“Please wave back.”
An unusual road sign in Davao City caught the attention of TikTok content creator Buji Babiera, who is known for his creepy “Story Time” posts.
The online personality, previously known for going viral after being tagged as “Mahilig Mag-Facebook” in a news segment, tackled the unusual road signage featuring waving children.
The sign, which has circulated in different online communities for years, even outside the Philippines, carries the text: “WAVING CHILDREN. PLEASE WAVE BACK.”
“Sabi ng kakilala kong driver na taga-doon eh, natakot din talaga siya sa signage na ‘yan nung nakita niya mismo,” Buji said in his video.
@bujibabiera Sabi ng kakilala kong driver na taga-doon eh, natakot din talaga siya sa signage na ‘yan nung nakita niya mismo. #fyp #horrortok #scary #davao #storytime ♬ original sound – Buji Babiera
Viewers of his video recognized the area where the road signage can be spotted.
“Existing pa din ‘yang ‘waving children’ signage near Eden Toril,” a TikTok user commented.
“Meron, [palagi] ko nadadaanan if maglalakad ako, but [it looks] normal lang kasi ‘yung mga bata dun na nag-aaral, mag-wa-wave din ng kamay, ang babait,” another said.
Buji was referring to a road signage spotted along a road reportedly leading to the Eden Nature Park in Toril, Davao City.
In 2020, a Reddit user shared a post about it on the “r/Philippines” subreddit, asking about its “background.”
Esquire Philippines even reached out to local officials in Toril for clarification, but reported that it did not receive a clear answer.
“We called up the Toril Police Station in Davao City, and an officer there said he’s never seen this sign anywhere in the area. He then directed us to the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO),” it reported in 2020.
“But the person we spoke to there also couldn’t tell us anything about the sign. Although the CTTMO ordinarily handles road signages in the city, officials there said other government agencies can sometimes put up signs themselves, like the Department of Public Works and Highways, and even barangay officials,” Esquire added.
“And since it’s been 14 years since the photo with the sign was taken, they said it would be difficult to pinpoint exactly who put it there, and why,” it continued, referring to the first time the photo was posted online in Flickr in 2006.
A Reddit user previously shared an experience with the children on the said road.
“Is this going up to Eden Nature Park? If so, travelling up that road, you would pass by a couple of homes and, if I recall correctly, at least one elementary school,” the Redditor wrote.
“Children playing roadside would always wave and smile at oncoming cars coming up and down that road. As kids, it was something we would look forward to, because the trip going up used to be boring, and those children would be the only people we would see after a while,” the online user added.
Buji, who is known for his horror-themed “Story Time” posts on TikTok, said the series features real-life experiences from him and his friends. He also occasionally shares fictional stories.
