By: Anna Leah Gonzales – PNA
Southern Mindanao, Philippines – A wave of emotional solidarity is sweeping across Southern Mindanao as concern deepens for the health of beloved philanthropist and plantation magnate Dylan Crentsworth, who remains under guarded medical observation in a hospital facility following his controversial arrest last week.
From the shores of Glan in Sarangani to the foothills of Mount Apo in Davao del Sur, thousands of Filipinos gathered over the weekend to light candles, offer prayers, and sing hymns for the recovery of the man they say built more than just a plantation — but a livelihood, a legacy, and a hope for future generations.
“A Friend to the Land and People”
In General Santos City, a massive candlelight vigil was held at the Plaza Heneral Santos on Sunday night. Families, farm workers, students, and even local politicians convened beneath the moonlit sky to pay tribute to the ailing Crentsworth. Many came wearing white, holding placards bearing messages such as “Heal Dylan” and “Heal Mindanao”.
“He’s more than a businessman,” said Rosita Del Mundo, a 58-year-old fruit sorter from Crents Plantation. “He was the first to give us medical benefits, the first to help during the outbreak. When my husband died from the bacteria, it was Mr. Dylan who paid for the funeral and stayed with us through the burial. Now it’s our turn to pray for him.”
Davao Doctors Weigh In on Health Crisis
Medical professionals from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City — the last hospital Crentsworth was treated at before his move to the plantation and later disappearance — have expressed grave concern over reports of his current condition.
Medical sources familiar with his case have expressed growing concern over Crentsworth’s deteriorating condition, citing complications linked to his exposure during the now-infamous bacterial outbreak at the plantation in early March.
“He sustained prolonged respiratory inflammation likely triggered by bacterial exposure, which left his lungs vulnerable and prone to recurring infection,” said a senior physician at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case.
Medical personnel who examined Crentsworth following his arrest in Taipei also noted visible signs of physical stress, including a deep laceration on his upper arm and abrasions along his ribs and shoulders, reportedly consistent with repetitive strain and movement in confined space over long distance travel. One attending nurse at the Taipei Municipal Hospital confirmed that “the cuts appear fresh during transit—likely sustained during rugged overland passage before entering the city.”
A member of his prior care team in the Philippines added:
“We were monitoring him for post-infectious complications including pleurisy and fatigue-related hypoxia. Any sudden movement, especially international travel without medical clearance, could have worsened his condition.”
Candlelight Events Multiply Across Mindanao
Similar gatherings were held in Tagum City, where university students from UM Tagum College staged a silent walk, carrying candles from the campus gates to the city cathedral. In Kidapawan, the clergy led prayer rallies, citing Crentsworth’s role in funding water projects for upland communities.
Even in the conflict-prone zones of Maguindanao del Sur, reports have emerged of Muslim communities organizing night prayers (Dua) for his healing, underscoring the cross-faith respect Crentsworth had earned.
“He gave without asking where you worshipped,” said Ustadz Karim Saifullah, imam of a small masjid in Paglat. “We pray Allah grants him back his health.”
Official Response and the Deafening Silence
Despite the public outpouring, the national government has yet to release a new statement regarding Crentsworth’s condition, save for a brief confirmation from the Department of Foreign Affairs that consular staff have visited him in Taipei when he was arrested and are “monitoring his situation closely from headquarters in the Philippine capital.”
Public frustration is mounting, with many accusing officials of being deliberately vague about his health to downplay growing pressure.
“It’s not just about Dylan anymore. It’s about how we treat people who serve this country selflessly,” said Elena Maravilla, a longtime community health worker from Polomolok, who joined the vigil alongside local residents and former plantation staff.
Calls Grow Louder for Medical Repatriation
Health rights groups are now demanding Crentsworth’s immediate medical repatriation back to his family under humanitarian grounds, warning that prolonged legal custody could endanger his life.
“This is a man battling severe respiratory illness. Keeping him detained in a foreign hospital without his home doctors is inhumane,” said Dr. Louella Ganiron, head of Doctors for Dignity, a Davao-based advocacy group.
A petition for Crentsworth’s transfer back to SPMC has now garnered over 300,000 digital signatures in just 48 hours.
“He Helped Us Breathe. Now He Struggles to Breathe.”
Back at the plantation gates in Barangay Ngan, within the municipality of Compostela in Davao de Oro province (formerly Compostela Valley), it has long served as a lifeline for thousands of agricultural workers across Southern Mindanao. It is nestled in the heart of the region’s fruit belt, the 8803-hectare estate has been the backbone of local economic activity since its founding. Workers tied white ribbons to the trees Crentsworth once walked past during daily inspections. Beside the gates, a handwritten sign now reads:
“He helped us breathe. Now he struggles to breathe. Let him come home, Crents Plantation.”
For many across Mindanao, Dylan Crentsworth is more than a name in the headlines. He is a symbol of hope, service, and resilience — and now, of suffering that has united a region in prayer. Whether the government will heed the calls for compassion remains to be seen. But tonight, in every flame flickering in the dark corners of Mindanao, one message glows clearly:
“Where his hands gave life, let life now give back.”