Cadette Lieutenant Colonel Leila Jean S. Bucol is this year’s awardee of the George Mangohig Memorial Corps Commander Scholarship. This was presented on March 18 during the Silliman University High School graduation ceremonies.
Each year a full scholarship is awarded to the Corps Commander of the SUHS CAT Unit. The scholarship is presented by Rev. Rosemarie Calderon-Khan in honor and remembrance of her late son, Cadet Lieutenant Colonel George Calderon Mangohig, who was Corps Commander of the CAT Unit in 1988-1989.
The award was first given to Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Nolven Nichol C. Noble of class 2008-2009. It was then for a modest amount of Php5,000.
As a continuing legacy embodied by her son’s spirit of true leadership, Mrs. Calderon-Khan expanded the gift which became a scholarship grant to the basic tuition fee of the incoming CAT Corps Commander, Cadette Lieutenant Colonel Mejorah Roz C. Pangilinan of class 2009 — 2010.
Rosemarie recalls George’s determined enthusiasm to aspire for the CAT (Citizens Army Training) leadership position. She said, “My son, George, talked to me when he was third year in high school and informed me that he wanted to be Corps Commander. He said, ‘But with Lolo’s curfew (6 p.m.) at Calo, I will not be able to make it as Corps Commander and the soccer team.’ So, we transferred to Dumaguete City to the chagrin of Dad. Our first meal for the four of us was a can of sardines with lots of soup and rice. After we were stabilized and recalled that moment, George said, ‘You know mommy, if you cried… I would have cried too.’ For that sacrifice he made it to be Corps Commander and to the soccer team.
George died in August 1994. He met a vehicular accident on his
way to coaching the elementary soccer team of the University of St. La
Salle in Bacolod while he was studying there on a soccer scholarship.
He was on his motorcycle when a big van hit him. He died two months before graduation.
During
his wake at Calo, one of his classmates also met a motorcycle accident –
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Didal. He went to the wake and hit a tree on
his way home. Their funeral were days apart.
