In imagination, “teleportation” (or instantaneous displacement) happens when someone steps into a giant scanner and, just seconds later, reappears somewhere else—mind, body, and soul intact as one.
This phenomenon is usually confined to science fiction films. Yet nearly 70 years ago, one such case of “appearing and disappearing” was reported. So—what really happened?
Vanishing in the Blink of an Eye
Cornelio Closa (left) at the time of the phenomenon, and during a press interview 14 years later.
The story took place in 1951. As usual, 13-year-old Cornelio Closa, a student at Zamora Secondary School in Manila, Philippines, was walking home with his classmate, Rudolfo. It was a clear day,
nothing unusual—until suddenly, Cornelio froze in place.
Rudolfo turned back and saw his friend’s pale, terrified face, eyes wide as if staring at something invisible.
Cornelio whispered that he saw a girl in white, with long golden hair, floating above the grass. In the next instant, Cornelio vanished, leaving Rudolfo shocked and alone in the field.
Panicked, Rudolfo ran to Cornelio’s home—only to find Cornelio already there. Cornelio explained: the girl had asked him to reach out his hand, touched him, and instantly he felt weightless—suddenly standing before his house. This was only the beginning of a series of bizarre events.
Troubling Changes
Afterward, Cornelio’s personality changed drastically. Once cheerful, diligent, and sociable, he became gloomy, irritable, and aggressive.
He fought classmates, skipped school, and caused endless trouble.
He continued to “teleport” mysteriously, disappearing from one place and reappearing somewhere else in the blink of an eye—terrifying both teachers and family.
One teacher reported to missionary Lester Sumrall:
“Cornelio constantly started fights. Strangely, despite his small size, he had the strength of a grown man. Older boys together couldn’t hold him down. Once, when I called him to recite a lesson, he stood silently—then disappeared before the entire class. I was so frightened I resigned from teaching.”
At home, Cornelio sometimes attacked his father, destroyed property, and stole money. He could appear and disappear even with doors locked and walls sealed, sometimes leaving behind a foul stench that unsettled witnesses.
The Girl in White
Cornelio later described his strange encounters:
“Sleep was impossible. At night I sweated heavily, feeling as if my clothes were on fire. When I opened my eyes, her face was there—smiling, motioning me to follow. Each time she touched me, I felt like flying. I would vanish from home for days. With her, I felt no hunger or fatigue. I thought she was an angel, irresistible to follow.”
But to his family, the presence seemed anything but angelic.
Angel or Demon?
Cornelio was taken to psychologists, doctors, and psychiatrists, but all declared him normal. He was placed in a mental health facility—yet proved uncontrollable and was sent home. Later, he was admitted to a juvenile reformatory—again with no results.
Finally, his family turned to religion. Missionary Lester Sumrall suggested bringing Cornelio to his church.
According to Cornelio, as he stepped through the church doors, he suddenly saw the girl again—no longer beautiful, but hideous, monstrous. A ritual of exorcism was performed, and afterward, the girl never appeared again.
Later Accounts
In 1965, Cornelio gave a rare interview to reporters from United Press International, and his case drew wide public attention.
Missionary Sumrall later wrote about it in his book Alien Entities: A Look Behind the Door to the Spirit Realm, linking the event to spiritual warfare between good and evil. Critics, however, argued Sumrall exaggerated the story to promote religion, making him a biased witness.
A Mystery Unresolved
Despite skepticism, eyewitness reports and surviving documents confirm that the case of Cornelio Closa’s “teleportation” remains one of the strangest mysteries of the modern era—caught between folklore, faith, and the unexplained.
