A past milk tea food poisoning incident in Manila has resurfaced as part of the “2026 is the new 2016” nostalgia trend.
The social media trend invites users to share posts or pictures of themselves from 2016, or from ten years ago.
Beyond photos, some participants also recalled stories or events that made a buzz during that year or around the same period.
One of these is the milk tea incident in April 2015.
Online Filipinos revisited the incident in Sampaloc, Manila, which drew attention after two people died and another was hospitalized.
A Facebook page recalled the incident in a post that garnered 9,100 likes and reactions, 1,600 shares and nearly 600 comments.
“Sampung taon na ang lumipas. Tahimik na ang kanto sa Bustillos, Sampaloc. Wala na ang milk tea shop. Wala na ang tarpaulin. Wala na ang pila. Pero kung titigil ka sandali, parang may naiwan pa ring bigat sa hangin,” the page said.
The page then recounted the incident that claimed the lives of William Abrigo, owner of the ErgoCha milk tea shop, and Suzaine Dagohoy, a customer who had ordered a Hokkaido-flavored milk tea.
It also left Arnold Aydalla, Dagohoy’s boyfriend, hospitalized.
“Sampung taon na ang lumipas, pero ang aral ay pareho pa rin: sa isang iglap, puwedeng magbago ang lahat. At minsan, ang pinakaordinaryong bagay — isang inumin sa gitna ng araw — ang nagiging simula ng isang trahedyang hindi na mabubura ng panahon,” the page captioned its post.
The incident was also recalled by a Reddit user, who shared it in the “r/NoongBataPaAko” community.
“11 years ago na pala ‘to. Baka may nakakaalala pa sa inyo [nito], after mabalita ‘to, katakot takot na ko makabili ng milk tea,” the Redditor said on Sunday, January 18.
The Milktea Food Poison Incident
byu/Kofiirious033 inNoongBataPaAko
Food poisoning incident
On April 9, 2015, Dagohoy and Aydalla brought a Hokkaido-flavored drink from the ErgoCha milk tea shop on Bustillos Street in Sampaloc.
Aydalla was the first to take a sip and complained of its unpleasant taste. Dagohoy, who was thirsty, drank more and later collapsed, her mouth frothing.
Afterwards, they handed the drink to William Abrigo, who personally prepared the couple’s order and insisted it did not taste foul. He also drank from it and later collapsed.
Dagohoy and William were rushed to the hospital but died the same day. Aydalla, who had consumed less than the two, survived after receiving treatment.
The case named Lloyd Kevin Abrigo, son of William Abrigo, as the suspect. A shop assistant said that Lloyd brought a foul-smelling liquid into the store prior to the fatal incident.
The liquid was later identified as oxalic acid, a poisonous, colorless substance found in bleaches, metal cleaners, anti-rust products, and rhubarb leaves.
Symptoms of oxalic acid poisoning include drooling, collapse, seizures, shock, chest pain, vomiting, and throat pain that can lead to difficulty breathing.
Lloyd was later cleared of murder and frustrated murder charges after the court found no evidence that he was responsible for mixing the milk tea or had a motive.
Meanwhile, renewed attention to the incident prompted some Filipinos to share how it had affected them.
“Ito ang rason ba’t ‘di ako bumibili ng murang milk tea na mala-homemade ang dating, haha. Better safe than sorry sa P200 kesa sa P90 na baka gawa-gawa lang sa kusina,” a Redditor wrote.
“I remember this incident and ilang beses akong pinagsabihan ng parents ko na huwag na huwag bibili ng milk tea nang dahil sa incident na ‘yun, [plus], kakaunti at nagsisimula pa lang na dumami ang mga milk tea shops,” another commented.
“I remember not drinking milk tea for years dahil dito,” a different Redditor shared.
“Naalala ko din ito kaya pinagbawalan kami ni mama mag-milk tea HAHAHAHA,” another wrote.
“Grabe, naalala ko ‘to. Ito ‘yung isa sa mga rason bakit [takot] na ‘yung iba uminom ng milk tea,” a different Redditor commented.
In December 2015, the Manila Police District asked the Department of Justice to overturn a local prosecutor’s ruling that dismissed criminal complaints against Lloyd.
The police said Lloyd “destroyed the crime scene” by asking a helper to clean the pitcher used to mix the deadly milk tea.
Lloyd repeatedly denied the charges, insisting that he returned to the store only to secure it after the incident.