At least 21 senior high school students in Valladolid town, Province of Negros Occidental fell ill while attending a sporting event, and that a few of them lost consciousness later in the day.

The students are said to be from Bacolod City, and the Municipalities of Ilog and Valladolid.

According to Al John Gegonia of Valladolid Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the sporting event took the whole day on October 22, 2025.

“7 a.m. nag-parade sila at after nagpa-games sa plaza. Mula umaga hanggang hapon ang kanilang laro. Emotional stress, fatigue. Nang gabi na, nag-blackout yung iba,” Gegonia said.

A power interruption occurred which had aggravated reportedly the discomfort.

The Local Government Unit (LGU) pointed out that students who lost consciousness were taken to a church nearby, deemed an evacuation center, where they took a rest, while others were taken to the hospital.

“Ang iba may difficulty of breathing. Dinala namin sila sa district hospital. Blackout that time so dinala namin sila sa St. John the Baptist Church. Yun ang ginawa naming evacuation center,” Gegonia added.

The Diocese of Bacolod clarified that no exorcism was carried out contrary to reports that circulated.

The church was used as an evacuation center until power was restored. According to Fr. Henry Donasco, liturgist of the Diocese of Bacolod, the church may serve as an evacuation center during emergencies.

“I-clarify talaga kung demonic possession. Dapat tingnan muna kung ano ang cause, like, hyperventilation. I-see to it kung ano ang history niyan, ano ang cause,” Donasco said. 

As of this writing, the children who lost consciousness have already gone home.

The private school where the incident happened sent a message to the LGU on an official statement they are set to issue.