30/10/2025
๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐จ๐ค๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ
One week after the smoke bomb incident during BU Hataw 2025, twenty-seven (27) affected students from the Bicol University College of Nursing (BUCN) have fully recovered and are in stable condition, according to the latest situation report by the BUCN College Student Council (CSC).
The report detailed that four were admitted to hospitals, two were brought to the emergency room for evaluation yet were later discharged, and the remaining cases received medical assistance either onsite or at the University Health Services (UHS) before being sent home for observation.
In an interview, BUCN CSC President Rex Semeniano Cantoria said that the Council immediately mobilized after receiving reports that several students reported dizziness, eye or throat irritation, and shortness of breath following the cloud of colored smoke that engulfed the venue during the opening performance.
Cantoria further described the situation as overwhelming due to the number of students being treated at once, but their focus was to ensure proper and timely care.
Later that night, additional reports emerged that some students who had returned to their dorms were also experiencing symptoms, prompting Cantoria to personally accompany one to the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) for assessment, while another was later brought to the same facility. Both were discharged around 3 a.m. after receiving treatment.
He also noted that the BUCN CSC had already begun monitoring their constituents even before directives to document affected students were issued by the University Student Council (USC) and the University Crisis Management Committee (UCMC) by tasking block officers to create a poll in their class group chats to monitor the studentsโ conditions during that night.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐
Unlike those who have felt symptoms immediately after exposure, a hospitalized BUCN student from Level 1 shared her experience, stating that she had breathing difficulties and eventually a numbing sensation in her hands upon arriving at their dorm.
She shared her initial reluctance to be admitted to the hospital given the additional finances, yet expressed relief upon knowing that the medical bills will be reimbursed by the university.
"Alagang-alaga naman po kami," referring to the collective initiative of the BUCN CSC officers under the supervision of adviser Inst. Melissa Sue Pecson, BUCN professors, and College Student Affairs and Services Coordinator (CSASC) Inst. Gaspar Santos, who visited her at the hospital and monitored her daily even upon discharge.
Notably, BUCN faculty members Prof. Lucilyn Ebuenga, Prof. Brigida Lobete, Prof. Rodel Niรฑofranco; levels 1-4 coordinators; and overseeing officials Dean Jean Annette S. Ibo and Associate Dean Fatima B. Calingacion extended their care and assistance to the affected students throughout.
Meanwhile, a mother of one hospitalized student who is an overseas Filipino worker, shared her anxiety upon hearing about the incident, noting that it was her daughterโs first hospitalization in almost a decade.
โAs an OFW mom, I was really worried about her condition. Sheโs my only daughter and very dedicated to her studies, so being far away made me even more anxious,โ she said.
She later expressed relief that her daughter was discharged after two days of confinement and appealed to organizers to exercise greater caution in future events, emphasizing that stricter safety measures and accessible first aid kits could prevent similar incidents.
โIโm just thankful nothing serious happened to my daughter,โ she added.
๐ข๐ป๐ด๐ผ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ
Addressing the public, BU President Baby Boy Benjamin Nebres III told DZGBNewsOnline on October 22 that most cases involved manifestations of anxiety attacks and trauma.
โโYun po ang tinitingnan natin ngayon. Binigyan ko na rin ng [direktibo] ang ating guidance center at ang ating mga psychologists sa Bicol University na tumulong na rin po, effort na magkaroon ng group sessions,โ he reaffirms.
Nebres formed a Taskforce-Technical Working Group (TWG) that is currently investigating the whole incident as he vowed accountability.
โKami po ay nanghihingi po ng dispensa sa nangyari. Basta ang ginagawa po ng university now ay tinutugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga nasaktan, [...] maipapangako po namin we are giving so much care to our stakeholders and we are accountable to that po,โ Nebres said.
Dr. Carina Sales, Director of the BU Institute of Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation (IPESR), faced the press in an interview with Broadline on October 20, explaining that the use of colored smoke bombs was a โcollective decision.โ
Sales mentioned that the studentsโ exhaustion and excitement for the performance may have worsened the situation.
โAnd unfortunately, siguro sa volume ng tao, masyadong mainit, and ako, I also understand na ang mga bata is pagod kasi excited sila for the Hataw. Tapos nag-cardio, may nauna kasing nagpausok, ang usapan is sa last na,โ she added.
Sales also added that the students were instructed to release the smoke bombs after the Hataw dance routine, not at the start.
According to PATHFit students, they were required to bring two smoke bombs per block instead of party poppers that had been used in previous years.
As researched on by the BU Association of Chemistry Enthusiasts, colored smoke bombs are likely to have oxidizers such as potassium nitrate, which poses harm when inhaled or absorbed.
In addition, the pyrotechnic device produces sulfur dioxide gas when ignited, which could cause eye irritation, respiratory distress, and become highly toxic to inhale when dispersed in large amounts.
As of writing, the TWG is yet to release its official report detailing the full investigation and final recommendations. โ Eva Beatriz Rico and Mark Francis Turiano, The Vital Signs
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Alyssandra Yvane Recepcion
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