By Cyrus A. Nativad

Rebecca Araneta De Leon, 88

Former Principal, CPU Kindergarten

Former CPU Kindergarten Principal Rebecca De Leon during her younger years.

One of the longest serving educators of CPU, Kindergarten Principal, Rebecca Araneta De Leon, joined her creator on June 15, 2018 at the age of 88. She left her loving daughter Dr. Lorena Ning “Nani” De Leon, a Medical Doctor at Iloilo Mission Hospital, and Prof. David Robert De Leon, a Civil Engineer and math teacher at CPU High School, married to Rosalea Araneta a child psychologist and with 2 children, Kevin Ron & Kyle Gabriel.

Beloved Ma’am Beck, as she was fondly called, served Central Philippine University for about 45 years.

She was born on October 4, 1929 in Bago, Negros Occidental to Mr. Guillermo Hilarion Salsalida Araneta and Mrs. Elisea Yulo-Araneta, both from Bago City. She was married to the late Mr. Othelo Digno de Leon, former Acting Dean of CPU College of Commerce.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bachelor of Science in Religious Education from Central Philippine University; her Master of Arts major in Religious Education at Berkeley Baptist Divinity School in Berkeley, California, U.S.A. She finished her Kindergarten up to her Secondary education in Negros Occidental.

She served CPU in different capacities: as the long-time principal of the CPU Kindergarten School, as a teacher of the CPU College of Theology and CPU School of Graduate Studies, and as a pioneer teacher of Early Childhood Education. She served as chairperson and co-chair in different committees in CPU. Ma’am Beck exemplified a simple and service-oriented life in the University. Her love for education was a legacy of discipline she imparted to her students. Rebecca De Leon dedicated her life to the Lord.

According to her daughter, Maa’am Beck has prepared for her journey in the afterlife. At the age of 50, she showed her daughter a necrological service she prepared. She also gave specific instructions to her daughter Nani such as that her favorite song should be sung during her necrological.

Dr. Sharon Dean Lagulao, 70

University Physician, CPU Medical Clinic

Dr. Sharon Dean Lagulao with her husband Rev. Moreto Ortiaga Lagulao.

The long-serving University physician at the CPU Medical Clinic, Dr. Sharon Dean Lagulao, returned to her Creator on the night of June 21, 2018 after a period of confinement at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City.

A necrological service to celebrate the life of Dr. Lagulao was held at the University Church, CPU on July 4, 2018. She was survived by her loving husband, Rev. Moreto Ortiaga Lagulao of Cauayan, Negros Occidental and the Senior Pastor of Community Christian Church in Dungon B, Jaro, Iloilo City along with their two children, Rudean Ray, an Engineer, and Julie Ann, a nurse.

Dr. Lagulao was born on December 17, 1948 in Jaro, Iloilo City to Mr. Rufino Dean and Mrs. Julita Borro Dean.

Dr. Lagulao, “Manay Sha” to many, dedicated her life to the service of the University. She was always ready to help and extend time to the students, faculty and staff. Dr. Lagulao was a generous medical consultant at the Iloilo Mission Hospital, where she also had a clinic.

Many Sha was a “jolly good fellow” who was very friendly and knew her field very well. Nice as she was, she was not also afraid to give you a dose of your own medicine if you deserved it. She never forgot to prescribe “faith” as the basic medicine. She said, “God knows when to let you stop the prescribed medicine.”

Dr. Lagulao finished her Doctor of Medicine from MHAM College of Medicine, Southern Western University in 1976 and she took her residency training at the Iloilo Mission Hospital, and her postgraduate internship at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Hospital.

She finished her Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med at Central Philippine University in 1969. She also attended her secondary education at CPU and her elementary education at Sambag Elementary School.

She served in CPU in different capacities as part time faculty, staff, and member of the Corporation. She has also served in different committees in CPU. Her other involvements were with Iloilo Mission Hospital as member of the Board of Directors, and as Regional Director of Philippine Tuberculosis Society, Region 6 and as Chief at the Iloilo Chest Clinic and Dispensary (Delgado extension). She also served as Chairman of the medical team of the Iloilo Kasapulanan, as member of the Board of Directors at Emmanuel Hospital, Roxas City, in the Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, and in Iloilo Kasapulanan of Baptist Churches, Inc. She was a member of the first medical team to Thailand during the Korean War in 1980.

Ma’am Beck and Manay Sha are surely enjoying their lives now with our Lord Jesus Christ with the other Centralians who had gone ahead of us. You will be remembered forever… for your faith, love, and generosity.