The Philippines Fights - But Two More Box Jellyfish Deaths
The Philippines has taken a much-needed step toward saving lives with the recent release of a jellyfish safety video by the Philippine Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (PSAAI).
While this might seem insignificant, it's actually a very positive move forward after decades of inaction and recent public and political outcry that erupted over the preventable deaths of innocent children.
As posted HERE in September 2024 about the tragic death of five-year-old Kiera and consequent public anguish expressed by her devastated mother Jahaziel Michaellie Maningdin; the people have pleaded, the government has listened, and this PSAAI video goes some way in raising awareness and honouring the memory and legacy of not only Kiera, but numerous other children whose young lives were ended by a box jellyfish sting.
Sadly and poignantly, as the video was released and this post was being written, two 10-year-old children tragically died from box jellyfish stings and a third was injured. The first a Grade 5 student near Tagkawayan and the second near Siruma, Camarines Sur - the latter being a proven box jellyfish hotspot responsible for multiple fatalities including two girls (5 and 7-years-old) within 3 weeks in 2021.
Pain from a box jellyfish sting is excruciating. The suffering experienced by a victim, in this case innocent children just playing in the sea, is instant, unimaginable and without immediate proper assistance leads to imminent death.
An untold number of fatalities have shattered families around the Philippines and no meaningful action to investigate and address these far too regular and devastating losses has ever been taken by authorities.
How many children were injured or died from a box jellyfish sting in the past year? It's unlikely anyone knows exactly. Over 36,000-kilometres of coastline with vast swathes of box jellyfish habitat suggests that number is considerably more than reported. One is too many. Enough is enough.
Thailand took the initiative 15 years ago after a series of serious and fatal box jellyfish stings in resort areas and facilitated effective change. Their's was driven more by pressure on a lucrative and critical tourism industry, and they are now the gold-standard in South-East Asia for jellyfish safety and awareness.
The Philippines is focused mainly on the lives of its children, its most vital resource, across thousands of kilometres of coastline as the majority of victims are kids.
Local scientists have in recent times put more emphasis on their work and have successfully been researching the country's dangerous jellyfish. READ HERE.
And, in March 2025, the Philippine government had a Senate bill hearing about enacting measures to prevent and manage jellyfish stings. Following the sad 2023 death of six-year-old Sandy Garovillas, Senator Risa Hontiveros called it Sandy's Act.
The PSAAI is according to their website a "globally recognized organization of moral and ethical physicians ... in the forefront of dedicated service, continuing education, training and research". Directions have filtered down from those with the funds and it seems like this jellyfish sting prevention and treatment video could be the beginning of bigger and better things for the public on the beachfront.
Interestingly, it is the lethal venom of a box jellyfish that kills people, not an allergic reaction. The allergy theory is a fallacy, and it unreasonably puts the emphasis on a victim's perceived 'weakness'. The truth is that no-one, child nor adult, no matter what their state of health, can survive a sting if enough toxic venom is injected. The fact is, smaller more vulnerable people succumb to much smaller amounts. It's the venom that kills, not an allergy.
The difference this video and a Senate bill hearing actually makes is yet to be seen. It's never happened here in this way before. But look back over the years on this blog of Thailand's rise in knowledge, organisation and commitment to combat the problem, and it's clear to see that there are parallels with the Philippines that do lead to long overdue change that actually works.
Dangerous jellyfish will always be around and Filipinos of all ages will always want to cool down in their endlessly beautiful marine environments. A few simple steps as mentioned time and again throughout this blog, and demonstrated in the video, can make a profound difference in actually preventing stings and saving lives, but only with the public, tourism industry, local authorities, medical services, scientists and the government all on board.
With pressure from the media, the government may have listened but did they hear? Will it be business as usual paying only lip-service to the pleas from families ruined by box jellyfish and researchers working to discover more, or will they stand up for the country's children who are most at risk?
Real impactful change through community, science, media, industry and government has happened in Thailand. For the sake of this country's innocent young people and concerned parents, let's hope it finally happens in the Philippines.
It's time. Sandy's Act must pass!
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