"Evil possession" suspends classes for two weeks

CEBU, Philippines - Classes at the Sta. Lucia National High School in the midwestern Cebu town of Asturias have been suspended for more than two weeks due to reported incidents of students being “possessed by evil spirits.”

On Monday, four female third year students reportedly became unconscious after possessed by evil spirits. One of them suddenly went wild as her voice changed, said Genesis Ligaray, president of the Parents-Teachers Association.

The students were all from the said barangay and from the same class.

Among the “possessed” students, one was taken to a healing center in Barangay Tabunok because her condition got worse. But she later regained consciousness.

Ligaray said the school is surrounded by old mango and gemelina trees while the municipal cemetery is located at the back portion of the school building.

The reported incidents of possession started on the first week of September, when the school administrators started cutting branches of trees around the school for the construction of a concrete fence.

“Nakadala na man gud ni og kahadlok sa mga estudyante nga dili na mosulod sa klase,” Ligaray said. (Students are now afraid of attending classes.)

He added that the school has history of similar incidents although the previous ones were “more manageable” than the recent supposed episodes of possession.

“Mga bata man kuno ug bad spirits ang naa,” he said.

Monsignor Frederick Kriekenbeek of the Mary’s Little Children in Talisay City already held mass at the school and made all students had a confession yesterday.

He was with four other priests who helped him in holding a seminar and recollection.

Dr. Recaredo Borgonia, regional director of the Department of Education-7, told The FREEMAN that the student who was in a worst state among all “victims” has been a patient of Fr. Kriekenbeek because of a similar incident in the past.

Borgonia said he already advised the school head not to suspend classes immediately because of what happened. Instead, he added, they have to look first into whether it was not just a case of the students having some emotional problems.

He further advised teachers to strengthen their guidance program and lectures on family-child relationship. (FREEMAN)