WARNING: This article contains mentions of suicide and academic distress, which may be upsetting to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
THE University of Santo Tomas (UST) community is grieving the passing of Junver Toledo, a 22-year-old student from the College of Rehabilitation and Sciences, who died on May 17, 2025.
His death was confirmed by his father, Oliver Toledo, through a public post on Facebook.
According to The Varsitarian, he allegedly took his own life after failing a subject for the second time at the College of Rehabilitation and Sciences.
A note he left behind—shared by his father on social media—stated that he missed passing the subject by a narrow margin— just 1.5 percent.
Charmaine, a relative of Toledo, said that he had consistently performed well in his studies and had no other failing marks throughout his college years.
“You managed to pass all your other subjects with good grades. You never had any other failed subjects all throughout your college days except for that one subject that made you decide to take your own life,” she said.
Many netizens, including students and parents, expressed their sadness over Toledo’s passing and voiced concerns about the intense academic pressure faced by many students.
“As a parent, I feel deeply concerned about the mental and emotional toll academic life can have on our children,” said a parent.
“I recently learned that a student close to our family had been quietly battling anxiety due to overwhelming academic pressure, afraid to speak up for fear of being judged as weak. This is heartbreaking—and it highlights how much more needs to be done to make our educational system truly holistic.”
Many more netizens echoed these sentiments, calling for a thorough reevaluation of the Philippine education system. They insisted that Toledo’s case should serve as a wake-up call to address the systemic issues within the sector—particularly the overwhelming pressure placed on students.
“In the face of a national mental health crisis, where students across the country suffer under the weight of academic pressure, systemic neglect, and inaccessible support, this is a wake-up call,” said one netizen.
“Ang sistema ng edukasyon ay output-based, performance-centric at halos walang espasyo para sa pagkatao ng mga estudyante. We are all pressured to maintain a passing grade and to graduate, but the point is education should nurture the whole academic community, not just produce numbers or meet quotas.”
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas released an official statement regarding the passing of Toledo.
“We acknowledge the grief and pain that this loss brings to all who knew and loved Junver. As we accompany their family in mourning, we ask everyone to respect their privacy,” they said.
“Since the unfortunate incident, the University’s services have been delivered to those closest to Junver and all those in need. We remain committed to the well-being of all our stakeholders.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, you may contact the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) Crisis Hotline through the following numbers: 1553 (nationwide toll-free landline), 1-800-1888-1553 (for Smart and TNT subscribers; a one-time charge of ₱7.50 applies per call), 0919-057-1553 (Smart/TNT), and 0917-899-USAP (8727) (Globe/TM).
