SNEAK PEEK: INVESTIGATING NIGHTTIME AT CRETECIO BOARDING HOUSE IN

CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

BALA, JEZIEL C.

BALABAG, JEREMAE D.

CASUELA, PRINCESS KAYE CELESTE G.

DENSING, JANARIE C.

FONTANOS, HANIE MAE C.

JEMONG, BEVERLY J.

LLOREN, RHIZA MABELLE I.

TAN, CHRISTINE C.

VELBESTRE, MARC ANTHONY Y.

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE

EDUCATION,
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE

MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE (LED 58)

MAY 2023
INTRODUCTION

The art of narrative storytelling has been nurtured throughout history and across
diverse civilizations. Filipinos have a profound appreciation for storytelling, and this
study aims to offer a comprehensive exploration of a particular manifestation of folklore
within the Philippine context, specifically at Central Mindanao University. Folklore holds
a vital position within the cultural heritage, encompassing a vibrant line up of tales,
beliefs, and customs that have been passed down through generations within specific
regions. Local folklore plays a significant involvement in preserving cultural heritage
and fostering a sense of belonging by encapsulating the collective imagination,
transmitting cultural values, and providing a shared narrative that connects individuals
to their community and ancestors.

Many folklore traditions are prone to disappear due to various factors such as
globalization, urbanization, and cultural assimilation. The research problem lies in the
urgent need for comprehensive documentation and preservation strategies to safeguard
these rich cultural expressions and history before they are lost forever.

This study holds significance across various disciplines, contributing to various

aspects like literature, cultural preservation, and social development. It provides
valuable insights into cultural diversity, historical contexts, as well as our identity and in
community. By conducting this study, it would enrich our understanding of human
culture and contribute to the preservation and appreciation of our collective heritage.

In the study conducted by Smith and Johnson (2018) when they explored the role
of folklore in cultural identity formation among a specific indigenous community, folklore
played a significant role in preserving and reinforcing cultural values, transmitting
historical knowledge, and fostering a sense of belonging and pride within the
community. The findings highly emphsized the importance of folklore as a means of
cultural preservation and identity continuation. Now, in terms of child's development,
folktales have been seen as something beneficial. According to Brown and Garcia
(2020), exposure to folktales enhance children's cognitive skills, including language
development, problem-solving abilities, and moral reasoning. The researchers also
found that folktales contributed to the development of empathy, cultural understanding,
and the formation of moral values in children. This signifies the psychological impact of
folktales on children's cognitive and socio-emotional development.

Ultimately, studying folklore is important for understanding cultural identities, historical

contexts, human universals, social dynamics, and contemporary relevance. Throughout
our lives, folklore becomes an intrinsic part of human culture. It enriches our
understanding of the human experience, fosters cultural appreciation, and promotes
intercultural dialogue and understanding. By exploring the depths of folklore, we gain
valuable insights into the complex tapestry of human culture and its enduring legacy.It
provides insights into the beliefs, values, and experiences of diverse communities,
offering a glimpse into their history, social dynamics, and the human condition itself.

Background of the Study

The verbal, spiritual, and material facets of any culture that are passed down
orally, through observation, or through imitation are collectively referred to as folklore,
according to Edgar (2012). Folk tales are a collective term for various types of
conventional stories. The telling of stories seems to be a cultural universal, present in
both simple and advanced societies. Comparative studies of themes and narrative
structures have been successful in demonstrating these relationships, and folktale
forms themselves are unquestionably comparable across cultural boundaries.
Additionally, it is regarded as a universal oral tale. Folklore is typically passed down
orally. The indigenous tribes that still exist in the Philippines have a high prevalence of
oral traditions. Students of folk literature essentially record and interpret the tales that
members of a tribe tell them. There are numerous ways to preserve our elders'
knowledge, and those methods are not inaccessible to anyone who would like to use
them. People who share a culture may also be related by occupation, language,
ethnicity, age, or place of residence. This body of traditional knowledge is kept and
passed down from one generation to the next, with continual variations influenced by
memory, the present-day need or purpose, and the level of individual talent. English
antiquarian William John Thoms introduced the term folklore in 1846 to take the place of
popular antiquities. Folklore, according to other authors, is the collection of expressive
culture that includes stories, music, dance, legends, oral histories, proverbs, jokes,
common beliefs, customs, and more within a specific population. It also includes oral
traditions that are part of that culture, subculture, or group. Additionally, it is the set of
customs that allows for the exchange of those expressive genres. Folkloristics is a term
used to describe the academic study of folklore, which is typically ethnographic.

The term "myth" has become more and more commonly used to refer to untrue
stories in the modern era as a result of the increasing influence of rational scientific
worldviews. However, this definition of the term makes the erroneous assumption that
modern scientific analysis techniques are the final arbiter of what is and is not real. On
the other hand, mythic storytellers of the past and present have frequently assumed that
reality is too complex to understand through the use of any one method of analysis and
have therefore heavily relied on stories to give a glimpse of that complexity. For them,
accounts of observable facts were less real than stories about mythical worlds in a
significant way. These storytellers acknowledged that only a small number of specially
gifted visionaries could directly see the creatures living in mythical worlds and the
events occurring there. However, they also made reference to the unspoken links
between these mythical realities and the commonplace individuals, locations, objects,
and events that they and their audiences encountered on a daily basis. Every culture
has an important role in myths. These are used to provide an explanation for the
genesis of things and phenomena that helped a certain civilization develop. These have
occasionally also been used to explain extraordinary events that take place all over the
world. People turn to mythology, the study, and interpretation of stories and myths which
have to do with human circumstances and phenomena, to better understand these
written works (Mark, 2018). It should come as no surprise that myths contain
representations of the beginning of human habitation, or of humanity in general, as well
as testaments to death, vengeance, human suffering, and fragility among nearly all
other universal abstractions. (Eugenio, 2007). The distinction between myth and legend
highlights that both types of mythic stories establish more or less subtle connections
between familiar, daily life experiences and worlds that are directly visible only to a few,
uniquely endowed visionaries. Myths emphasize the invisible, yet they also hint that
mythic reality strongly influences everyday human realities, even if most of us cannot
directly perceive that influence. Legends are more realistic in describing people who
possibly inhabited the same world as the storytellers who tell of them; yet they also
highlight the unseen forces that impact human lives. For the purposes of dealing with
the contemporary stories in this course, I often further refine the category of legend by
separating out stories of less dramatic miracles occurring in contemporary contexts,
referring to these simply as "miracles tales.”

Rationale

The rationale for researching folklore lies in its cultural, historical, and social
significance. Conducting a study towards folklore provides valuable insights into the
diverse narratives, beliefs, and traditions of different communities. Folklore is an
integral part of a community's cultural heritage. By researching and documenting
folklore, we contribute to its preservation, ensuring that traditional stories, songs,
customs, and beliefs are passed down to future generations. This helps maintain
cultural diversity, fosters cultural pride, and prevents the loss of valuable cultural
expressions. This paper could also enable us to explore and compare folklore traditions
about the beliefs in Cretecio's Boarding House. By examining similarities and
differences, we can identify universal themes, archetypes, and cultural patterns. This
research promotes cross-cultural understanding, appreciation, and empathy, bridging
gaps and fostering various beliefs. Also, it emphasizes identity and belonging. Folklore
plays a crucial role in shaping individual and collective identities. By studying folklore,
we gain a deeper understanding of stories, beliefs and personal experiences. This
research helps individuals connect with their roots, fostering a sense of belonging and
strengthening community ties. Lastly, it strengthens historical Insights. This study
reflects the historical experiences, values, and perspectives of the Cretecio Boarding
House. This provides a window into past generations, shedding light on their world
views and historical contexts of the locale of the study. By analysing these
considerations, we can uncover valuable historical insights, complementing and
enriching traditional historical sources.
 By conducting this study, we contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage,
enhance our understanding of cultural identities and historical contexts, illuminate social
and cultural dynamics, foster cross-cultural understanding, and explore the
contemporary relevance of folklore. This research provides valuable insights into the
human experience, promotes cultural appreciation, and supports the sustainable
development of communities.
BODY

Folklore is a body of shared narratives that is frequently transmitted orally.

Remember that folklore has no originator; it just arises from culture and is transmitted
via continuous retelling. As the researchers dug deeper into the subject, different
perspectives regarding the Cretecio Boarding House were discovered. According to the
information acquired from the respondents of its history, the house had a gloomy vibe
about it and was an old and disorganised property before their current landlord
possessed it. However, their landlord and landlady have not had any strange
experiences. The respondents of the interviews resided at the boarding house for a
period ranging from four months to almost a year. The following are the incidents that
the interviewees find strange: One of the boarders was sleeping when a figure touched
her feet and woke her up; thinking that maybe it’s her roommate she checked to see
and discovered that her roommate was also asleep; she then looked at the door but it
was closed. The exact attribution or meaning of these occurrences typically reflects the
recipient's religio–cultural milieu, with many people ascribing their experiences to
hauntings or poltergeists (collectively termed ghostly episodes) (Hill et al., 2018, 2019;
Houran et al., 2019). The second is that there are items or utensils inside the boarding
house that have mysteriously vanished but suddenly pop back to their original locations.
They mentioned that whenever they lose things, it would mean that “Agatha” took it.
Third, another respondent reports having nightmares and waking up with a sudden
feeling of piercing coldness travelling in her nape from her surroundings, but also feeling
very hot inside her body.

The respondents also stated that they had heard strange tales from their
roommates, such as one of their roommates experiencing sleep paralysis, including one
in which someone appeared to be washing laundry or taking a bath at midnight,
slammed a door at midnight, and made noises similar to someone nail-cutting. The
same roommate of theirs is also experiencing sleep paralysis. In “Encyclopedia of Sleep
and Dreaming” by Mary A. Carskadon there are definitions, relationships, and the
pathophysiology of sleep paralysis. First, Carskadon defines sleep paralysis as “a brief
episode of partial or total paralysis occurring at the beginning or end of a sleep period”.
Sleep paralysis is an unforgettable experience, which makes these episodes of
paralysis even more frightening, especially if one has copious amounts of fear and
anxiety of it happening again. Based on what the interviewee had said she was not sure
about what she experienced, if it is just an imagination or not. There is evidence that the
overlapping of sleep and alertness is the root cause of sleep paralysis. The
hallucinations that accompany sleep paralysis are identical to hypnagogic hallucinations
and are likely a result of dream imagery occurring during wakefulness.

In addition, one of the statements included the howling and growling of dogs
during midnight for no particular reason. One resident claimed that these dogs were
barking at an empty and dark space of grass, with nothing or no one in it. Another also
claimed that after the dogs’ noise, an ambulance suddenly passed by and they were
creeped out by the sequence of the events. In this context, it is important to note that
Philippine beliefs or superstitions include the howling of dogs at night which means
there will be “death” or that “a supernatural being” is in the area, and that only the
animals can feel, see, or hear them. The order by which the dogs’ howling happened
first then the ambulance followed only proved this superstition of death which gave the
residents the feeling of sinister.

Despite these rumours circulating throughout the boarding home, there is no

concrete evidence to support these claims; rather, all that is known is what the
respondents have said and experienced. This has no impact on the boarders'
perception of the boarding house's atmosphere either. Some participants also stated
that they had no encounter with those strange things in their boarding house and that
they do not believe in them because they feel that by believing in them, it would draw
some energies to them. They advise ignoring these claims rather than paying attention
to them. Irwin et al. (2013) postulate that discernment of a paranormal experience
comprises two fundamental processes. Perception of an anomaly (inexplicable
stimulus), and subsequent ascription of causation to paranormal entities or powers
(Lange et al., 2019). Additionally, other respondents claimed that the boarding house
didn't have any eerie vibes because it was surrounded by plants and that their landlady
and landlord took care of all of their requirements.Paranormal experiences provide
essential information on determining evidential standards for paranormal experiences
and how experiences are insightful into how people deal with culture, individual
perception, behaviour, and the natural environment (Goldstein et al., 2007).
CONCLUSION

Summary

The study shows that the stories circulating the residence remained as lore as
there is no essential information and evidence that provides support to the claim of the
tale and that stories emerge from the experience of respondents don't hold enough
proposition on the claim of the origin of the tale given that only a few of the respondents
experienced cases of unexplained scenarios around the boarding house and some
participants declared that they had no encounter with this strange things and believe
that factors of suspicion on this paranormal superstition that you put into your mind
would draw negative energies and attracts fear. In this sense, the stories that have been
dispersed remain a mystery to both the tenants and to people who heard the story and
hold no reason towards the tenants perception and reason for leaving the boarding
house.

Recommendations

The current study entitled, “Sneak Peek: Investigating Nighttime at Cretecio

Boarding House” revealed that there are instances where tenants experience strange
incidents that one cannot signify what it is and its origin. However, the result of the study
should be treated with caution as the participants’ narratives of their experiences cannot
hold enough evidence to support the claim of the circulated tale. On this basis, future
research could further examine other factors that influence the circulation of the lore,
origin and history, and the impact it might bring towards one's culture and behaviour.

Additionally, the result of the study indicated that there is no extensive research
done to discover the building’s history or origin. It is simply left undiscovered and buried
while its residents continue to live and reside there. It should be noted that as one of the
oldest houses built in Central Mindanao University, its history must trace back to many
decades ago. On this note, by conducting further research on its history, it may
elaborate some of the unexplainable phenomena occurring in it.
METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the methods, techniques and procedures used in gathering
the data to answer the research problem. This section includes the research design,
locale of the study, respondents of the study, research instrumentation and data
collection method.

Research design

This study was designed as a qualitative research for it involves statistical tools
to analyze the data from the interview conducted. study used random sampling to be
correlated with the subject matter.

Locale of the study

The study was conducted at University Town, Musuan, Bukidnon, Philippines. It

is one of the oldest residences inside the university. Cretecio Boarding House is a
boarding house for women in the university town. It is surrounded by two residences
and faces the grandstand of the university. It is also near the CMU Commercial
Complex or “CMU Market" as referred to by the CMUans. It was established as a rental
boarding house in 2014, and was officially recognized then by the university. The
building was not originally built for boarders, instead it served as a residence for the
university's faculties, such as its teachers and those working in the administration of
Central Mindanao University. The Cretecio family are the latest faculty residents here
since they moved in 2007. There is no clear date as to when it was first built and who
were the first ones to occupy it, but it is suspected that the building has been there since
the foundation of the university in the 1920s.

Respondents of the study

The residents of Cretecio’s Boarding House were the main respondents to this
study. There are 26 students currently residing in Cretecio Boarding House, and 7
students were asked to participate in this study. The participants voluntarily shared their
experiences regarding some unexplained paranormal activities. The landlord of the
boarding house also participated in the interview session and provided more information
about the unreal happenings inside the house.

Research instrument

The study used an interview as the research instrument to determine what

certain paranormal activities are experienced inside the boarding house. During the
interview there are questions asked to the residents relating to the unexplained
incidents they experienced or heard.
Data gathering procedure

The researchers first and foremost asked for the approval of the land owners and
Purok leader to be able to conduct an interview with the residents and film the said
location of the boarding house. Next, the target respondents were informed of the
confidentiality, privacy, and their right to opt for an audio recorded interview instead.
Before conducting and documenting the session, the interview plan was first presented
to them and they were oriented on the prepared questions and possible follow-ups after.
Following the interview, the researchers filmed the Cretecio Boarding House in its outer
and inner areas. Finally, the data gathered were carefully analyzed and assessed
starting from its purpose, implications, and gaps that were found in the study.
RESEARCH ETHICS: General Principle and Statement

I. Fundamental Principles of Research Ethics

The core values of Central Mindanao University has always been commitment to
excellence and service, Moral integrity, and Unity in diversity. The University is highly
specific about moral integrity and bases everything on very ethical principles. They
value discoveries and encourage study into new ways of knowledge acquisition,
investigation, and development. The researchers ensure that all study is carried out in
compliance with basic ethical principles to support the university's core values.

Respect for the security, dignity, and rights of participants is the overarching
concept guiding all Central Mindanao University research involving human participants,
personal data, and experiences.

1. Participant’s Rights

The researchers made sure that the participants have a right to:

● Consent to participate in, withdraw from, or refuse research projects;

● Confidentiality: personal information or identifiable data should not be disclosed
without participants' consent;
● Security: data and samples collected should be kept secure and anonymized
where appropriate; and
● Safety: participants should not be exposed to unnecessary or disproportionate
levels of risk.

2. Researchers’ Duties

Researchers have an obligation to ensure that their research is conducted with:

● Respect

In line with prevailing disciplinary norms and standards: in performing research

and using appropriate methods; in adhering to an agreed protocol where appropriate; in
drawing interpretations and conclusions from the research; and in communicating the
results.

● Integrity

In every element of research, including how it is presented aims, objectives, and

conclusions; in summarizing the research techniques and procedures, in acquiring
information, and in utilizing and recognizing others' work researchers, in providing
accurate interpretations, and in providing justification for assertions supported by
research.

● Cultural Sensitivity

Identifying potential conflicts of interest; the description of the procedures used to

obtain research data; the analysis and interpretation of data; dissemination of study
findings, which entails disclosing unfavourable findings when appropriate, as well as
when presenting the work to other scientists and the general public.

● Negligible exposure of risk to participants and researchers

The participants are highly valued, the researchers made sure to secure and
agreed to not disclose all information and data gathered, no names, personal details will
be revealed in public without the participants permission. A way of protecting the
participants identity.

● Openness

This policy paper provides guidance on how to understand and put these
principles into practice, as well as instances where deviating from them could be morally
acceptable. Ensuring that this study is open to all ideas, experiences, and beliefs.

3. Research Ethics at Central Mindanao University

In accordance with the University's Research Ethics Policy, it is acknowledged

that it is ultimately the duty of the researchers to uphold ethical standards. Defensible
research ethics will never be a reality if researchers do not take ownership of the ethical
conduct of their own study. To this aim, academic departments and funding divisions
are given control over running the University's Ethics Review Procedure, which is
guided by the Research Ethics Policy.

The University acknowledges that diversity supports and improves its research
culture and performance within this devolved framework. Diversity refers to the
possibility that research projects involving human subjects, private information, and
human tissue may vary greatly from one department or funding unit to another. As a
result, the ethical concerns surrounding human engagement in research may also vary
greatly amongst academic departments or funding units. This means that, within the
broad guidelines provided by the CMU's Research Ethics Policy, the ethical review of
research proposals involving human participants, personal data, or experiences is best
carried out within the department of Language Education. The fundamental tenet that
researchers should reflect on the moral issues raised by their research, in this case, the
Mythology and Folklore conducted on university grounds, and be able to defend in
moral terms the practices and procedures they intend to use.

4. Research Accountability and Management

The study that is conducted in a department is handled by the department's

subject instructor and the student researchers. In accordance with the University's
Research Ethics Policy, it is their duty to see to it that departmental researchers have
access to appropriate ethics review processes for research activities that involve human
participants, personal information, or human experiences. They are also in charge of
making sure that the Research Ethics Policy's information is understood by all staff
members and students that participate in research. Individual researchers are required
to defer to their topic instructor's authority in all other situations as well. However, in
actual research practice, the lead researcher has the primary obligation for taking into
account, upholding, and protecting the welfare, dignity, and rights of human participants
in the study.

All researchers at the University of Sheffield, whether staff members or students,

are accountable to a variety of stakeholders for their conduct during and delivery of their
research activities involving human participants. These include:

● The human participants involved (as broadly defined by this Policy);

● Society in general; • the University of Sheffield;
● Colleagues or students;
● Their department or funding unit;
● The research funder; and
● Their academic profession or discipline.

The obligations outlined above and the overarching ethical principles outlined at
the beginning of the Policy, As a result, no employee or student of Central Mindanao
University shall be required to engage in research that is in conflict with their moral or
ethical principles, nor shall they induce others to engage in research that is in conflict
with their moral or ethical principles.

5. Research Ethics Policy’s Area of Successfulness and Sustainability

The University's Ethics Policy is applicable to:

● All University staff and registered students who conduct, or contribute to,
research activities involving human participants, personal data, or human
experiences, whether these activities take place inside or outside University
premises and facilities; and
● All individuals who, despite not being University members, conduct, or contribute
to, research activities involving Administrative research inside the University are
further defined along with the processes for its ethical approval.

6. The Aim of Research Ethics

The goals of the research ethics policy are to:

● Systematize the university's stance on research ethics for investigations involving

human participants and personal data ; also to
● Establish a commitment to high-quality, transparent, and accountable research
ethics throughout the university, from senior management policy-making to the
practice of research ethics
● Ensure and communicate the operation of the University's ethics review process
in the faculties and sponsoring entities;
● Provide advice on research ethics to all staff and students;
 ● Promote an organization's research culture based on defendable standards of
research practice;
● Reduce risk to the University, departments and sponsors, and every researchers;
and
● Protect the dignity, rights, safety, and well-being of human participants.

7. Quality Research Practices

Respect for research ethics has been recognized as the basis of good research
practice in general. Therefore, the University's Research Ethics Policy should be read
together:

● University standards for good research practice;

● University policy on investigating and responding to allegations of research
misconduct; and
● University statement on research ethics and integrity.

Maintaining ethical standards in conducting research means accepting and

respecting the principles of integrity, honesty, and openness. Conducting research with
integrity means accepting intellectual honesty and accepting personal responsibility for
one's own actions. Before, during and after completing research activities, researchers
must consider the ethical implications of their research and, depending on it, the
economic, psychological, physiological, political, religious, spiritual, and social effects of
the human agents involved. 

8. Security and Welfare

Issues of security and well-being are at the heart of inquiring about morals.
Analysts have a duty to secure all members, as well as they can, from avoidable hurt
emerging from their investigation. Analysts moreover have a duty to consider their
possess security which of any co-researchers or collaborators. As a common run the
show, individuals taking part in investigation ought to not be uncovered to dangers that
are more prominent than, or extra to, those they experience in their ordinary ways of
life. In case it is anticipated that hurt, bizarre distress or other negative results might
happen in imminent participants' future lives as a result of support to an extent, the
analyst ought to highlight this amid the morals endorsement, and talk about the matter
completely with members amid transactions around educated assent.
REFERENCE LIST

Awards, P. W. (n.d.). The Science Behind Sleep Paralysis. President’s Writing

Awards.https://www.boisestate.edu/presidents-writing-awards/the-science-behind
-sleep-paralysis/

Brown, L., & Garcia, M. (2020). The Power of Folktales: Exploring the Psychological
Impact of Folktales on Children.

Drinkwater, K. G., Dagnall, N., Denovan, A., & Williams, C. (2021, June 3). Paranormal
Belief, Thinking Style and Delusion Formation: A Latent Profile Analysis of
Within-Individual Variations in Experience-Based Paranormal Facets. Frontiers.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.670959

Houran, J., & Laythe, B. (2022, April 11). Case Study of Recognition Patterns in
Haunted People Syndrome. Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.879163

Smith, J., & Johnson, R.(2018). The Function of Folklore in Cultural Identity Formation
APPENDIX

A. Approved Communication Letter