TALIBON, BOHOL – A case of mass hysteria or hyper ventilation affected 165 students
aged 14 to 18 in San Jose National High School in Talibon last Friday, according to Dr.
Miguelito Jayoma, head of the Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital.
In an interview with Ardy Araneta Batoy over DYTR’s NewsMakers, Jayoma bared that
the students were brought to the emergency room after they suddenly felt unwell during
a school-organized Catholic mass.
He said only one of the affected students was eventually admitted to the hospital, but it
was more of the “parents’ decision than a medical necessity.”
Jayoma explained that mass hysteria is a phenomenon where a group of people
experience similar physical or emotional symptoms that are not caused by any known
physical or chemical agent.
He said that there was a triggering event that he could not explain, but he ruled out food
poisoning or gas poisoning as possible causes.
He also said that he encountered some false reports on social media that claimed that
the students were poisoned by food or gas.
The doctor dismissed these as “Marites’ reports”, referring to a term used for gossipers
or rumormongers.
Jayoma admitted that he did have some subjects in his medical studies that discussed
situations similar to what happened last Friday.
He said he also had sessions on paranormal studies, but he did not elaborate on what
they entailed.
Jayoma said that the students recovered within two to three hours after they were
brought to the hospital.
Some students are currently undergoing psychological assessment, but they have to
wait for the church to conduct a psycho-social action first.
He said that if the students would be well after the psycho-social action, then they would
not need another psychological assessment.
Classes were suspended for two days after the incident.
Jayoma denied seeing the black figure from the balete tree that some of the students
claimed to have seen.
The interview ended with Batoy thanking Dr. Jayoma for his time and service.
She also wished the students a speedy recovery and advised the listeners to be careful
about what they read and share on social media.