The Dominican Hill Retreat House, also commonly known as the Diplomat Hotel, is an abandoned structure and a reportedly haunted place atop Dominican Hill, Baguio, Philippines.
It is now undergoing rehabilitation through the efforts of the city government.
The whole property on which it stands has been renamed as the Dominican Heritage Hill and Nature Park.
A panoramic view of the city unfolds from its vantage point, the stone crucifix on the outdoor patio of the hotel's second floor.
Diplomat Hotels, Inc. acquired ownership of the property in 1973 and remodeled thoroughly the interior into a 33-bedroom hotel but still retaining the unique features which were earlier established by the Dominican friars.
The hotel was managed by Antonio Agapito "Tony" Agpaoa, a Baguio-based entrepreneur and faith healer famous for psychic surgery.
Agpaoa suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with a brain hemorrhage in the 1980s.
He died in 1987 of the ailments.
Since his death, the hotel ceased operations and was abandoned.
Following its abandonment, the place was looted and sacked.
The building also sustained significant damage during the 1990 Luzon earthquake.
The Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, formerly known as the Ministry of Human Settlements, took over the ownership of the hotel.
The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) came next.
The hill is currently named as Dominican Heritage Hill and Nature Park.
The PMS stated that the property was conveyed to City Government of Baguio and was declared a National Historical Site through TCT No. T-85948 on 5 April 2005.
The Deed of Conveyance and City Resolutions provided for the rehabilitation of the old building and the development of the property into a park by obligating the city.
It is now under the maintenance of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO).
In May 2012, Baguio inaugurated two new function halls in the hotel as part of the development of Baguio Dominican Heritage Hill and Nature Park as a preserved heritage site and to promote tourism, but also retains its ghostly past as part of history.
The halls could be rented for P200 an hour or P2,000 a day for weddings, training, and workshops among others.
The entire property was declared as a historical site through City Resolution No. 168, series of 2013.
The city would next seek its declaration by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as a National Historical Site.
Today, the place is a favorite spot for photography, airsoft tournaments, ghost hunting, filmmaking, wedding receptions and photography, cosplay photo shoots and many more. (c)
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While visiting this place gives me chills and goosebumps and while #vlogging I am hoping to capture anything.
In my photos, I can just notice the same guy who is in the background to most of my photos but I don't bother much maybe it's just him wanted to be on my photos or there's something on it a bit creepy.
How do you find visiting this place?
Will you dare?
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks for reading.
XOXO
XOXO
ZARRAH
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