Before the rise in popularity of the Fast and the Furious, before Initial D became available on VCD and even before the racing scene in Libis, a different kind of race was taking place inside BF Homes Paranaque, one which involves life and death.
Image taken from iStock by Getty Images
My Hometown
My early years of childhood, leading up to my teens and early twenties was spent on Paranaque. It is here where I grew up, made friends, studied, and even met my future wife. I studied in a locally well known school St James College of Paranaque.
Naturally and since my school was along Sucat, a lot of my classmates and friends resides in BF Homes. It's a community subdivision which I think was started by Banco Filipino, inside are a number of villages. Many personalities, celebrities and even politicians have a home here.
It is also here where I was first told the story on Concha Cruz Drive.
Concha Cruz Drive
Given that a number of well off families resides within BF Homes. A local street race scene was born. These illegal forms of drag racing would take place along the stretch of Concha Cruz Drive. Back then, this particular road had little to no traffic at all. It was secluded, and had very few light posts installed maybe miles away from each other, and it gets pitch black at night. Houses were far apart from each other. And the only source of light would come from headlights of automobiles travelling this road. The lack of human presence here made it a desirable spot to have drag races.
reference and image source here: http://multuhan-ph.blogspot.com/2012/04/haunting-at-concha-cruz-drive-multuhan.html
The Accident
While there have been many versions of the story shared to me each having slight differences. All the stories have 1 thing in common, it ends up in an accident and the tragic loss of lives.
It was said that two parties decided to go on a race. One of the drivers had their girlfriend with them, they were speeding through hundreds of kilometres an hour when one of their tires blew out. This resulted into loss of control and crashing violently. Both the couple was reported to be dead on the spot. Other versions would mention that the car crashed into the rivals vehicle in which all of them died.
image from: https://twinpalms.com/products/dead-of-night
The Haunting
Many years after the accident, it is said that the black sedan continues to haunt the empty streets of concha cruz drive. And that it is best to avoid this road especially during at night.
Many have reported that if you were to travel this road at night, a black sedan would suddenly appear behind you. Running at full speed but with dead silence. Looking from your rearview mirror, this black car would be so heavily tinted that you would not be able to make out who is driving or if there's any passenger.
It is only when it has caught up to you and running beside your vehicle, that you would see the ghosts of the driver and what was once his girlfriend. From this point you have to race for your life. Losing would mean you will end up in a tragic crash . The irony is going at maximum speeds in order to win puts you also at risk of running into an accident. What would your choice be?
image from: Istockphoto
At the time of writing, our school has closed down already, there's a big mall before you enter BF and I could only assume that the place is fully developed now as there's been a lot complains about traffic. Concha cruz drive might be a place now full of houses and street lights as well as speed bumps. With all the developments and constructions here and htere, one thing for sure, this urban legend will not be lost in memory any time soon.