Information about Diplomat Hotel

Diplomat Hotel

Diplomat Hotel is a historic building situated atop Dominican Hill in Baguio City. It once served
as a rest house and a seminary way back 1911 before it was developed into a school and
eventually a hotel. Despite the ruins and being abandoned, the hotel remained one of the most
picturesque spots in the City of Pines.

The place is known for being the most haunted building in the Philippines as it holds a dark
history. Many people say that they see headless apparitions inside the hotel during nighttime.
The employees and guests also stated that they often hear weird sounds coming from the
edifice, including crying kids and babies near the fountain. Apart from that, the people living
nearby claimed that they would hear the banging of doors and windows, clattering of dishes and
voices of screaming people.

The construction of the structure, originally planned to be a vacation and retreat house of the
Dominican Order, began around 1913. It stood on a hill and was called the Dominican Hill since
then. During World War II, the property was turned into a camp for the inhabitants escaping the
Japanese army but was invaded after some time. The Japanese secret police called Kempeitai
tortured the people here, raping the women, massacring the rest, and even beheading the nuns
and priests.

Bombs rained on the hotel during the war, leaving behind ruins that are almost beyond
restoration. Fortunately, the building was rebuilt in 1947 and 1973. In the 1970s, the edifice was
remodeled to become the Diplomat Hotel by Diplomat Hotels, Inc., but the hotel ceased
operations in the late 1980s after the manager, faith healer, and psychic surgeon, Antonio
Agapito “Tony” Agpaoa, passed away inside the building.

It is also believed that a fire broke out in the hotel, and many guests were trapped inside and
died. There was also a nurse who committed suicide by jumping from the rooftop. In 1990, the
structure was then destroyed by an earthquake.

In 2005, the City of Baguio acquired the property and renamed it Dominican Heritage Hill and
Nature Park, which is now a National Historic Site. It underwent renovation and may be rented
as a venue for different functions and celebrations.

How to get there

Ride a jeepney with the Dominican-Mirador route and tell the driver to drop you off at The Diplomat Hotel.

Best time to visit

It is an all-year round destination that can be visited anytime of day, but is usually close by 5 PM.