Black Oblation

Fact: Kristel Tejada's death is tragic.

But digging deeper, the blame's practically on her and her family. I'm not saying that the institution (University of the Philippines) and the government have no blame to take. God knows how students of the university have been long struggling to afford the "free education" - the right of every student. But there could have been a number of alternative endings to this story that would no need a tragic death.

But first, UP has to admit that as a state university, it has been implementing a system that is sometimes not friendly to the state's interests. With its current price per unit, many have been clamoring that a full-priced tuition is almost the same with other private universities. Education is a right, especially in public-run institutions. And even the education in UP is regarded with high quality, that doesn't necessarily say that you have to pay a premium for the high quality education. The student has already proven her worth to earn that: by passing the entrance exam and by being an eligible student of the university.

I believe in a stringent process for student selection. But once the student has proven his/her eligibility, the university must now treat him/her as an asset, a future leader-servant of the country, and thus, must take necessary actions to support his/her stay in the said institution. Private schools have different stories; part of proving eligibility is payment of tuition fees. In public schools, such as UP, quality education is paid by the country to educate its youth for a better hope for the future.

Why can't the university be lax with payment? After all, the entire education of the student is right under their noses. You don't have to force the student to file a leave just because he/she can't pay. It should've been understood that he/she can't pay because he/she can't. And part of this is hoping that with this education, he/she can change his/her life to alleviate his/her status that he/she may be able to pay the cost of living, not only tuition fees.

As an alumnus of the university, I condemn this system. I once had a problem with payment and I did all what I can do just to come up with the money and meet the deadline. It's like pay first before you study. That shouldn't be the case. Education is government's obligation to those who are eligible. What the student is paying for should be the services not related to educating the student itself (miscellaneous fees, lab and library access, diploma and grade forms, etc.) and thus, nonpayment of which must merit denial of those services. But not education per se. You don't say to a person that you can't enrich your knowledge because you can't pay for it.

Kristel's death became an eye-opener; the tuition payment system will now be reviewed. But should that be necessary? Many rallies and movements have been shouting for this a long time ago, and for a very long period. Why these shouting voices be only heard after the silence of one?

But again, on the other hand, there could have been solutions to this problem that may have prevented Kristel taking her own life. The system, however crude, has been in place for the longest time and many have been fighting and struggling against this system. But somehow, people manage. Maybe not financially, but at least, taking one's life has been the least course of action considered.

I'm saddened when I hear people doubting that there could've been a reason beyond the tuition fee problem that made Kristel take her life. But let's face it, it's a possibility. And how would the family, especially the parents, look after this event? They could have done more. People around Kristel could have done more. The fact that the predicament resulted to her death means that people involved hadn't done enough. Why did she have to resort to silver cleaner when problems like these should be discussed? How did she had the idea that taking her life would end the problems? Why was no one there?

I can't take Kristel as a heroine like many would say. A hero dies for ideals he/she believes. Although, it's saddening that she passed away. What's frustrating is people in the government hired by the country are ignoring the country's cries, not putting forward it's interests. What is less than 10,000 to millions spent on recurring road projects for elections?

Kristel's case may have taught the government and UP a thing or two but it should also be a lesson to students, and families in general. Life is precious and hopelessness is too cheap to pay with it.