19/08/2026
The kid who shot inside the private school of Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
This incident is heartbreaking—and honestly, frightening. 💔
According to reports, the child shot himself, and it was also reported that the teacher he allegedly intended to target was someone who had given him a low grade.
As a parent, this is deeply concerning, especially knowing that this is reportedly the second incident of its kind. It makes us stop and ask: What is happening to our children?
Are they becoming more emotionally fragile? Are social media and the things they constantly see online influencing the way they think, react, and deal with disappointment? And more importantly, are we still creating a safe enough environment for our children to talk to us?
I believe that parents and teachers should never be enemies. We should be partners. We should be on the same side—the side of the child.
As parents, when we notice something unusual in our child’s behavior, let’s not ignore it. Talk to them. Listen to them. Remind them that we are there for them, no matter what.
Sometimes, children carry stress that we don’t see. And sometimes, without realizing it, the pressure can even come from us. We want them to get high grades, succeed, compete, and meet our expectations. But there are moments when what they need most isn’t another lecture or another demand.
They simply need to hear:
“I’m here for you.”
“You can talk to me.”
“You don’t have to face this alone.”
And to our teachers, if you notice that a student is suddenly acting differently, becoming withdrawn, unusually angry, anxious, or emotionally distressed—please don’t ignore the signs. When appropriate, reach out, talk to the student with compassion, and communicate with the parents.
Guide them. Don’t provoke them. Correct them, but don’t humiliate them.
At the same time, I don’t believe that we should automatically blame teachers whenever something terrible happens.
Most teachers enter the classroom because they want to teach, guide, and help shape young lives. No teacher should be expected to be perfect, but neither should every tragedy automatically be placed on a teacher’s shoulders.
A low grade is painful. Failure is painful. Rejection is painful. Disappointment is part of life.
But our children need to learn that is not the end of their story.
And that is where parents, teachers, schools, and the community all have a role to play.
Let’s teach our children how to handle failure.
Let’s teach them how to process anger.
Let’s teach them that it’s okay to ask for help.
Let’s teach them that their grades do not define their worth.
And most importantly, let’s teach them that violence is never the answer.
Before we point fingers, let’s look around and ask:
“What can we do differently to make our children feel heard, supported, and safe?”
Because behind every child who is struggling is a story we may not know.
And sometimes, a simple conversation can save a life. ❤️
