Last August, the Inquirer reported about 25 high school students in Mindoro were supposedly possessed by “evil spirits”.
Two days after the initial report, 5 more students were said to have been possessed.
It was written that: “The victims, mostly girls, pointed to evil spirits apparently angered by the cutting of a 30- to 40-year-old tree at the school backyard.”
The high school principal did point out that the tree was cut down three or four years ago.
It is interesting to note that the principal also said: “In past years, there were one or two cases of "seizure" reported but in the last week of July as many as 25 students were reported having "seizures," Tungol said.
So, is there a connection between the old tree that was cut down and the seizures/possession that the students experienced?
When did the first “possession” occur?
Did it happen soon after the tree was cut down?
Is it possible that the seizures are caused by something biological from the tree? Or maybe it has nothing to do with the tree and it was caused by something that the students have been drinking or eating or inhaling that is found in the surroundings of the school?
In a report uploaded on September 9, it mentioned that the Department of Education sent a team composed of a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a medical officer. The team conducted psychosocial intervention sessions or PSIs of faculty members and the supposedly possessed students on August 27, 2008.
The team reported that before the students experienced the so-called “initial attacks,” most of them had family-related problems, such as parents separating and deaths in the family.
Also mentioned:
“A mass was said by a Catholic priest at the request of terrified students and parents.
…local healers offered two black pigs in a bid to appease the angered spirits.”
It is always fascinating how, as much as we are a Catholic country, we still hold on to old beliefs.
You can read the full report at:
1
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080820-155831/Evil-spirits-possess-25-high-school-students-in-Mindoro
2
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20080822-156235/Evil-spirits-attack-5-more-students-in-Calapan-City
3
http://blogs.inquirer.net/insidescience/2008/09/03/calapan-incident-not-spirit-possession-but-%E2%80%98mass-hysteria%E2%80%99-deped/#more-187
4
http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2008/09/10/OPED20080910134758.html
1 comment:
Did the doctors report any evidence of illnesses? Because I suspect mass hysteria. Or those kids just thought it was a good way to get out of going to class. I was afraid one of them might start pointing out people as witches, and then we're back to the dark ages.
Post a Comment