UP Manila sets day of mourning for student who took own life

The University of the Philippines Manila on Sunday set Monday as "Day of Mourning" for a UP freshman who took her own life Friday supposedly because she had no money for her tuition. In a post on its Twitter account, UP Manila said Masses will be held for Kristel Pilar Mariz Tejada, even as classes will be "suspended accordingly." A report by radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle Sunday afternoon clarified that the class suspension will apply only to UP Manila students. The Masses will be held at the Philippine General Hospital chapel, the UP Manila tweet added. "Masses will be held at the PGH Chapel. Classes are suspended accordingly," it said. On Saturday, UP president Alfredo Pascual vowed to address the issues that led to the tragedy, adding he was "deeply saddened" by the student's "untimely and tragic death." "In the coming days, my administration will take the necessary steps to address the policy and administrative issues that are related to this unfortunate tragedy," he said. For its part, the Commission on Higher Education appealed to politicians not to exploit the suicide, even as it said it supports an investigation into the tragedy. "Simplistic speculation on cause does not help anyone. And using (the student's) apparent suicide to serve a political platform, no matter how valid is unconscionable," CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in her statement on the CHED's Facebook page. She also said the CHED "further supports and is involved in efforts to rationalize tuition as well as financial assistance to students particularly in state colleges and universities." On the other hand, hacktivists on Saturday evening defaced at least two government sites with a criticism of the "lack of education" and "lack of opportunity" under the Aquino administration, a day after the tragedy. The sites defaced by Anonymous Philippines were those of the National Telecommunications Commission (www.ntc.gov.ph) and the Antipolo City government. (www.antipolo.gov.ph). "Greetings, President Aquino! You told us that Filipino people are your 'Boss' and you will bring us on the right way, but what happened now?? Lack of Education, Lack of Opportunity, Lack of Cyber Security and also you failed to eliminate all corrupt officials," read the message on the defaced sites. — LBG, GMA News