Balete Drive

Quezon City, Metro Manila · Philippines · Road

The Philippines' most notorious White Lady flags down taxis on Balete Drive at night – then vanishes from the back seat.

Balete Drive is a tree-lined street in New Manila, named after the huge balete tree that Philippine folklore regards as a favourite haunt of spirits. Since the 1950s, taxi drivers have told of a young woman in a white dress who hails cabs at night, settles into the back seat and suddenly vanishes – in some versions a student who was assaulted and killed by a driver. The legend may have been amplified by a 1950s magazine article, yet many drivers still avoid the street alone after midnight. With its old mansions and deep tree shadows, the night drive is unsettling enough even without a passenger.

FAQ

Where is Balete Drive located?

Balete Drive is in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Judgefloro · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons