Kristel gets final wish: She will be missed

MANILA, Philippines - Before University of the Philippines freshman Kristel Tejada ended her life last Friday for reportedly failing to pay her tuition, she wished for two things: to be missed, and prayed for.

In her last Facebook post, Kristel wrote: “I hope I will be missed.”

And in her suicide note, as narrated by her 38-year-old mother Blesilda, Kristel wrote. “I’m sorry, but I have to do this. Pray for me.”

Today, as the UP campus in Manila observes a day of mourning, her last wishes will be granted. And her death might inspire changes not only in the policies of UP but also in those of other schools.

Student activists and militant groups have set protest actions today to condemn UP Manila’s “No late payment policy,” which reportedly deprived Kristel of financial assistance.

They blame Kristel’s death on rising tuition fees and the lack of budget for state universities and colleges.

Students in five campuses of UP also held simultaneous candle lighting events Friday night to sympathize with her.

“ We call on President Aquino, the senators and congressmen to abolish that policy so this won’t happen to others anymore. It pains us that my daughter had to give up her life and her dreams just so everyone will see this problem),” Blesilda told The STAR in Filipino.

Blesilda also recalled that her daughter was in deep pain when she filed a forced leave of absence last March 13.

“It was a slap on her self-esteem. For my daughter, her right as a student to study was trampled on,” she lamented.

The UP Manila administration confirmed that Kristel filed a forced leave of absence after she was not able to settle her balance of P10,000 for the first semester last year.

She was allowed to provisionally enroll for the second semester last November on condition that she would settle the balance by December.

Kristel’s father Christopher, a part-time taxi driver, appealed to the Office of the Vice Chancellor to extend the payment period for her tuition loan last January. His request was denied.

Suicide not caused by failure to pay tuition

But officials of UP yesterday doubted that the suicide of Kristel was caused by her inability to pay for her tuition.

Tony Leachon, director of UP Manila Information, Publications and Public Affairs, said it is unfair to put the blame on the university since Kristel’s death “was reportedly triggered by a confluence of issues.”

He said he believes that Kristel could have other reasons for taking her own life, reasons much larger than the tuition fee issue.

“The student who topped the Philippine Military Academy was a son of a poor farmer and despite their poverty his mental stability was fine. It is possible that Kristel had a deep-seated depression that just snapped,” said Leachon.

He said that aside from Kristel, there are at least 20 other students who are in the same predicament.

“I think on a personal note, patient was depressed, which is the number one cause based on studies, including deeply rooted family and personal issues,” Leachon told The STAR.

He also said UP officials already met and discussed the issue on providing financial support for indigent students wanting to enroll at the university.

Leachon said UP President Alfredo Pascual instructed all chancellors of autonomous universities to ensure that no UP student would be deprived of financial support.

He said what happened to Kristel was reflective of the educational system of the country.

Leachon said that UP Manila is operating on a very limited budget from the government, 70 percent of which goes to the Philippine General Hospital and only 30 percent goes to UP.

“You see the budget of UP is being crafted by lawmakers. However, the UP president said the university will do its best to address this nagging problem,” he added.

Leachon said it is unfortunate that a day before the incident, Pascual had ordered all UP chancellors not to prevent deserving students from enrolling just because they have no money to pay for the tuition.

Pascual’s reform measures include simplifying the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program application process and increasing the financial aid to poor but deserving students.

The Board of Regents is set to meet on this next month.