Once again, let’s think like a detective and ignore the sickeningly, illogical thinking of some people...
Marianita is crying buckets of tears. Her eldest son Jeric, just a recent high-school graduate is dead. He went to a beach outing with his friends on an annual celebration called “San-Juan”. This traditional event which happens every 24th of June in the Philippines has a deadly angle according to their family's elders– it demands a living sacrifice from the beach-goers as they celebrate.
Marianita insisted on his son that he must postpone the outing with his friends for fear of the possibility that Jeric might be chosen by the 'spirits of the sea' as the sacrifice for the current year. Because he is not as superstitious as his mother, Jeric ignored her and went on with his friends.
Later that day, as dusk approached, a couple of his friends brought the tragic news of Jeric's death to his mother. Experiencing unbearable sorrow, Marianita was never the same again. She plans to organize a movement that should prevent people from going to the beach whenever San-Juan is celebrated.
Decoding the mystery of the case.
Q 1: Why do people go to the beach?
A1 : to celebrate, to bond, to socialize
Q1 : In what manner do they celebrate there?
A1 : eat a lot, drink liquor, dance, play, engage in various physical recreations
Believe it or not, solving the mystery of the demise of Marianita's son revolves only around these 2 questions. Just contemplate on these:
Beach outings are common among all cultures and all regions as long as, well, there are beaches to go to. It is a great place where families and social groups can have quality time. Some of the people comprising these groups however believe that the seas have 'other inhabitants'. These marine residents that they refer to are not fish, clams, weeds, crustaceans, or any marine life that people eat and see in books and videos.
These inhabitants, they believe are supernatural spirits who are enraged by the endless abuse orchestrated by humans: pollution, unregulated fishing, corral destruction, and all sorts of nautical ruin. And because of their outrage, they occasionally demand payment from the human race: a living sacrifice, every San Juan celebration, according to some believers.
It can't certainly be denied, San Juan drowning cases are really quite plentiful. But are they really supernatural in nature? Is it really possible that some spirits of the sea are asking for some sort of living sacrifice? Not by a long shot. Take a moment to understand the following facts and analyses.
According to DOH, 8 Filipinos die of drowning every day. This fact has also been supported by a separate survey conducted by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) which claims that drowning is the fourth major cause of young deaths all over the world.
These are the top 5 causes with the corresponding percentages in proper order:
road traffic accidents - 20%
gunshots - 17%
stabbings - 14%
drowning - 12%
electrocution and falling, each - 4%
Compared to some countries, the Philippines has a higher number of drowning cases. Why? Because our land is known as an 'archipelagic' country – it is rich with islands and therefore, equipped with lots of beach resorts. Some worldwide surveys claim that 90% of drowning cases happen in freshwater bodies like lakes, rivers, and pools and that only 10% of these happen in seas.
But since there is a greater number of drowning cases during San Juan Celebrations compared to other days, can we start to believe then that Marianita's son and the other youngsters before him were possibly taken as sacrifices by the spirits of the sea?
Not quite. Economically speaking, pools are rarely accessible by the general population which is mostly within or even below the poverty level. Kids and even adults in this bracket would mostly go to beach resorts so they can fulfill their desire to swim.
This increases the mortality rate even further, as more people are converged in seas here in our country than in others. But what about in other bodies of water like lakes and rivers? Are drowning cases prevalent there too? Yes, they are, and this further proves that San Juan drownings are not that mysterious after all.
In addition to the statistical data given above, let us consider this ever-evident thought similar to 'the killer song case' stated above: a greater number of people equates to a higher possibility of greater commotion and violence.
Historians as well as sociologists would never dispute the fact that an urbanizing town with an increasing economical status will also suffer an inevitable side effect– the rise of criminality. Think about this, what would happen if there is a greater number of vehicles passing within the same highway?– accidents, in greater chances.
How can these statements be attributed to Jeric's drowning? Simple, the more people who swim in the same sea, the greater possibility that some of these people could drown. If 8 Filipinos die of drowning every day on average, wouldn't the number naturally increase if more Filipinos are present on beach resorts due to some annual celebration on a single day? It doesn't take an expert statistician or a math wizard to fully comprehend this.
Whether it is San Juan or not, and regardless of the body of water where the swimmer is at, the main reason for drowning is the same– oxygen deprivation, which basically occurs like this:
A person gets exhausted in a depth where he can no longer be on his feet.
He would most likely panic, so he would wave his hands here and there accompanied by leg movements, speeding up the exhaustion of the air he needs.
When the lack of oxygen continues, brain functions are halted in effect, therefore rendering the person unconscious.
Water would then enter his mouth and nostrils, which if remained unattended, would result in death.
This is the usual sequence that a drowning person experiences. These points are so common and could be due to the following:
Saltwater's lesser density. It is basic science, a knowledge so common that saltwater has a lesser density than freshwater, which makes drifting through the wide salty expanse easier. If this is the case, then would it not be easier for the person to swim and save himself?
As stated above, most people would panic once he realizes he is already on a depth beyond his upright position. Thus, the easy drifting due to lesser hydro-density becomes its own culprit – it brings the swimmer easier in various spots, only to realize he is now in a dangerous situation.
Constrained breathing due to excessive food intake. A full stomach could also be the reason. Being at a beach party means being surrounded by lots of food. Anyone, especially a young man like Jeric would certainly eat a lot, which makes swimming and breathing while trying to stay afloat even harder.
Liquor influence. Like in 'the killer song case' above, alcohol also plays a villainous role in the case of drownings. It is stated as a basic rule in swimming areas that swimmers are not supposed to swim when they are under the influence of liquor. Unfortunately, most people wouldn't acknowledge this.
And the few lifeguards can't possibly announce this to all beach-goers especially on days when people come by the dozens or hundreds. Let's assume the lifeguards can indeed tell the people, do you think those who come to the beach to celebrate and socialize would care to heed their warning?
Lifeguarding issues. According to experts in maritime disasters, one of the reasons for the increase in drowning cases is that most lifeguards may not be aware of the signs of drowning or detect it immediately in a person who is about to drown. Most lifeguards are expert swimmers, but not all of them are fully alert at all times.
Some of them would simply mistake the signs given by a drowning person as just natural playfulness that all beach swimmers are so fond of doing. Another major reason is distraction. While many lifeguards can really save lives, many of them are not as focused as they should be, especially when there are so many swimmers... in a day like San Juan – too many swimmers, too many distractions.
And to add insult to the injury, it can be noted that only expensive beach resorts can afford to pay for lifeguards. Sure, there are volunteering ones, but how plentiful are they compared to the ever numerous beach-goers? Generally, most beach resorts, the most affordable ones have no lifeguards at all, which makes swimming there even more prone to drownings.
This should be enough to declare that the case is closed, or at least lead you to the conclusion that there are no enraged supernatural spirits at all. Everything can be understood as something totally explainable science and statistics.
Nicely explained. Hmmm, how about other people who testified about their near-death experiences? Wouldn't you take a credit on it?