The “Tuba Poisoning Mass Hysteria” – 30 People “Possessed” After Drinking Coconut Wine
In a small coastal town in Cebu, a festive night of laughter and drinking turned into a chilling mass hysteria. Locals would later call it the “Tuba Poisoning Mass Hysteria”—an event where 30 people reportedly became “possessed” after consuming coconut wine, or tuba, from a local vendor.
What began as a casual village celebration ended in confusion, fear, and chaos, leaving residents questioning whether it was food poisoning, chemical contamination, or something far more supernatural.
A Night of Celebration Gone Wrong
The incident took place during a barangay fiesta, where villagers gathered to share food, sing karaoke, and drink the traditional Visayan coconut wine known as tuba. The brew, usually made from fermented coconut sap, is popular in rural Cebu for its natural sweetness and mild alcohol content.
However, on this particular night, the batch served was different. Within an hour of drinking, several attendees began vomiting, shaking uncontrollably, and screaming incoherently.
Witnesses said some individuals began speaking in strange voices and convulsing violently, while others fainted or ran in panic.
By midnight, what appeared to be an isolated case turned into a mass episode affecting more than 30 people.
Eyewitness Accounts: “It Wasn’t Just Poisoning”
One local resident, who preferred not to be named, described the chaos as something “straight out of a horror movie.”
“They were shouting in voices that weren’t theirs,” she said. “Some spoke in languages no one understood. Even the men who tried to restrain them got scared.”
Health workers and police officers rushed to the scene, suspecting alcohol poisoning or contamination from methanol, a toxic byproduct sometimes found in homemade liquor.
But when several victims continued acting erratically even after treatment, whispers began to spread that spirits or demons had entered their bodies.
The Investigation: Poison or Paranormal?
Health authorities launched an immediate investigation into the source of the tuba. Samples were taken and sent to a laboratory in Cebu City for toxicology testing.
Preliminary reports suggested that the drink contained traces of methanol, which can cause nausea, seizures, and hallucinations when ingested in large quantities.
However, not all cases fit the symptoms of methanol poisoning. Many patients exhibited psychogenic or emotional responses, such as fainting and screaming, without any physiological toxicity.
Experts began to suspect mass psychogenic illness—a psychological phenomenon where anxiety spreads rapidly through a group, causing real physical symptoms without a biological cause.
A Community Gripped by Fear
The village temporarily shut down festivities as fear gripped the community. Many refused to drink tuba for weeks, while others sought protection through prayers, holy water, and exorcism rituals.
Local priests visited the affected households, performing blessings and masses to calm the residents.
Even after the official explanation was released—pointing to a combination of mild poisoning and panic-induced hysteria—the supernatural narrative persisted. Some believed that the coconut tree used for the tuba had been cursed, as it was allegedly located near an old cemetery.
Cultural Beliefs and the Power of Suggestion
In many parts of the Visayas, beliefs in spirits, ancestral curses, and unseen entities remain deeply rooted. When sudden sicknesses occur in groups, people often associate them with spiritual possession or divine punishment.
Psychologists note that these beliefs, coupled with intense social stress and alcohol consumption, can trigger episodes of mass hysteria—especially in close-knit rural communities.
The “Tuba Poisoning Mass Hysteria” became a textbook case in local universities studying the intersection of psychology, culture, and faith in Philippine rural society.
The Legacy of the Incident
Years after the event, villagers still recall that terrifying night with unease. Some victims claim to have no memory of what happened, while others remain traumatized.
The barangay now imposes strict guidelines on local tuba production, requiring sanitation checks and proper fermentation methods. Local officials also hold public health seminars to educate residents on the dangers of homemade liquors.
Meanwhile, the story lives on through whispered retellings—some insisting it was poison, others swearing it was possession.
Lessons Learned
The “Tuba Poisoning Mass Hysteria” remains one of Cebu’s most haunting rural mysteries. Whether caused by methanol, mass panic, or malevolent forces, the event serves as a warning on both public health safety and the power of collective fear.
While science offers explanations, the human mind’s connection to belief and fear makes this case unforgettable.
For those visiting Cebu today, the story stands as a reminder that even in paradise, mystery lingers beneath the calm.
If you’re planning to explore beyond Cebu’s eerie legends, you might enjoy discovering its brighter side—Cebu Beach island-hopping details here, found on Cebu Paradise Travel Guide.
Final Thoughts
The strange case of the “Tuba Poisoning Mass Hysteria” shows how quickly celebration can turn to chaos—and how deeply intertwined Philippine communities are with faith and folklore.
Even as investigators closed the file with scientific explanations, many residents remain unconvinced. To this day, whispers of spirits, curses, and “possessed drinkers” echo through the village every time a new batch of tuba is brewed.
One thing is certain: some stories never truly fade—they ferment, like tuba, growing stronger with time.
