Kristel's parents leased property to raise P10K tuition

MANILA, Philippines - Christopher and Blesilda Tejada were able to raise P10,000 to enroll their daughter for the second semester of this school year at the University of the Philippines-Manila.

"Pero sabi ay tapos na ang deadline," Andrea Martinez, psychology professor program adviser of 16-year-old Kristel Tejada, said in an interview with ABS-CBN's radio dzMM.

UP Manila chancellor Manuel Agulto clarified in a press conference earlier that Christopher appealed on January 23 for a loan to cover for his daughter's second semester tuition, but it was already mid-semester and the appeal was already late.

Agulto said that before the appeal, Christopher was able to settle a loan amounting to P6,377 on Dec. 19, 12012, which covered Kristel's tuition for the first semester.

Martinez explained that based on the rules of the university, the Tejadas should  have settled the second semester tuition two weeks after the start of the semester, which was in November of last year.

"Mag-a-avail sana sila ng student loan para sa ngayong semestre pero tapos na ang deadline... Nagmungkahi sila na kahit cash na lang ang ibayad ng tuition, pero sabi sa kanila ay tapos na ang deadline," Martinez said. "Idinadahilan ng amin ay lagpas na po sa deadline. May pambayad pero lagpas na sa deadline."

She added that the Tejadas leased a property of Kristel's grandfather to raise the P10,000 tuition.

"Sa pamilyang mahirap napakahirap mag-raise ng P10,000. Bakit hindi tayo naging compassionate sa kaso nila?" Martinez said.

During the press conference, Agulto said that approving the late appeal of the Tejadas for a student loan would have violated university rules.

“Since it is a violation of Article 332 of the University Code, the appeal could no longer be accommodated as it will set a precedent,” he said.

The UP chancellor, who, at some point during the press conference, nearly broke into tears, said that they would have wanted to help Kristel.

“Our compassion has been questioned. We’ve been portrayed as cold-hearted..." he said. "We are not enemies…I would like to consider myself as a surrogate parent [to the students].”

Martinez, who admits that she treated Kristel as her own daughter, said she is hoping that the UP management would treat the case as a "wake up call."

She said that Kristel, who was taking up behavioral science, was one of her brightest students.

"Mahusay po ang bata at may motibasyon po siya at may interes sa pag-aaral," she said.