Business Lot in Banawa Sees Constant 3-Month Closures
In the heart of Banawa, Cebu, there’s a commercial space that locals avoid—at least when it comes to setting up shop.
People who live nearby say the same thing:
No business survives there longer than three months.
Is it location? Rent? Or something more?
The Pattern Everyone Notices
Residents can list the businesses that tried:
A milk tea shop that barely lasted a quarter.
A laundry service that closed before their first promo ended.
A hardware outlet that had no farewell sign—just an empty space one morning.
They all shut down within 90 days.
Different owners.
Different services.
Same result.
What Locals Say
People nearby offer their own views:
“We get excited when a new sign goes up. But we stop going once the third month nears,” says a tricycle driver who passes by daily.
“The stores always start okay. Good food. Clean place. Then suddenly—gone,” adds a nearby store clerk.
The reputation grew stronger over time.
Now, people avoid renting there altogether.
Where It Is
The space sits along a small strip on Duterte Street, near a high-traffic intersection.
Foot traffic is strong.
Nearby stores do well.
So why doesn’t this spot follow the same pattern?
Attempts to Break the Cycle
One group tried to break the curse.
Three friends opened a tapsilog stall in 2023.
They hired staff.
They ran ads.
They even hosted a small event during opening week.
Sales were good.
But exactly 10 weeks in, things fell apart.
One of the owners said:
“We got sudden supply issues. Two staff members quit. Then the stove caught fire. Too much, too fast.”
They closed before the third month ended.
Physical Clues
Some people looked deeper.
Cracks run along the building’s back wall.
Pipes underneath have flooded during heavy rain.
Electrical connections fail often, according to one past tenant.
These might sound like normal wear—but it happens with every new tenant, even those who renovate before opening.
Cultural Beliefs
You might not believe in superstitions.
But others do.
Some say:
The land was never blessed before the structure went up.
A tree was cut down during construction—and wasn’t offered a proper ritual.
A woman died there during the early ‘90s, though no official record supports it.
Theories differ, but the reputation remains.
What About the Landowner?
Efforts to speak with the property’s owner have failed.
Locals say they live abroad.
A caretaker handles paperwork and leasing.
Some renters say they never met the actual owner.
One previous tenant said:
“We paid in cash. Lease was short. No questions asked. They just said: good luck.”
Is It All Just Bad Business?
It’s possible.
Here are a few reasons the space could fail that have nothing to do with curses:
Poor visibility from the road.
Nearby competitors with loyal customers.
Structural flaws that increase upkeep costs.
No parking for vehicles.
Still, it doesn’t explain why shops keep closing right around the same timeline.
Not four months.
Not five.
Always around three.
What You Should Ask
You might wonder:
Why haven’t successful business owners tried again?
Why hasn’t the space been converted into something else?
Why don’t neighbors want to rent it themselves?
It’s easy to blame luck.
Harder to face patterns.
What You Can Still See
Visit the lot and you’ll notice:
Faded business names on the walls.
Torn promotional posters still stuck on glass doors.
A locked gate with no sign of recent cleanup.
Each layer tells a part of the story.
And a new one starts every few months—until it stops again.
Would You Take the Risk?
If the rent was low enough, would you open shop there?
Some say they would try.
Others laugh and say it’s not worth the trouble.
The longer the cycle continues, the more the legend grows.
And so far, no one has broken it.
