More kids 'possessed'

CEBU, Philippines - At least five more students of Quiot Integrated School of Barangay Quiot, Cebu City were believed to be possessed by evil spirits yesterday, bringing to 16 the number of students who suffered from possession since last Monday.

Rizalina Manloloyo, the school's officer-in-charge and guidance counselor, said six girls, one of whom was "repossessed", started to cry and to turn stiff at 9 a.m. yesterday.

Yesterday's incident was reportedly not as wild as last Monday's, Manloloyo said.

"Gahapon (Monday) mao'y wild sa two o'clock sa hapon. Karon, okay ra man 'to sila oy," the school official said.

The affected girls yesterday were in Grade 7, Grade 8, and in third year high school. The 11 girls who were believed to have been possessed Monday did not attend classes yesterday, she said.

After learning what happened, the parents of two students took the children to the Mary's Little Children Community in Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City while the four were advised to stay.

The Community was founded by Msgr. Fred Kriekenbeek, the official exorcist of the Archdiocese of Cebu, who took charge of some of the students who were earlier possessed.

Danny Gudelosao, officer-in-charge of the Department of Education-Cebu City Division who visited the school yesterday, instructed the teachers to allow the students temporary home schooling so as not to disturb classes in the school.

If their parents would allow, Gudelosao said the students can return to school. He also advised the parents to encourage their children to continue studying instead of scaring them and preventing them from returning to school.

He said Quiot Integrated School is now investigating what triggered the incident that a psychologist has described as mass hysteria. Clinical psychologist Emmanuel Hernani of the Cebu Normal University won't believe evil spirits have possessed the students.

"Sa mainstream nga psychology, dili mi motuo ana. Clinically para namo, that is a symptom of hysteria, psychosis or brief psychotic episodes," Hernani said.

He further contended that the students may have done something before the alleged possession took place.

"Kasagaran nga trigger ana niya it could be biological, kuwangan og kaon, napasaran, ang uban naa sila'y nahimo nga mga activity nga against the norm, mao nang naa'y guilt feeling nga kung ma-provoke na siya sa usa ka person, mutakod na siya sa pikas person. Mao nang matawag nato nga mass hysteria," Hernani explained.

He said further that both teachers and parents should try to see if the children are facing problems because a supposed possession is reportedly a symptom to a problem.

Last Monday's possession was reportedly an offshoot of last Friday's three-days and two-nights Boy Scout of the Philippines (BSP) camping among the students at the school compound.

The students, while having a campfire, were allegedly noisy, and this may have offended the spirits around, said Quiot Barangay captain Vicente Ramos, Jr

The school is surrounded by old fruit-bearing trees but Kriekenbeek had said the 'attack' of the evil spirits was not because of the trees but because of environmental factors that prompted man to commit mistakes.

"Sa palibot daghan ang makasasala unya dili batasan sa uban ang musimba kay ang magbuhat sa sala, ulipon sa sala ug sa yawa," Kriekenbeek said.

Kriekenbeek also explained that he could determined if his 'patients' have psychological problems or not.

"If inig butang nako sa crucifix duna gani reaction possible na-possess gyud pero so far usa ra gyud akong pasyente nga naay psychological problem," he said.

He further said that evil spirits will return as long as they see 'entry points' to humans.

October last year, at least 31 students of the Jaclupan National High School in Barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City were possessed by evil spirits. Students were also taken to the Mary's Little Children Community in Barangay Tabunok.

Classes at that time were also suspended for almost a week. — Niña G. Sumacot, Ria Mae Y. Booc and Bryner L. Diaz of Banat News/JMO