At least 31 students of the Jaclupan National High School in barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City were believed to have been possessed by spirits last Monday and Tuesday.
The hysteria started last Monday when a school girl claimed to have seen a ghost of a girl. The schoolgirl then fainted and started having seizures.
Then the hysteria spread to 17 other students.
Residents called in Msgr. Frederick Krekeenbek, the official exorcist of the Archdiocese of Cebu to attend to the school children.
Classes were then suspended.
However, yesterday, at dawn, one of the girls who was exorcised was again ‘possessed.’ Her 25-year-old sister tried to assist her but was also ‘possessed.’
They were rushed to Msgr. Krekeenbek for healing.
Yesterday, Principal Maria Imelda Valde lead the Holy Rosary and a Mass with Msgr. Krekeenbek in their school.
But, while reciting the Holy Rosary another student experienced a hysterical fit that spread to other students. A total of 14 students were ‘possessed.’
All of them were rushed to Mary’s Little Children Seminary in barangay Tabunok, Talisay City for exorcism.
In the Mass, Msgr. Krekeenbek said the people should go to church for them to develop the relationship of God.
He said there is no other way to fight malignant spirits but to have faith in God.
There were reports that the students played spirit of the paper prior to the mass hysteria.
Krekeenbek said bad spirits exploit the beliefs of people in other forms of devotion and worship.
“Kanang mga habak, kanang pagpanabi sa kakahuyan ug ubang mga pagtuo-tuo mao na ang paboritong sakyan sa mga yawa,” (Possession of amulets, other forms of worship and superstitious belief are usually taken advantage of by the devil.),” Krekeenbek said.