General Santos City — Tragedy struck a farming family in Sarangani Province after an eight-year-old girl died from a snake bite in Sitio Tino, Barangay Upper Mainit, Malungon, on Thursday afternoon, August 21, 2025.
The victim, identified as Sheila Nemaria, a Grade 1 pupil, was helping her father, Noli Nemaria, fetch water from a well around 2:00 p.m. when the incident happened.
According to Noli, he was startled when their dogs suddenly barked and chased a snake nearby. Moments later, he discovered that his daughter had already been bitten on the forehead by a venomous banakon (cobra).
Their four dogs immediately attacked the snake, with one of them fatally bitten in the process. Seizing the opportunity, the father struck the reptile until it was killed.
In desperation, Noli carried his daughter back home to seek treatment. However, due to the remoteness of their village and the lack of immediate medical assistance, Sheila’s condition quickly deteriorated. By the time they reached home, she was already weak and eventually succumbed to the snake’s venom.
Overcome with grief, the father said his daughter still had many dreams ahead of her. The family is now left mourning the untimely loss of the young girl, whose remains have been laid at their home.