A childhood dream fulfilled: My visit to the haunted Torre ni David in Bukidnon.

Hello everyone. I have long been curious about this mysterious house in Barangay Cabangahan, Malaybalay, Bukidnon. And last Friday, June 27, 2025, I took the opportunity to stop by and take some photos. The house features its own man and animal sculptures, as well as baroque architecture. I have always been fascinated by this house and I have always wanted to have a closer look since my childhood. But unfortunately, I always rode a bus back then. After working and living in different cities, I finally had a chance to ask my husband to stop so I could take a closer look and take photos of the house. Casa Alegre or Torre ni David, as it's more affectionately known, stands as a peculiar landmark in Cabangahan, Bukidnon. It's a whimsical, almost fantastical house that captivates me and I long to know its origin and the story behind it.

According to my research, it was built in the 1950s by David Valmorida a bus inspector who fell in love with the valley and decided to build his dream home in this place. For David and his family, it wasn't just a house it was a testament to a family’s expanding joy. Based on the story, every time a new baby was born, the family would extend a room or wing, until the structure looked unique. It is a ship-like form. They also said that it has an airplane-like structure on top before.

The colorful house is situated along the Sayre highway, almost surreal in its design.

The three-story house has eight human figures. It was described by the owner not as mere statues, but as guardians or sentinels of the house. The male statues stand in various poses, adding to their fantastical ambiance. One stood tall and straight, others leaned, and some lay dramatically like they're carrying the roof of the house, creating a dynamic visual that is both striking and unforgettable.

The sheer size of the house, surrounded by towering trees contributed to its mystique.

It felt both welcoming and somewhat menacing at once. As I took the pictures, I felt a ghostly bump sending a strange sensation. I had a premonition that anytime an image or a shadow would come out from somewhere. The house is a place of both joy and mystery. Though I felt so much joy because of the opportunity to get a closer look, fear gripped me 😆. It seems like the atmosphere felt heavy and oppressive, perhaps because of the story I heard 😁. I quickly asked my daughter to leave. I was not able to take photos of the house interior from the broken windows. I regretted missing the chance, but my fear prevented me from continuing.

The once-vibrant colors have faded, the paint peeling to reveal the aged wood underneath. The house, though still standing, is clearly in disrepair. Holes riddle the walls, the roof sags precariously and the interior is a testament to the passage of years.

The neighbors' whispers led us to believe that the house is haunted. According to them, the place is filled with unexplained noises, like a lady crying during a full moon or some footsteps at night, and unsettling occurrences of a white lady, a kapre ( is a mythical, tree-dwelling creature often described as a giant, hairy, dark-skinned being, resembling a human-ape hybrid, known for smoking cigars), and dwarfs.

The once-open, cheerful layout is now obscured by the decay. The ship-like structure, the tower, and other parts of the house were ruined by time. But the signature architectural elements and the whimsical placement of the animals still remain.

These details, while now somewhat grotesque in their broken state, maintain a unique character, offering a haunting beauty. The now-dilapidated walls, though riddled with holes, bear the marks of a history etched in both laughter and sorrow.

The large trees that once surrounded the house now appear almost conspiratorial, casting shadows that intensify its air of mystery. Yet, even amidst the decay, the lasting image of Torre ni David remains a powerful one. It's a place where past and present collide, where childhood wonder meets adult understanding of time's inevitable effect. A landmark that continues to tell a story of joy, creativity, and the passage of time.

🤡Note: I include some of the pictures online to help the reader visualize and connect with the story. The name of the owner is visible in the pictures.