Up Student Commits Suicide

[JJReyes]

As an example, I knew a couple of guys from Argentina who went to law school..... we talked about it and in Argentina, law school is more of a status symbol / finishing school for them to go into the family business, but never to work as an attorney. Never thought about working as an attorney. Seems to similar in Phils.....

 

Personally interesting comment. My father received a law degree from the University of the Philippines and passed the bar. He never practiced since this field of study was selected by his father. He did not want to become a lawyer. One good outcome was meeting my mother. Actually, she was the daughter of his law professor at UP. My grandfather the law professor eventually became an Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.

 

My mother had a degree in Pharmacology. Never practiced. Of course, it was rather unusual for women in those days to go to college. It was convent school and then marriage. I later learned that her uncle was a physician and one of the founders of a medical college that later evolved into the Centro Escolar University. Centro Escolar still has a good reputation for graduating highly competent nurses, doctors and phamacists.

 

I was considered the rebel for selecting a career in the arts. Family members pounced on me with gloom & doom predictions about my begging for financial support from them for the rest of my life. "There is no money in the art field," was the mantra I kept hearing. I finally won the argument by reminding my father he would have preferred to study architecture rather than law. End of story. They shipped me off to an art college where I met my wife. We have been happily married for more than 40 years. Maybe I would have made more money in banking, finance, law, corporate business, etc., but I wouldn't find happiness. Looking back now since I will turn 65 in a couple of days, life is good. By the way, I never found a need to beg for financial support from the family. Maybe I should give it a try when I see them next month in Manila. They are tightwads so the chances are very slim.

 

What has this got to do with the suicide in UP? The extended family or clan has a small trust fund to support needy students attending the University of the Philippines. The money comes from the rental income of a commercial property. The gift amount is P1,000 a month x 10 months or P10,000. It really shocked me to read that a promising student died because the family could not raise P10,000 she needed for tuition. It is such a small amount compared to what American parents pay for the college education of their sons and daughters.   

[Mike S]

College here is definitely different I have a nephew attending 3rd year and both last year and again this year his professor required the students to purchase and use study books that are out of print ..... yup you heard it right ... OUT OF PRINT .... last year we found him 2 by going on-line and got them from a girl who had graduated 2 years ago and was willing to sell hers ..... all the book stores we contacted told us those books had been out of print for more than 6 years and there was no plans for the books to be republished .....  the one he needed this year we could not find so he is sharing one with a boy who got it from his cousin who didn't need it any more ....... unbelievable .... I've never heard of such crap .... apparently the professor is only comfortable with teaching from a book he learned from 20 years ago .......

 

Anyone remember the thread we had a while back about people not thinking for themselves and only learning what was told to them and never thinking out of the box ..... here is a great example of why ..... IMHO .... :th_unfair:

[Bruce]

As an example, I knew a couple of guys from Argentina who went to law school..... we talked about it and in Argentina, law school is more of a status symbol / finishing school for them to go into the family business, but never to work as an attorney. Never thought about working as an attorney. Seems to similar in Phils.....

 

Personally interesting comment. My father received a law degree from the University of the Philippines and passed the bar. He never practiced since this field of study was selected by his father. He did not want to become a lawyer. One good outcome was meeting my mother. Actually, she was the daughter of his law professor at UP. My grandfather the law professor eventually became an Associate Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.

 

My mother had a degree in Pharmacology. Never practiced. Of course, it was rather unusual for women in those days to go to college. It was convent school and then marriage. I later learned that her uncle was a physician and one of the founders of a medical college that later evolved into the Centro Escolar University. Centro Escolar still has a good reputation for graduating highly competent nurses, doctors and phamacists.

 

I was considered the rebel for selecting a career in the arts. Family members pounced on me with gloom & doom predictions about my begging for financial support from them for the rest of my life. "There is no money in the art field," was the mantra I kept hearing. I finally won the argument by reminding my father he would have preferred to study architecture rather than law. End of story. They shipped me off to an art college where I met my wife. We have been happily married for more than 40 years. Maybe I would have made more money in banking, finance, law, corporate business, etc., but I wouldn't find happiness. Looking back now since I will turn 65 in a couple of days, life is good. By the way, I never found a need to beg for financial support from the family. Maybe I should give it a try when I see them next month in Manila. They are tightwads so the chances are very slim.

 

What has this got to do with the suicide in UP? The extended family or clan has a small trust fund to support needy students attending the University of the Philippines. The money comes from the rental income of a commercial property. The gift amount is P1,000 a month x 10 months or P10,000. It really shocked me to read that a promising student died because the family could not raise P10,000 she needed for tuition. It is such a small amount compared to what American parents pay for the college education of their sons and daughters.   

 

Well JJ, if you die in some tragic way, based on your family history, the Philippine Government will name something after you!

 

I agree that there should have been a way even a face book campaign or local business drive. Something. We do not know the story in just how far she went to find funds (and I am really finding it hard, oops sorry, to not make a comment on her mother and the college president's meeting). I do not want to call the girl a quitter, but she took a very rash and permanent approach to an everyday issue that many families face.

 

20 years ago there was a story in the headlines in the US about a 9 yr old boy who hung himself in his closet. Let a note that with him gone, his (single) mother would not have to work so hard to feed the family. Make perfect if not very short sighted logic to a 9 yr old.

 

If he had not of killed himself but instead sought advice on how he can help his mother....... a simple conversation about the sacrifices made today to better your future... go to school, apply for every funding source available and then be a lawyer or doctor and your mother can retire by the time you are 35....... Even if he never ventured out to be a lawyer or doctor, both professions are equated with well paying jobs to a 9 yr old. But to a simple mind of a 9 yr old. Not enough food, take himself out of the equation and then there is more food to go around.

 

Too bad this girl did not reach out the same way for advice beyond her usual comfort zone.....     

[Will]

Playing the devil's advocate, why was the girl studying behavioral science? Back when I was in college, it was pretty common knowledge (rumored) that students seeking answers to their own personal mental problems were generally the students really interested in psychological studies. I'm just putting out there that this young lady may have already been suffering depression before this incident. Did she have a drinking problem? Did she drink the silver cleaner just to try to get drunk to forget this incident and made a tragic mistake?

I don't know, maybe I'm thinking too much.

Edited March 17, 2013 by Will

[MikeB]

A 16 year old is too young to be going to college. This girl should have been at least 2 years away from all that. I thought they were adding a grade to change that.

[JJReyes]

A 16 year old is too young to be going to college. This girl should have been at least 2 years away from all that. I thought they were adding a grade to change that.

 

There is no junior high in the Philippine public school system. Depending on your entry age, you can graduate on or before 16. The private schools have Grade 7, which adds one year. The proposal is a K-12 education similar to the West. Parents are protesting because that would add two years of fees and caring for their children before they could earn an income to help their families. The government does not have the facilities, personnel and financial resources. If they are really serious about improving education, one solution is year round education using a trimester system.

Edited March 17, 2013 by JJReyes

[MikeB]

The proposal is a K-12 education similar to the West. Parents are protesting because that would add two years of fees and caring for their children before they could earn an income to help their families.

The K-12 bill has already been passed by both the House and Senate and only awaits the President's signature to be law. This was one of his initiatives. But it was already being implemented on a phased basis before it was passed. There must be a reason the rest of the world has adopted this system. If, as an offshoot, it keeps 16 year olds from being sent away to college before they are physically and emotionally ready to handle the pressure and stress it's a good thing.

[JJReyes]

The K-12 bill has already been passed by both the House and Senate and only awaits the President's signature to be law. This was one of his initiatives. But it was already being implemented on a phased basis before it was passed. There must be a reason the rest of the world has adopted this system. If, as an offshoot, it keeps 16 year olds from being sent away to college before they are physically and emotionally ready to handle the pressure and stress it's a good thing.

 

Thanks for the updated information. I haven't followed the topic closely. Now let's see if the president signs and whether or not the K-12 program will be implemented.

[Ashanti]

I do not want to call the girl a quitter, but she took a very rash and permanent approach to an everyday issue that many families face.

 

 

 

I DO! 

 

Maybe – it sound harsh but her actions speak for herself.  And this student is from UP?????

Then maybe the UP admin was right in their decision.  UP is not a charity and have to maintain high standards.  Probably, the admin had sussed her out to be not a good risk or not good enough for UP. 

 

P10,000 might be a small amount compared to what it would have cost but if you don’t have the money or the capacity to produce the money – then it will look like a billion.

 

It doesn’t say much for the character of this student to end her life on such a flimsy excuse!  She is not a kid of 9 yo but a mini adult.  What is her guarantee to have a paying job waiting for her when she graduates.  Whats to stop her from being a professional student and get on her backside and find employment instead????????  Nada! 

 

Me thinks she is paying for her vanity.  College education esp UP college education still have a cache in PI – certainly if one comes from Tondo!

[samatm]

Very sad.   very sad.  Obviously the young lady was mixed up.     Shame on the  Student gov. president for making a political statement out of it.       The Aquino adminsitration has been driving new educaton reforms in the country in the face of massive resistance to the K12 plan.