Classes to resume Monday as more students affected
Classes are suspended at the Jagobiao National High School in Mandaue City until Friday this week after more students became hysterical allegedly due to spirit possession during Mass yesterday morning.
Dr. Estela Susvilla, Mandaue City Asst. Schools Division superintendent, said the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) will hold a general assembly at 8:30 a.m. to discuss the situation.
Susvilla said they are also looking for a priest to help the students who were scheduled to take the final exams.
Jagobiao National School is scheduled to end their classes and hold commencement exercises on April 1.
But due to the plight of the more than 20 students, their graduation will be moved to unspecified date.
Susvilla said she heard the rumors that the problem occurred after the trees were cut to give way to a school building project last year.
Some parents speculated that the spirits inhabiting the trees got angry and allegedly possessed the children.
The school building is intended for the senior high school which opens in June in time for the K to 12 program.
“Duna na kuno’y bata nga na-ingon ana last year pero usa o duha lang (There were kids who spoke about the spirits last year but it was only one or two),” Susvilla said.
She said they are trying to seek assistance from Msgr. Fred Kriekenbeek, a known exorcist of the Cebu Archdiocese.
Susvilla was one of several division officials who visited the school yesterday morning after more students became hysterical during the Mass held at the school grounds.
“Midaghan na karon, nadugangan kay while nagmisa, nagsige sab kuno og possess (There are more students affected now. While Mass was ongoing, possessions allegedly took place),” she said.
Susvilla said the school officials immediately met with PTA and barangay officials after the Mass.
During the meeting, it was agreed to suspend the classes until Friday this week.
Classes will resume on Holy Monday next week, the Holy Week.
Susvilla said the recommendation was approved by Mandaue City Schools Division Supt. Dr. Arden Monisit and Regional Director Juliet Jeruta of the Department of Education.
Susvilla said they also sent a medical team including a doctor to check the situation of the students.
Susvilla said they will also send the guidance counselors and values supervisors of the school division to assess the situation today.
The medical team will continue to report to the school after they visited it yesterday.
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