Glowing Bones Found in Simala’s Underground Tunnels
Visitors flock to Simala Shrine in Sibonga, Cebu, for prayer and healing. The towering church, built on a hill, draws thousands each year.
But below its foundation, locals whisper about something hidden.
Underground tunnels.
Sealed entrances.
Bones that glow when the lights go out.
These stories never appear in official guides.
Yet many residents nearby have heard them since childhood.
What Locals Claim
In nearby barangays, stories about a hidden catacomb spread quietly.
Farmers speak of workers who dug too deep and found a hollow space.
Former caretakers talk about doors behind the church that were once open, now welded shut.
A few old residents say they saw the bones themselves—lined up neatly, glowing faintly in the dark.
One woman shared:
“My uncle was part of a repair team in the late ‘90s. He said they were told never to go down the back stairwell. But one time, they did. He saw walls lined with small openings—each with bones stacked carefully. Some gave off light, like fireflies.”
No photos.
No proof.
Just repeated stories, each adding the same detail—light without a source.
Where the Entrance Is
Nobody agrees on one entrance.
Some say it’s under the altar.
Others point to a slope near the side of the church.
One pattern stands out:
All say it was once accessible.
All say it is now blocked.
All say something was sealed—not removed.
Construction expanded the shrine over the years.
New walls.
New floors.
But no part of the church layout mentions tunnels.
What Are the Bones?
Three theories repeat most:
Saints or Martyrs
Some believe the bones belong to early missionaries or priests who died in secret.Unclaimed Remains
Others think these were victims of war, placed there for safekeeping during Japanese occupation.Relics Collected Abroad
A few say the bones were gifted by foreign clergy and stored below as sacred relics.
But no documentation exists.
No clergy confirm it.
No shrine official has made a public statement.
What Makes Them Glow?
Stories describe a soft, bluish light—barely visible but enough to make out shape.
People say:
The glow starts slowly after darkness sets in.
It fades if exposed to regular light.
It doesn’t feel warm or cold—just there.
Is it biological?
Phosphorescence?
Something else?
No samples exist.
No studies done.
All accounts are word-of-mouth.
Why Seal the Area?
Here are possible reasons:
The bones might be fragile.
The tunnels could be unsafe for visitors.
The shrine may want to focus on faith, not mystery.
Others believe it’s to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
After all, once the idea of “miraculous bones” spreads, crowds will follow.
And not all with good intentions.
What Do Pilgrims Say?
Most visitors have never heard of the tunnels.
They come for prayer, not mystery.
But a few who’ve returned multiple times say:
“There are places they don’t let you go. Always guarded. Always locked.”
“We tried to walk around the back. A man asked us to leave immediately.”
Some say a section behind the church was once open to public tours—now gone.
Replaced with plants and fences.
What Happens During Blackouts
One story that repeats:
During a power outage in 2005, a few guests and volunteers stayed inside.
Someone claimed to see a faint glow behind the wooden floor near the side altar.
The glow stopped once the backup lights turned on.
No one recorded it.
The power was out.
But three people gave nearly identical accounts.
How to Know If It’s Real
You can’t go down there yourself.
There are no visible openings.
No entry signs.
No floor plans with stairs leading down.
But you can ask around.
People in Sibonga—especially those living closest to the shrine—may share what they’ve heard.
Some won’t talk.
Others will say just enough.
“It’s not a secret. But it’s not meant for everyone.”
Would You Want to See It?
If someone opened the doors and invited you in, would you go?
Would you walk down stone stairs into a cold, unlit space?
Would you stand in front of a wall lined with bones that glow softly without explanation?
And if you did—what would you do with that experience?
Tell others?
Or keep it quiet, like everyone else?
The stories remain.
Sealed underground.
Waiting.
Maybe true.
Maybe not.
But always there, just beneath your feet.
