Youths join Kristel burial

MANILA, Philippines - Clad in black, red and white shirts, University of the Philippines Manila students and other youths mourned yesterday as they laid to rest freshman Kristel Tejada, a week after she ended her life reportedly for failing to pay her tuition.

A horse-drawn carriage led the funeral that started at 2:39 p.m. from the Immaculate Conception Parish in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila to the Manila North Cemetery.

The coffin was laid inside the tomb at exactly 4:10 p.m. as Kristel’s relatives and friends bade their final goodbyes.

In his homily, Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, said the death of Kristel is an example of the weakness of society.

“When someone loses hope and gets into so much depression, like Kristel, and she takes her own life... it is symptomatic of what is really happening in the society,” Pascual said.

Professors and students condemned UP Manila officials for the death of the 16-year-old freshman who drank silver cleaner on March 15 after her plea to be allowed to continue her studies fell on deaf ears.

Professor Jun Estacio, chair of UP Manila Behavioral Sciences Department, said they remain firm on their stand that UP Manila officials who were responsible for denying Kristel her right to education “should be held accountable.”

“The trust and confidence of the department to those who were responsible for this would not be regained if they resign their posts. Kristel’s suicide was an altruistic suicide. She committed suicide for the welfare of the students who have the same predicament and for the system of education, especially in UP,” Estacio said.

UP Manila chancellor Manuel Agulto and vice chancellor for academic affairs Marie Josephine de Luna were recently charged with criminal offenses at the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to Kristel’s suicide.

Kristel’s professor and confidante, Andrea Martinez, said she was blaming herself for the loss of an intelligent student.

“I should have listened to her. I should have read the signs. It was all there. I was just too busy believing that she could overcome what she was going through,” Martinez said between sobs.

Meanwhile, Clive Arguelles, UP system student regent, said Kristel’s death is just the beginning of their arduous fight against a rotten educational system.

“We will continue the fight of the youth. In UP there is a Justice for Kristel Alliance and we will have general assemblies in the coming days to plan what will be our next move. We will press the issue to let them know that education is a right,” he said.

UP president Alfredo Pascual issued a statement expressing his condolences. He also said the news of Kristel’s death has divided the UP community, but they are looking forward and will turn their collective grief into a stronger resolve to address concerns surfaced by the tragedy.

“I am confident we can soon truly say that no qualified student is denied education in UP because of financial reasons,” Pascual said. “Soon we can claim that UP, the country’s national university, has indeed become the University of the People.”

Free college education in state universities

Meanwhile, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo urged Malacañang yesterday to adopt a state policy providing free college education in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The administration lawmaker also clarified his earlier statement assailing the P1-billion slash in the 2013 budget for SUCs.

In a statement, Castelo said he did not mean to blame the executive for the budget cut but added that it was meant to encourage the Palace and budget planners to look into possible adoption of a state policy on free college education. – With Paolo Romero