Located on Dominican Hill and approximately 15 minutes away from Baguio City proper, Diplomat Hotel continues to lure tourists and thrill-seekers alike.
The hotel was constructed in 1911 as a vacation house and seminary of the Dominican priests. Logically, the site would be named Dominican Hill.
During the Japanese-American war in the Philippines, or more popularly known as World War II, it became a refuge for fleeing Japanese soldiers. Japanese Forces later bombed the entire place resulting to extensive damage. It was then reconstructed in 1947.
In 1973, Diplomat Hotels, Inc. acquired ownership of the place and remodeled the interior into a 33-bedroom hotel that still retained the unique and distinct personality earlier established by the Dominican friars.
Tony Agpaoa, a Baguio-based spiritual healer, managed the hotel. When he died in 1980s, the hotel has ceased operation and remained closed to the public.
At the time when the hotel was still operational, the employees and guests claimed that they have been hearing strange sounds and seeing headless apparitions at the hotel especially at night. According to folks, this could be the ghosts of nuns and priests beheaded by the Japanese soldiers during the war.
After it was closed to the public, local residents who also lived nearby claimed they could hear strange noises in the middle of the night. For instance, despite the fact that it didn’t have doors, they could hear doors banging, windows shuttering, clattering of dishes, and voices of screaming people in agony.
There had also been a plan to install a cable car system linking Dominican Hill and Burnham Park. However, due to the absence of investors and lack of necessary funds to put up the project, the plan did not materialize.
In May 2011, Baguio City government announced their plan of spending P35 million to reconstruct the old Diplomat Hotel and convert it into a wedding and conference venue on Dominican Hill. However, as of this date, there has been no major reconstruction done with the hotel.
The Diplomat Hotel could very well be a must-visit haunted icon to complete a vacation getaway in Baguio. Those looking to visit the City of Pines with the highest level of comfort and safety in mind can do so with Victory Liner, Inc., servicing Northern Luzon destinations for over 70 years.
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