Diplomat Hotel and its dark past

    Originally, Diplomat Hotel was built bilang isang bahay bakasyunan ng mga pari at madre na nabibilang sa Dominican Orders. One of their member, Fr. Roque Ruaño, the same architect ng main building ng University of Santo Tomas, ang nagdesign ng building.To take advantage of tax exemptions, ginawa syang seminaryo at pinangalanang "Colegio del Santissimo Rosario". After 2 years, dahil kukunti ang mga enrollees, isinara ito at ibinalik ulit bilang bahay bakasyunan ng mga pari at madre.

    Noong panahon ng World War II, pwersahang kinuha ng mga Japanese troups ang building at ginawang headquarters. Their secret police known as the Kempeitai, committed barbaric acts in the place such as torturing, raping, and decapitating priests, nuns, as well as refugees. The two fountains used to be the place kung saan pinupugutan ng ulo ang mga prisoners like priests, nuns, even childrens. During the liberation of the Philippines in April 1945, the American forces bombed the place and partially hit the right wing of the building while Japanese forces committed suicide. Between 1945-1947, the building underwent restoration.

    If you are going to visit the place, have time to visit the rooftop. Yung pinakatuktok. You can check the trace of bullets na tumama sa gilid ng building nung panahon ng War. :) (thanks to my hubby for educational tour..haha :P )

    In 1973, Diplomat Hotel Inc. acquired ownership of the property and remodeled the interior into a 33-bedroom hotel while retaining the unique features of the building. Ang nagmanaged ng Hotel ay si Antonio Agapito "Tony" Agpaoa, isang Baguio-based Entrepreneur at Faith-Healer. Naging popular ang building hindi lang sa mga locals kundi pati sa mga turistang galing pa sa ibang bansa lalo na sa mga pasyente ni Agpaoa na karamihan ay mga foreigners. Sumikat si Agpaoa dahil sa pamamaraan nya sa paggagamot. Psychic Surgery kung tawagin, using his bare hands to “operate” on his conscious patients without leaving a trace of any incision.

    Agpaoa died in the building due to heart attack. Since his death, the hotel ceased operations at tuluyang inabandona. 1990 Luzon earthquake also contributed significant damage to the building.

     Currently Name: Dominican Heritage Hill and Nature Park.

Today, the place is a favorite spot for photography, airsoft tournaments, ghost hunting, film making, wedding receptions and photography, cosplay photoshoots and many more.

    Diplomat Hotel serves as one of the tourist spot in Baguio City lalo na sa mga Ghost hunters and History geek. The place is haunted as claimed by many. For me, the place is enchanted because of its memories.

Sources:

wikipedia

Locals of Baguio City