently houses teachers' seminars and affordable public accommodations. Yet its past is never forgotten: cold areas persist in corridors, and whispers echo near WWII structures like General Luna Hall.

The Ghosts That Never Left

Years of reports from visitors, staff, and ghost hunting supporters confirm persistent, monstrous apparitions:

The Headless Priest: A ghostly figure often spotted roaming corridors, whose origins remain a mystery but are linked to sadistic wartime rites.

The Love-Sick Igorot: A spirit of native lore said to trail young women back to the dorms and watch over them while they sleep—a sinister combination of loneliness and fear.

The 3 AM Blood-Soaked Woman: Dozens of guests have been awakened by a blood-soaked female apparition hovering over their bed, whose story is unknown but whose terror is instant.

Outside visual interactions, guests hear screams in empty hallways, ghostly footsteps, and objects moving out of place. Others describe sleepwalking experiences or feelings of possession—especially in old cottages and near the abandoned oval.

Living with Legends: A Resident's Perspective

Ironically, the camp is also home to longtime residents like author Nixx Reyes, who calls it a "sanctuary." Even after midnight walks across its pine woods, she's never seen a ghost—although she jokes about seeking them out. That hypocrisy defines Teachers Camp: a place of community and heritage, where loveliness and horror mingle in the mountain mist.

Today, travelers can afford budget accommodations (₱300/night), walk along its heritage trails, and decide for themselves if the coolness of the air is just Baguio's weather. or something far, far older, and far, far darker